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PRIN-INSPIRE

INSPIRE (Integrated Terrestrial/Space wireless networks for broadband connectivity and IoT services) aims to design, analyze, and validate next-generation wireless architectures that seamlessly integrate terrestrial and non-terrestrial network segments.

Project Goals

The project targets the realization of ubiquitous, flexible, and high-capacity 3D connectivity, enabling broadband services and massive IoT access across heterogeneous environments.
The core scientific objectives include:

  • the development of beyond-5G physical-layer solutions robust to high mobility, Doppler effects, and hardware impairments;

  • the design of advanced beamforming and massive MIMO techniques, including virtual and distributed antenna systems in space;

  • the definition of multi-tier network architectures supporting tropospheric, aerial, and satellite communications;

  • the development of intelligent orchestration and resource management algorithms for joint communication and computing across ground and space segments;

  • the delivery of an open-source system-level simulator for integrated terrestrial–space networks.

Overall, INSPIRE contributes to the 6G research roadmap by addressing coverage, scalability, resilience, and service continuity in future wireless systems.

Project Organization

The project is structured into six tightly integrated Work Packages (WPs), spanning architecture design, physical-layer optimization, resource management, orchestration, and experimental validation.

  • WP1 – Project Management, Dissemination and Exploitation
    Coordination of research activities, risk management, dissemination, and exploitation towards standardization and future projects.

  • WP2 – Architecture, Scenarios and KPIs
    Definition of reference scenarios, system architectures, and performance indicators for integrated terrestrial-space networks.

  • WP3 – PHY Layer Optimization
    Design of robust waveforms, channel estimation techniques, and beamforming solutions for high-mobility and mmWave/NTN scenarios.

  • WP4 – Computing and Radio Resource Management
    Development of joint communication–computation resource allocation algorithms in multi-tier, slice-oriented networks.

  • WP5 – Network and Services Orchestration
    Design of flexible, hierarchical, and secure orchestration frameworks based on SDN, NFV, and learning-based control.

  • WP6 – Software Simulator
    Implementation of an open-source, event-driven simulator for large-scale integrated terrestrial and space network evaluation.

Main achieved results

INSPIRE has delivered significant scientific and technological outcomes across multiple layers of the network stack, including:

  • novel beyond-OFDM waveform designs (e.g., OTFS-based solutions) enabling robust communications and joint sensing in high-mobility scenarios;

  • advanced cell-free and user-centric massive MIMO schemes for integrated aerial, satellite, and terrestrial deployments;

  • proactive and learning-assisted resource allocation algorithms for joint radio and computing management;

  • a hierarchical orchestration framework supporting network slicing and service continuity across heterogeneous tiers;

  • an open-source system-level simulator capable of modeling large-scale 3D networks with mobility, multi-RAT access, and service orchestration.

These results collectively advance the state of the art in integrated terrestrial–space networking and provide concrete tools and methodologies for future 6G systems.

Research Units

Politecnico di Bari

Università degli studi di Parma

Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale

List of publications

Journal Articles

[BCC+23] S. Buzzi, G. Caire, G. Colavolpe, C. D’Andrea, T. Foggi, A. Piemontese, and A. Ugolini, “LEO satellite diversity in 6G non-terrestrial networks: OFDM vs. OTFS,” IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 27, no. 11, pp. 3013-3017, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2023.3320793.
 
[PUM+24] A. Piemontese, A. Ugolini, M. Morini, G. Colavolpe, and T. Eriksson, “Spiral constellations for nonlinear channels,” IEEE Communications Letters, vol. 28, no. 9, pp. 2016-2020, Sept. 2024, doi: 10.1109/LCOMM.2024.3438830.
 
[PQS+24] D. Pugliese, M. Quadrini, D. Striccoli, C. Roseti, F. Zampognaro, G. Piro, L. A. Grieco, and G. Boggia, “Integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks via IAB technology: System-level design and evaluation,” Computer Networks, Volume 253, November 2024, 110726
 
[DSC+24] F. de Trizio, G. Sciddurlo, I. Cianci, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Optimizing key value indicators in intent-based networks through digital twins-aided service orchestration mechanisms,” Computer Communications, vol. 228, Art. no. 107977, 2024.
 
[HOG+24] I. Huso, M. Olivieri, L. Galgano, A. Rashid, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Design and implementation of a looking-forward lawful interception architecture for future mobile communication systems,” Computer Networks, Art. no. 110518, 2024.
 
[HOS+24] H. Hashemi, M. Olyaee, B. Soret, M. C. Aguayo-Torres, and S. Buzzi, “Statistical characterization of the delay and performance analysis in 3-D relay networks,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 5, pp. 7787–7805, 2024.
 
[HSO+25] I. Huso, S. Sciancalepore, G. Oligeri, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Frequency matters: On the impact of carrier frequency on privacy in radio fingerprinting,” IEEE Wireless Communications Letters, vol. 14, no. 7, 2025.
 
[SDP+25] G. Sciddurlo, F. de Trizio, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “A value-driven system design framework for sustainable 6G networks,” Computer Networks, vol. 269, Art. no. 111477, 2025.
 
[SCS+25] G. Sciddurlo, P. Camarda, D. Striccoli, I. Cianci, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Markov chain-based analytical model supporting service provisioning and network design in the social Internet of Everything,” Computer Networks, Art. no. 111040, 2025.
 
