Throughout the year, NEXTONIC and its members —Telefónica, IMDEA Networks, Ericsson, UC3M, Capgemini Engineering and InterDigital— achieved important technological milestones in immersive connectivity, smart urban infrastructures, quantum communications and satellite integration, reinforcing their shared commitment to the development of the networks of the future.
The Impact Day of the European 6G-XR project, held on October 28 at NEXTONIC's facilities in Leganés, brought together more than 60 participants from the telecommunications, media, manufacturing, energy and automotive sectors.
Five live demonstrations showcased the project's European federated testbed, including real-time holographic communication, distributed XR collaboration, and energy-efficient networks.
Ericsson and Capgemini Engineering researchers presented holographic calls with AI-assisted rate control and automated edge node selection for multi-user XR sessions. In another significant milestone, MATSUKO, Telefónica, and Ericsson showcased native IMS-based holographic calls, integrating holographic telepresence directly into telephone devices.
Furthermore, InterDigital, Telefónica, Ericsson, and Capgemini Engineering actively participated in the second Open Call of the 6G-XR project, expanding their test portfolio alongside collaborators such as Nokia, Intel, WINGS ICT Solutions, and ELIG. The IMS-based holographic call demonstration was recognized as one of the top ten achievements of the European SNS JU program in 2025.
Smart urban infrastructure and quantum communications
IMDEA Networks and UC3M have collaborated on the planning and deployment of the outdoor 5G radio access infrastructure for the SLICES Madrid node, funded through the UNICO R&D program for research infrastructure. NEXTONIC will provide the core network based on Ericsson's solution, while Telefónica has provided the spectrum for deployment. The project was carried out in two phases: an initial (experimental) phase with a smart streetlamp at IMDEA Networks, followed by three additional streetlamps on the UC3M campus. Each streetlamp incorporates Ericsson radio units in the mid-band and millimeter-wave bands, as well as a Ruckus Wi-Fi 7 access point.
In addition to its advanced 5G infrastructure, IMDEA Networks boosted the MadQuantum-CM initiative by presenting its quantum communications testbed, now fully integrated into the NEXTONIC laboratory. This environment allows for the joint validation of quantum key distribution and post-quantum security solutions, contributing to the quantum communications roadmap in Spain and strengthening Madrid's role in national and European initiatives.
Testing in real-world environments: from Movistar Arena to satellite connectivity
NEXTONIC members brought 5G Standalone (SA) technology to real-world, high-demand environments. Telefónica, Ericsson, and UC3M deployed a portable 5G SA mmWave (26 GHz) private network at the Movistar Arena during live basketball games.
This trial, conducted within the framework of the European TrialsNet project and in collaboration with YBVR and Prosegur Security, validated three use cases: intelligent crowd monitoring using AI-powered cameras and LiDAR sensors, coordination protocols for mass casualty incidents led by UC3M, and immersive entertainment experiences with 360-degree streaming. A workshop hosted by the Madrid Cluster at NEXTONIC in September provided an opportunity to showcase these results to institutions and companies. Furthermore, Ericsson and UC3M, together with Grupo Oesía, achieved a significant milestone by demonstrating the integration of 5G networks with non-terrestrial networks (NTN). Using a portable 5G base station connected to the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO satellite constellation, the trial demonstrated that it is possible to maintain continuous 5G connectivity in remote locations without terrestrial infrastructure, with a seamless transition between mobile and satellite networks.
UC3M and Ericsson, in collaboration with Intel, have also developed a multi-technology TSN (Time Sensitive Networking) platform that combines 5G, Wi-Fi and Ethernet into a single system, a pioneering solution for deterministic networks in industrial environments.
