Researchers: Xavi Masip, Vitor Barbosa, Eva Marín and Wilson Ramirez
Duration of the Project: from November 2013 until October 2015
Consortium: Telefónica I+D (Spain), Technische Universitaet Braunschweig (Germany), Orange Labs, Scuola Sant’Anna (Italy), Old Dog Consulting (UK), Nextworks s.r.l. (Italy), Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (Spain) and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain)
PCE, a prime example of a network virtualisation and software-defined network artefact, was originally envisaged for constraint-based routing in the conventional best-effort Internet. Over the years, it evolved into the ultimate tool for multi-technology, multidomain, multi-layer, and multi-vendor networking, an effort led by engineers and scientists participating in the PACE consortium. PACE will concentrate European research, development, and standardization, through which innovation is fostered in all areas of technology, network services and broader societal needs. The PACE action will help create and sustain not only a best-of-breed think-tank in this field, but also, and more importantly, a community-led platform for innovation in network engineering and science. The PACE project has the following vision and objectives: 1) Concentrate and rapidly push forward PCE-based frameworks for research, development, technology transfer and innovation, as well as standardisation; 2) Create open-source software, documentation and data repository, as well as sustained collaborative action within a concentrated community of industrial leaders, developers, and academics; and 3) Shape, secure and sustain the EU-based competence, leadership and commitment to innovation into and beyond the era of Software- Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Application-Based Network Operations (ABNO).