The Communications and Networking lab of the Department of Informatics and Communications of University of Thessaly is a rapidly developing research group established in 2022 consisting of hard-working scientists and students.
We device signal and information processing algorithms and develop software for next generation communication networks using simulation tools and testbed platforms.
The new challenges emerging in telecommunications and 5G and 6G communication networks are directly related to the increasing demand for reliable telecommunication systems and networks to support and operate new services and applications. Telecommunications and wireless networks have grown significantly in recent years and communication networks, for transmitting at very high data rate (Gbps) and with a significant degree of security are used in all human activities for the purpose of reliable human communication.
The OpenRAN makes the RAN open with the interfaces separating the PHY layer from the
upper layers and the RRM building a modular base station software stack that operates
on different commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. This software enabled Open RAN
network architecture enables the virtualization of the several protocol layers meaning
that baseband units, radio units and remote radio heads can be assembled from any vendor.
Virtual RAN, or, vRAN is the proprietary radio hardware that remains. The software that
runs on the RAN is virtualized to run on any COTS server such as CPU/GPU devices and
FPGAs. Low PHY is part ...of a radio unit, where all signal processing is encompassed
while the upper layers are developed in different platforms. Special focus is given
in the radio intelligent controller, which manages the radio resources using artificial
intelligence, e.g. deep learning. In this way, better performance could be achieved as
a result of improved load management, cell coordination, and the future deployment of
radio interference mitigation algorithms. All the above thanks to software that allows
for programmability, offering the ability to innovate and iteratively improve the network
through software upgrades.
Mobile edge computing (MEC) moves the computing of traffic and services from a
centralized cloud to the edge of the network and closer to the end users.
Instead of transferring data from one end such as the Internet cloud for
processing, the computing edge analyzes, processes, and stores the data closer
to the radio access. Collecting and processing data closer to the radio access
and thereby the end users, it achieves low latency ...
communication services and
provides real-time applications such as video and virtual reality (VR) streaming.
Key services provided by MEC include the Internet of things (IoT) platforms,
Extended Reality (XR) such as augmented reality (AR) and VR. High growth demands
in internet services and traffic, especially video and XR services as well as
the explosion of connected devices mean that network infrastructures will need
to scale effectively to deliver higher volumes of data. A MEC server can bring
the flexibility and scalability closer to the end user to meet the requirements.
Thus, the streaming of ultra-real-time interactive 3D XR content to XR glasses
and other XR devices is possible through CPU/GPU-powered MEC servers.
We develop interworking solutions for both video and data services as introduced in the last 3GPP Rel. 16 enhancements with the 5G non terrestrial networks (NTN) services in the 5G new radio, i.e. RAN was launched recently in Rel.17 with several updates in Rel.18. The major objective of this research direction is how to leverage communication services in a 5G Advanced NTN enabled RAN and this task in practice is how to provide specific KPIs as follows:...
Thus, we aim to provide the MBS (multicast and broadcast services) support in Rel-17 through the 5G NTN that requires significantly less operations, administration and maintenance effort as well as improving resource efficiency. Notably, 5G MBS was primarily intended to support important use cases for public safety such as communication as well as enabling features like over-the-air software updates and live TV, video delivery and IoT solutions.
Theodoros A. Tsiftsis (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Patras, Patras, Greece, in 2006. He is a Professor with the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece. His research interests fall into the broad areas of communication theory and wireless communications with emphasis on wireless communications theory, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, optical wireless communications, and physical-layer security. Dr. Tsiftsis served on the Editorial Boards of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMMUNICATIONS, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY, and IEEE COMMUNICATIONS LETTERS. He is currently an Associate Editor of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS and IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MOBILE COMPUTING. He was appointed as an IEEE Vehicular Technology Society Distinguished Lecturer from 2018 to 2022.
Fotis Foukalas (Senior Member, IEEE) received the Diploma degree in electrical and computer engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2001, the M.Sc. degree in technology systems from the National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece, in 2004, and the Ph.D. degree in informatics and telecommunications from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, in 2011. He has been working with the University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece, as an Assistant Professor since 2021. His expertise is on signal and information processing for communications, networking, and computing systems
Christos Tsakos received his 5 years diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2022 with a telecommunications specialization. He is a PhD candidate since 2023 at the department of Informatics and Telecommunication of University of Thessaly working on beyond 5G radio access networks with a focus on extreme low latency and reliable radio access. His research interests are in the area of 6G open radio access networks.
Lefteris Stafidas received his BSc degree from the department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Athens in 2007 and his MSc degree in Communication Systems and Networks in 2009 from the same department. He is a PhD candidate since 2022 at the department of Informatics and Telecommunication of University of Thessaly working on beyond 5G mobile networking architectures for immersive experience services. His research interests are in the area of 6G mobile networking protocols and architectures.
Aris Timotijevic received his BSc degree from the department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Thessaly in 2023. He is a MSc student in the "Modern Communication Systems and Internet of Things" program at University of Thessaly. His research interests are in the area of SDR technologies and physical layer wireless communications.
