The SAFE-6G project has released Deliverable D3.3, “User-centric Distributed 6G Core,” presenting the final technical developments of the project’s distributed 5G/6G core infrastructure.

The deliverable documents how the different technologies, modules and interfaces of the SAFE-6G packet core have been brought together to support the project’s vision of trustworthy, user-centric 6G services, including the infrastructure required for validation through the SAFE-6G Metaverse use cases.

A central objective of the work has been to evolve the traditional 5G Core towards a more distributed, cloud-native and programmable architecture capable of supporting future 6G functionality. Among the implemented developments are containerised signalling and user-plane components, Kubernetes-compatible deployment, interfaces for AI/ML integration through the Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF), enhanced Network Exposure Function (NEF) capabilities and support for multiple User Plane Function configurations.

An important aspect of D3.3 is the implementation of SAFE-6G across both commercial and open-source core network environments. Alongside the Cumucore platform, the project uses and extends Open5GS, enabling the SAFE-6G architecture to be evaluated in an open and standards-compliant environment. This approach demonstrates that the project’s trust mechanisms, AI-driven functionality and network exposure capabilities are not tied to a single vendor implementation.

SAFE-6G has also developed two key APIs through the Open5GS Network Exposure Function: the NEF Monitoring Event API, which enables authorised applications and trust components to securely access network monitoring information, and the NEF AsSessionWithQoS API, which allows applications to request specific Quality of Service requirements for individual application sessions.

The open-source implementation, documentation and deployment resources for these APIs have also been made available through the SAFE-6G software repositories, supporting further experimentation and reuse.

Overall, D3.3 marks an important step in SAFE-6G’s transition from 5G core capabilities towards an AI-enabled, distributed and interoperable 6G core architecture. The final implementation across both Cumucore and Open5GS strengthens portability and interoperability while providing the network foundation needed for the project’s trust-aware services and future validation activities.

Find it online: https://safe-6g.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/D3.3_SAFE-6G_V1.0.pdf