Deutsche Telekom is heading the German 6G Native Extensions for XR Technologies (NeXt) research project to target network architecture for the testing of extended reality (XR) services using 6G technologies. It also continues a push by European telecom operators toward greater strategic autonomy.

The 6G NeXt project was established by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of its focus into integrated systems and “sub-technologies for 6th generation mobile communications” programs. This includes developing a software layer with native artificial intelligence (AI) network optimization for real-time processing of large data sets and the ability to dynamically distribute complex computing tasks to optimal locations.

The group will develop scalable and modular end-to-end infrastructure that can be used as a test-bed platform for research on XR applications. Two use cases initially put forth include an anti-collision system for aviation to better deal with drones operating at airport locations and interactive transmission of real-time 3D holographic video.

These efforts align with a recent ABI Research report citing the need for cloud computing to support 6G deployments. The firm noted this transition will require vendors and operators to have a “sound distributed computing and artificial intelligence strategy to underpin successful 6G commercial deployment and enterprise use case enablement.”

The cloud ecosystem is set to have a greater influence on the standard plans, with some noting that influence will accelerate work.

“There are new ecosystem players … the Azures, the Amazons, the VMwares of the world that frankly have the ability here in the next couple of years to actually set up and configure networks in a matter of days and weeks,” Ronny Haraldsvik, CMO and SVP for business development at Cohere Technologies, stated during this year’s ConnectX event.

Standardization bodies are just now starting to work on 6G technology, with formalization expected to begin in 2025 and commercial deployments around 2030.

This work also furthers efforts by European operators and vendors in developing technology standards.

Telefónica Chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete noted in a recent blog post that “strategic autonomy must be built on firm internal pillars and will allow a Europe that is more and better prepared to collaborate with its partners, strengthening transatlantic ties, relations between countries, and global presence.”

He specifically cited the need to work toward European projects focused on AI, security, defense, information, communications, 5G, and edge computing.

DT last month took a leadership position with BMBF’s 6G-TakeOff project that is looking to develop a uniform 6G architecture for communications networks using traditional cell sites, flying infrastructure platforms, and satellites.

Nokia earlier this year took lead on BMBF’s 6G lighthouse project that over the next three years will look to develop and support German and European 6G agendas toward broader technology standardization.