[BMC+25] E. Boffetti, I. Marasco, C. Cantore, G. Magno, G. Piro, A. D’Orazio, L. A. Grieco, and G. Boggia, “In-Flight Pose and Electromagnetic Experimental Characterization of UAV-Mounted Metasurfaces for Next-Generation Indoor Wireless Systems,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, vol. 12, no. 20, pp. 43130-43142, 15 Oct.15, 2025, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2025.3595391.
 
[DFP+25] C. D’Andrea, T. Foggi, A. Piemontese, A. Ugolini, S. Buzzi and G. Colavolpe, “Cell-Free Macro-Diversity Schemes in LEO Non-Terrestrial Networks With OTFS and OFDM Modulations,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 6, pp. 10432-10448, 2025, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3644171.
 
[COR+25] S. Carbonara, M. Olivieri, A. Rago, V. Sciancalepore, G. Piro, G. Boggia, L. A. Grieco, “Hands-On Solutions for Testing Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks: A Comprehensive Survey,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 6, pp. 10729-10760, 2025, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3646364.
 
[PIF+26] D. Pugliese. G. Iacovelli, A. Fascista, D. Striccoli, O. Romanov, L. A. Grieco, G. Boggia,”Visible Light Indoor Positioning with a Single LED and Distributed Single-Element OIRS: An Iterative Approach with Adaptive Beam Steering,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2026.3657386.

Conference Papers

[DFP+24] C. D’Andrea, T. Foggi, A. Piemontese, A. Ugolini, S. Buzzi, and G. Colavolpe, “Coherent vs. non-coherent joint transmission in cell-free user-centric non-terrestrial wireless networks,” in Proc. IEEE SPAWC, 2024.
 
[BRP+24] E. Boffetti, A. Rago, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Design of AI-based digital twin network for multimedia service provisioning,” in Proc. IEEE ISCC Workshops (NGMSE), 2024 (Best Workshop Paper).
 
[DSP+24] F. de Trizio, G. Sciddurlo, A. Petrosino, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “A scalable framework for responsive trustworthiness dissemination in social IoA,” in Proc. ACM CoNEXT Student Workshop, 2024.
 
[DSR+24] F. de Trizio, G. Sciddurlo, D. Rutigliano, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “A novel malicious intent detection approach in intent-based enterprise networks,” in Proc. IEEE CNSM, 2024.
 
[CAF+25] E. Conti, A. Piemontese, T. Foggi, G. Colavolpe, and A. Vannucci, “Efficient message-passing detection for multi-satellite systems using OTFS modulation,” in Proc. IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2025.
 
[SUA+25] C. Sacchi, A. Ugolini, A. Piemontese, T. Foggi, E. Conti, C. D’Andrea, and F. Babich, “A unified software-defined radio framework for flexible waveform design in non-terrestrial networks,” in Proc. IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2025.
 
[CPB+25] S. Carbonara, D. Pugliese, E. Boffetti, F. Greco, B. Didonna, G. Grieco, A. Fascista, and L. A. Grieco, “An indoor experimental testbed for 5G-based UAV control and communication,” in Proc. IEEE WiMob / STWiMob, 2025.
 
[HCP+25] I. Huso, A. Calia, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “A multi-slice lawful interception framework for beyond-5G networks: Design and evaluation of a standard-compliant emulation testbed,” in Proc. IEEE CSCN, 2025 (Best Paper Award).
 
[RFP+25] A. Rago, A. Fascista, G. Piro, G. Boggia, and L. A. Grieco, “6GxAID: Integrating 6G networks and explainable artificial intelligence for drone-based assistance in emergency situations,” in Proc. IEEE ICTON, 2025.
 
[HCS+25] I. Huso, S. Carbonara, S. Sciancalepore, G. Oligeri, G. Piro, and G. Boggia, “Jamming echoes: On the impact of out-of-band interference on radio frequency fingerprinting,” in Proc. IEEE INFOCOM Workshops (DeepWireless), 2025.
 
[BRP+25] E. Boffetti, A. Rago, G. Piro and G. Boggia, “5G-QoERA: An Integrated Dataset for QoE Assessment in 5GNR Based on User Mobility, Radio Map, Scheduling Decisions, and Application Details,” Proc. of 2025 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), Milan, Italy, 2025, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/WCNC61545.2025.10978283.
 
[FBI25] M. M. Freitas, S. Buzzi, and G. Interdonato, “UAV-empowered aerial cell-free networks robust to downlink phase misalignments,” in Proc. IEEE SPAWC, 2025.
 
[CPF+25] S. Carbonara, D. Pugliese, A. Fascista, A. Coluccia, G. Boggia, “5G-Compliant Integrated Sensing and Communication at Sub-6 GHz: Experiments with SDRs and OpenAirInterface”, European Wireless 2025.
 
[CPF+26] S. Carbonara, D. Pugliese, A. Fascista, A. Coluccia, G. Boggia, “Downlink ISAC with a Full-Stack 5G-Compliant Experimental Testbed: Communication vs. Control Signals for Multi-Target Detection”, 2026 IEEE 6th International Symposium on Joint Communications & Sensing (JC&S) (JC&S’26), Ponte di Legno, Italy.
 
[HBP+25] I. Huso, E. Boffetti, G. Piro, G. Boggia, “Enlarging Lawful Interception Capabilities with Control-Plane Analysis for User Activity Detection”, 2025 IEEE International Workshop on Technologies for Defense and Security (TechDefense) (IEEE TechDefense 2025), pp. 5, Rome, Italy.