The Future of the Internet A Compendium of European Projects on ICT Research Supported by the EU 7th Framework Programme for RTD European Commission European SocietyInformation and Media Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union New freephone number * 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00800 numbers or these calls may be billed. In certain cases, these calls may be chargeable from telephone boxes or hotels. «The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the European Commission or any of its officials» A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet. It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://www.europa.eu). Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication. ISBN 978-92-79-08008-1 © European Communities, 2008 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON CHLORE FREE PAPER The Future of the Internet A Compendium of European Projects on ICT Research Supported by the EU 7th Framework Programme for RTD European Commission European SocietyInformation and Media ••• 2 Preface 5 priorities identifi ed by the Internet Governance Forum: openness, security, access, diversity and critical Internet resources. Th e use of the Internet in public policies will considerably grow in areas such as education, culture, health and e-government. Th ese topics will be at the core of our contribution to the OECD Seoul Summit in June. In the longer term, we have to prepare the future Internet, including for example, a 3D-Internet. Th is has already been pioneered through virtual environments such as “Second Life”. Turnover in online gaming has grown threefold over the past 5 years, and virtual worlds are estimated to attract more than 60 million users worldwide. In addition to the Viviane Reding new technological requirements placed on the underlying Member of the European Commission responsible for network infrastructure, a “3D Internet” will raise many new Information Society and Media challenges, such as the management of multiple identities, monetisation of virtual assets and applicable rules, or privacy Th e Internet has already profoundly changed our economic of “digital avatars”. and social world. Th e developments we have seen so far are Such graphic and rich environments require high speed just a beginning. If today’s Internet is a crucial element of our and high quality applications. But today’s Internet was not economy – the future Internet will play an even more vital designed with 100 Megabit-per-second data rates in mind. role in every conceivable business process. It will become Moreover, the fact that we approach 4 billion mobile users the productivity tool “par excellence”. Th e Internet itself worldwide has profound implications on the design of the is a fantastic tool for connecting people together into an future Internet, an Internet on the move. We also see growing enormous social networking project. machine-to-machine communications - RFID is just the fi rst example. Again, new technology means new applications Th e cultures and values governing the Internet have changed. which need to comply with the users’ rights to privacy and From its early days the Internet has been founded on the confi dentiality. principles of openness and free access shared by a community of developers. Today, the Internet faces many confl icting Th is is why the “Future Internet” is at the heart of the 7th challenges in terms of cultures and values it serves. Framework Programme. So far some 300 million Euro of our ICT budget have been dedicated to this issue. We now have a Let me give you a couple of examples: golden opportunity to shape the future of the Internet. - Th e Internet is a vector of a more “integrated” global world. It is thus a powerful force for enhancing transparency and I encourage you, the research projects, to work jointly in the informing citizens. Some communities are however seeking setting up of the European Future Internet Assembly that I to fragment it into islands which will create barriers to the see as a vehicle to ensure a prominent role of Europe in the free fl ow of knowledge on line. global debate. - Openness and connectivity end-to-end are key features of the success of the Internet, yet there is pressure now emerging Europe has all the assets to be a leader on the development of to limit these features so as to foreclose the internet in order the Future Internet. Not only was the web invented in Europe, to give key investors more reliable streams of revenue. but many European companies are winning recognition as - Security and authentication have become issues of great “best international internet start-ups”. Europe is also home to concern for businesses, public administrations and citizens. the highest number of internet users worldwide. Europe is a Th ese issues are not yet adequately addressed in the Internet tremendous pool of scientifi c talents and creativity. and we have to go very carefully in order to increase trust without compromising openness. We invite you to join us in ensuring that Europe fully benefi ts from the opportunities ahead of us. We need to strike the right balance between diff erent interests as the Internet expands and deepens its role in our lives. To this end, the European Commission will contribute to the 3 ••• Table of Contents Preface by the Commissioner Vivianne Reding .................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Area 1 “Future Networks” Overview of project fi ches under this area............................................................................................................................................. 9 • 4WARD .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 • E3 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 • EFIPSANS .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 • SENSEI ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 • TRILOGY .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 • AUTOI ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 • CHIANTI ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 • DICONET .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 • ETNA...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 • MOBITHIN ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 • MOMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 • N-CRAVE .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 • PSIRP ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 • SENDORA ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 38 • SMOOTH-IT ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 40 • SOCRATES ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 42 • EURO-NF .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 44 • EIFFEL ..................................................................................................................................................................................................