ETRI Develops AI-Powered Autonomous 6G Core Network for Enhanced Efficiency

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in Korea has announced a significant advancement in next-generation network infrastructure with the development of an intelligent 6G core network. This innovative system is designed for autonomous control, powered entirely by artificial intelligence, marking a crucial step towards realizing AI-native 6G. Unlike conventional 5G core networks, which typically rely on more static session management structures, ETRI's new technology employs AI-driven prediction and control to dynamically optimize network operations. This intelligent core network achieves End-to-End AI automation at Level 3, meaning it can autonomously determine and enforce policies across the entire network. This capability allows for fully automated session and traffic control without any human operator involvement, a substantial leap in network management. The integration of reinforcement learning-based policy recommendation mechanisms is central to this autonomous functionality, enabling the network to adapt in real-time to varied service requirements. The benefits of this development are expected to be profound for telecom operators. By minimizing manual intervention through AI-driven automation, the technology promises to significantly enhance operational efficiency, reduce operational costs, and optimize resource utilization. The system's ability to dynamically configure data transmission paths based on service characteristics, utilizing Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6), ensures service-aware and performance-optimized connectivity. This includes the automatic establishment and adjustment of sessions and routes. To achieve this, the research team focused on several key technological developments. These include an AI-native control and user plane architecture, an intelligent automation and reliability verification module, and optimized training and inference technologies specifically for AI applications within the network. This comprehensive approach underscores a practical foundation for the future of AI-native 6G. The research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), with collaborations from major telecom players like SK Telecom, LG Uplus, and SNETICT. Looking ahead, ETRI plans to continue its development efforts, focusing on further advancements in AI-driven control and network automation. This ongoing research aims to solidify the capabilities of autonomous networks, ensuring that the upcoming 6G era is characterized by highly efficient, self-managing, and adaptable network infrastructures. The successful realization of this intelligent 6G core in Korea represents a major milestone in global telecommunications research and development.