An experimental platform connecting two university campuses. The project provides a real-world environment for developing, testing, and validating 5G+ technologies, future 6G networks, and artificial intelligence.
The new UPC ecosystem integrates advanced 5G and fiber optic technologies, offering a testing ground where researchers, students, start-ups, industrial partners, companies and public administrations can develop prototypes and validate next-generation solutions under real-world conditions.
According to Julio González, country manager of Boldyn Networks in Spain, “Our experience in deploying private networks based on advanced 5G and fiber optic technologies has made us the ideal partner to realize UPC’s ambitious vision. Together, we are creating a future-proof research environment capable of accelerating innovation in areas such as 6G and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, this project demonstrates how digital transformation can successfully drive research and higher education, both in Spain and internationally.”
Thanks to its ultra-low latency and high-reliability connectivity, the lab plays a key role in accelerating 6G research and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), supporting high-impact use cases such as:
6G-EWOC assisted driving,
autonomous vehicles,
AI-powered precision agriculture at Agròpolis (Viladecans),
drone-based communications,
automation within the framework of Industry 4.0,
advanced robotics,
real-time video applications, and
augmented reality are all
part of the network. The network connects the UPC's Diagonal Nord Campus in Barcelona with the Baix Llobregat Campus in Castelldefels via 32 km of fiber optic cable provided by the Government of Catalonia. Both campuses function as intelligent transmission and reception nodes, equipped with antennas and data processing systems based on artificial intelligence, creating an advanced, high-performance research environment with continuous connectivity.
With this infrastructure, UPC reinforces its position as a leader in advanced university connectivity, setting a new standard in efficiency, resilience, and security. Furthermore, the project helps attract talent, foster collaboration between universities and industry, and drive innovation, consolidating the institution's leadership in research and higher education.
The initiative contributes to the objectives of the Spain Digital 2026 Agenda, the Government's strategy to accelerate the country's digital transformation, and is open to the participation of startups, technology providers and other actors in the innovation ecosystem interested in developing and validating solutions in a real testing environment.
In the words of José A. Lázaro, principal investigator of the UPC project, “the private 6G LabNet UPC network, deployed by Boldyn with Nokia technologies, has significantly strengthened our research and operational capabilities. Thanks to this infrastructure, we are driving pioneering projects in areas such as artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, while transforming how we experiment, develop, and validate new solutions. This network constitutes a strategic platform for the design, testing, and validation of next-generation devices, services, and vertical applications based on 5G technologies, future 6G networks, and artificial intelligence.”
For her part, Cristina Cervelló, principal investigator of the project at UPC, added: “This AI-native 5G/6G private network constitutes a large, open, multi-technology platform in a controlled environment. The laboratory, which integrates infrastructures such as Drone-Lab and Agropolis, facilitates the development of AI-native 6G vertical solutions and generates new opportunities for practical training and open innovation for researchers, companies, and public administrations. We are proud to be one of the first higher education institutions in Spain to adopt this transformative technology.”
Finally, Anna Umbert, principal investigator of the project at UPC, highlighted: “Beyond research, the 6G LabNet UPC strengthens collaboration between academia and industry through challenge-based courses developed at the Barcelona School of Telecommunications Engineering (ETSETB) and the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC). Startups and established companies present real-world industrial challenges to our students, who work alongside academic experts to develop innovative solutions and practical applications. This approach provides valuable experience for students and allows companies to accelerate innovation and connect with the talent of the future.”
The project has received funding of four million euros from the European program “Horizon 2020”, channeled through the Spanish Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Administration, within the framework of the UNICO R&D 6G initiative.
