Future 6G networks could soon predict problems before they happen, fix themselves automatically, and use less energy — all thanks to new digital twins that act as virtual copies of the real network.
At the halfway point of its journey, the European project 6G-TWIN unveils major advances in the creation of network digital twins — intelligent virtual replicas that make future 6G networks observable, predictable and self-optimising. Its first results are now available to the public.
A digital twin for tomorrow’s connectivity
Imagine a network that can learn from its own behaviour, predict failures before they happen, and automatically adjust to save energy — all without human intervention. This is the vision behind 6G-TWIN, a €4-million project funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking of the European Union, under the Horizon Europe programme.
Led by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and bringing together 11 partners from seven countries, 6G-TWIN is pioneering the use of Network Digital Twins — making it fully integrated into the next generation of mobile networks, to serve more and more demanding applications and services. These twins act as safe testing environments where engineers and AI systems can explore what-if scenarios, optimise performance, and design greener, more reliable 6G infrastructures.
After 18 months of research, the consortium has reached a major milestone: the core functional architecture and pipelines of the project’s ecosystem are now complete and ready to be shared openly with industry, researchers and the public.
A common language for networks and machines
At the heart of 6G-TWIN lies the idea that a network can become self-aware through its digital counterpart. The project’s members have defined a multi-layered architecture where data from every part of the network — antennas, transport links, servers and user devices — can feed into a continuously updated digital twin.
The digital twin uses this live information to create models that AI can analyse. These models help predict problems such as network congestion, energy waste, or coverage gaps — and even suggest automatic fixes before issues happen.
Sébastien Faye, Head of the Distributed & Intelligent Connectivity Research Group at LIST and Coordinator of the project, explains:
“Operators can test changes virtually before applying them to the real network, using live data and models to anticipate outcomes - so they can push the limits safely and see what happens. The concept of a network digital twin was previously unclear across the community. We first built a shared definition — over 1,000 pages of foundational work — and are now turning it into real deployments. The architecture is AI-native, open, and follows international standards, so it can work with future 6G systems worldwide.”
From virtual models to real-world impact
6G-TWIN is turning its virtual experiments into real-life tests that show how smarter networks can make life easier, safer, and greener. Two concrete demonstrators are now under preparation to prove the concept.
The first one is remote-controlled driving. Imagine a car being driven from afar. The digital twin helps keep the connection stable and predicts problems before they happen. Engineers can also test different “what-if” scenarios — like varying traffic, unexpected detours, or network glitches — to see how the system reacts, and fine-tune configurations before anything touches the real system.
The other demonstrator is about energy-efficient network management, showing how predictive models can automatically switch off or reconfigure base stations to reduce power consumption without affecting service. It watches how busy different parts of the network are and can automatically put quiet areas into “low-power mode,” then bring them back to full speed when more people come online. And it does all this without ever interrupting your calls or emergency services.
These tests combine the expertise and tools of all the project partners from IMEC’s AI algorithms and Accelleran’s O-RAN expertise to VIAVI’s advanced testing and monitoring tools. Prototypes are already being installed in labs in Luxembourg and Belgium, with live demonstrations planned for 2026.
Europe’s path toward self-optimising 6G networks
6G-TWIN’s mid-term results mark a significant step toward Europe’s 6G ambitions. By combining digital twins, AI and open architectures, the project contributes to a new paradigm of “zero-touch” networks — systems that can manage themselves dynamically across radio, core and cloud domains.
The potential impact extends far beyond telecommunications. Network digital twins could eventually support smart cities, autonomous mobility, industrial automation, and climate-neutral data centres — all key priorities for the European Green Deal and Digital Decade.
As the project moves into its second half, the focus will turn to testing, validation and real-world demonstrations. The consortium’s next goal: prove that the technology can scale and bring measurable gains in reliability, latency and energy efficiency. By 2026, the project will deliver two fully validated demonstrators, open technical frameworks, and business roadmaps for the telecom industry.
The first public deliverables from 6G-TWIN are available online.
About the project
6G-TWIN (Integrating Network Digital Twinning into Future AI-based Systems) is a Horizon Europe project under grant agreement no. 101136314, co-funded by the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) and the European Union. Running from January 2024 to December 2026, it involves 11 partners from 8 countries, bringing together academic excellence from partners such as Politecnico di Bari and the Université de Bourgogne, research and technology organisations like LIST and IMEC, and leading companies including Ubiwhere, Accelleran, VIAVI and Proximus Luxembourg.
A central ambition of 6G-TWIN is openness — not just in architecture, but also in sharing results. Several software components have been released publicly. This open-science approach is designed to accelerate uptake by European industry and small businesses. Making these tools accessible empower others to experiment, innovate and build on top of what has been created. The project is also working closely with the Horizon Results Booster to prepare business strategies and standardisation inputs. More information: www.6g-twin.eu