Key Facts

• Horizon 2020 – Call: H2020-ICT-2014-2
• Topic: ICT-14-2014
• Type of action: RIA
• Duration: 30 Months
• Start date: 1/7/2015

Project Scope

SESAME targetted innovations around three central elements in 5G:

• the placement of network intelligence and applications in the network edge through Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) and Edge Cloud Computing;
• the substantial evolution of the Small Cell concept, already mainstream in 4G but expected to deliver its full potential in the challenging high dense 5G scenarios;
• the consolidation of multi-tenancy in communications infrastructures, allowing several operators/service providers to engage in new sharing models of both access capacity and edge computing capabilities.

SESAME proposed the Cloud-Enabled Small Cell (CESC) concept, a new multi-operator enabled Small Cell that integrated a virtualised execution platform (i.e., the Light DC) for deploying Virtual Network Functions (NVFs), supporting powerful self-x management and executing novel applications and services inside the access network infrastructure. The Light DC featured low-power processors and hardware accelerators for time critical operations and built a high manageable clustered edge computing infrastructure. This approach allowed new stakeholders to dynamically enter the value chain by acting as ‘host-neutral’ providers in high traffic areas where densification of multiple networks was not practical. The optimal management of a CESC deployment was a key challenge of SESAME, for which new orchestration, NFV management, virtualisation of management views per tenant, self-x features and radio access management techniques were developed.

After designing, specifying and developing the architecture and all the involved CESC modules, SESAME culminated with a prototype with all functionalities for proving the concept in relevant use cases. Besides, CESC was formulated consistently and synergistically with other 5G-PPP components through coordination with the corresponding projects.

Project Consortium

• HELLENIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS ORGANIZATION S.A.
• (ORGANISMOS TILEPIKOINONION TIS ELLADOS OTE AE)
• IP.ACCESS LIMITED
• CREATE-NET (CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND TELECOMMUNICATION EXPERIMENTATION FOR NETWORKED COMMUNITIES)
• ITALTEL S.P.A.
• VIRTUAL OPEN SYSTEMS SARL
• UNIVERSITY OF SURREY
• ATOS SPAIN SA
• UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON
• UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
• ORION INNOVATIONS PRIVATE COMPANY
• FUNDACIO PRIVADA I2CAT, INTERNET I INNOVACIO DIGITAL A CATALUNYA
• NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH “DEMOKRITOS”
• STMICROELECTRONICS GRENOBLE 2 SAS
• FUJITSU LABORATORIES OF EUROPE LIMITED
• ZURCHER HOCHSCHULE FUR ANGEWANDTE WISSENSCHAFTEN
• UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
• ATHONET SRL
• INCITES CONSULTING SARL
• SISTELBANDA S.A.
• SMARTNET S.A.