More than 20 years of mobile-network research, software and experimentation
Fraunhofer FOKUS has been researching, implementing and experimentally validating mobile-network technologies for more than 20 years. Across several generations of mobile networks, our researchers have developed software toolkits and experimentation environments that turn new network concepts into running systems.
This development spans Open IMS Core, OpenEPC, Open5GCore and Open6GCore, together with complementary platforms for network management, orchestration, transport, edge/cloud and network emulation. Each generation has contributed software, integration experience and experimental capabilities that provide the foundation for the next.
From research question to working system
As an applied research institute, Fraunhofer FOKUS combines scientific research with software development, system integration
and experimental validation. Our work covers:
- Identifying technology gaps and promising research directions
- Developing new concepts, architectures, protocols and algorithms
- Translating research concepts into implementable specifications
- Contributing technical results toward IPR and standardization
- Implementing new network functions, interfaces and mechanisms
- Integrating RAN, core, transport, edge/cloud, devices and applications
- Creating realistic end-to-end experimentation environments
- Validating technologies through measurements, trials and interoperability testing
- Building demonstrators that make new technologies tangible
- Supporting partners as research results progress toward product development and operational use
Research shaped by real network requirements
Our research is informed by continuous interaction with network operators, equipment vendors, technology providers, system integrators, application and use-case owners, research partners and standardization organizations.
This connection between long-term research and practical requirements helps us evaluate new technologies not only as isolated concepts, but as parts of complete communication systems.
Open6GCore continues this approach for advanced 5G/6G research. It combines accumulated software and implementation experience with a flexible environment for integrating, modifying, observing and experimentally validating emerging network technologies.
Research becomes more valuable when it can be implemented, integrated and validated.
Fraunhofer FOKUS combines scientific work with software, testbeds and more than 20 years of hands-on mobile-network experience to move new technologies from concept toward credible experimental results.