Flexible Topologies for Efficient Network Coverage Expansion, Sustainability and Trust
Vasileios Tsekenis, Sokratis Barmpounakis, Panagiotis Demestichas · 2025
The evolution towards sixth generation (6G) wireless networks necessitates innovative approaches to achieve ubiquitous connectivity, especially in remote and underserved regions. Traditional mobile network operator (MNO) infrastructures often fall short in addressing the dynamic demands of 6G applications, such as extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR), and massive Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. This paper introduces a novel framework for the on-demand formulation of flexible, unstructured network topologies leveraging various devices, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). We validate our framework through two distinct use cases: UC1 for outdoor, remote setups, and UC2 for indoor, capacity-heavy warehouse inventory management. Central to our approach is the concept of trustworthiness, which extends beyond security to encompass capacity, energy efficiency, performance, and cost. We present a comprehensive system model that emphasizes the exposure and utilization of critical network metrics, integrating AI/ML-driven resource optimization. Our results demonstrate significant improvements in deployment cost, energy consumption, and network efficiency compared to static infrastructures. Additionally, we address key challenges related to node selection, trust management, and realtime adaptability.