On February 2-5, 2026, UNITY-6G contributed to the ETSI SNS4SNS (Software & Standards for Smart Networks & Services) Conference, an annual event that aligns open-source communities, industrial standards bodies, and research initiatives. The project’s participation highlighted the transition toward autonomous, AI-native networks within the European digital infrastructure.
Alice Piemonti, an AI Engineer from Martel Innovate, presented a demonstration focused on predicting Kubernetes resource usage for Cloud-native Network Functions (CNFs). This research addresses the transition from reactive to proactive network management. By utilizing a Machine Learning framework to forecast demand, the approach aims to eliminate the delays typically associated with spinning up new containers while preventing the over-provisioning of hardware. This proactive scaling is designed to improve both the operational efficiency and the environmental sustainability of 6G networks.
Beyond prediction models, the presentation emphasized the role of MLOps. These practices are essential for ensuring that AI models remain accurate and manageable as they become a permanent part of the network fabric. According to Piemonti, integrating these workflows is a necessary step in making 6G networks smarter and more sustainable rather than simply increasing raw speed.
The UNITY-6G presence at the conference was further supported by contributions from CTTC and NBC. Researchers Jorge Baranda and Farhana Javed from CTTC demonstrated cloud-native deployment strategies using ETSI projects such as OpenSource MANO (OSM) and TeraFlow SDN. They also presented a blockchain-based reputation system designed to enhance security within O-RAN environments.
Simultaneously, Michalis Dalgitsis from NBC explored the evolution of service orchestration on 6G operator platforms. His work detailed the shift from traditional closed-loop systems toward agentic AI frameworks, which allow for higher levels of autonomy in network operations. These collective contributions involve several ETSI Software Development Groups, including OpenSlice, OpenCAPIF, and OpenOP, ensuring that UNITY-6G research remains aligned with emerging global standards.
The diverse demonstrations and research presented by UNITY-6G at the SNS4SNS Conference underscore a unified commitment to building a more resilient and intelligent European network. By bridging the gap between theoretical AI models and standardized open-source implementations, the project continues to provide the technical foundation necessary for the next generation of digital services. These efforts ensure that as 6G infrastructure matures, it will be characterized by a high degree of automation, security, and resource efficiency.
