Imagine the internet's plumbing was designed decades ago and we keep duct-taping new pieces onto it every time demand grows — that's basically where telecom networks are today. ARCFIRE built and tested a cleaner alternative called RINA, which treats networking like nesting the same simple building block over and over, instead of stacking dozens of incompatible layers. The team ran large-scale experiments on real European testbeds to prove this approach actually works outside the lab. The result is an open software suite that telecom operators and equipment makers can try against their current network designs to see the difference for themselves.
Telecom operators today manage a patchwork of separate network layers and protocols that were bolted together over decades. Each new service — video, IoT, 5G — adds another layer of complexity and cost. The industry needs a way to converge these networks into a simpler, more manageable architecture without rebuilding everything from scratch.
The project built a complete RINA software suite including the network stack, a management system, and a measurement tool for benchmarking. This was delivered in two stages: an experiment-ready version and a final integrated version with bug fixes from large-scale testing. All code was contributed back to the open-source IRATI project.
If you are a telecom operator dealing with the cost and complexity of managing separate network layers for voice, data, and video — this project developed a ready-to-experiment RINA software suite tested at large scale across 5 European countries. It lets you benchmark a single converged network design against your current multi-layer setup, potentially reducing operational overhead.
If you are a network equipment vendor trying to shorten your innovation cycle for next-generation infrastructure — this project produced an integrated RINA stack with a management system and measurement tools, validated through 16 deliverables. The open-source codebase gives you a head start on building products for converged operator networks.
If you are a small tech company looking for a niche in virtualized networking — this project demonstrated how RINA integrates distributed computing and networking into one architecture. With 1 SME already in the 6-partner consortium, the software suite is designed to help European SMEs find and exploit specialized markets in next-generation networking.
The RINA software suite was developed with EUR 1,199,995 in EU funding and the codebase was contributed back to the open-source IRATI project. Adoption costs would primarily be integration engineering and testing against your existing infrastructure, not licensing fees.
Yes — the project's core purpose was large-scale experimentation on FIRE+ testbeds across 5 countries. The final integrated software went through iterative bug-fixing based on experimentation results. However, this was testbed-scale, not full commercial network deployment.
The software modifications were contributed back to the IRATI open-source codebase, suggesting open-source licensing. Ericsson coordinated the project, so some background IP may exist. Specific licensing terms should be confirmed with the consortium.
RINA takes a fundamentally different approach from SDN/NFV by using a single recursive layer instead of stacking separate protocols. The project specifically aimed to facilitate comparison of RINA-based converged networks versus operators' current network designs through controlled experiments.
The project explicitly targeted the 5G transition, noting that the shift to virtualized infrastructure by 2020 made this the right time for large-scale RINA validation. The architecture addresses challenges in moving from dedicated hardware to virtualized infrastructure that 5G demands.
The consortium of 6 partners across 5 countries was led by L.M. Ericsson Limited in Ireland, with 3 industry partners, 2 research organizations, and 1 university. The mix of Ericsson's commercial weight and research expertise suggests capacity for follow-up support, though the project ended in 2018.
The 6-partner consortium spans 5 countries (Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Italy, US) with a 50% industry ratio — a balanced mix of commercial and research partners. Ericsson, the coordinator, is a global telecom equipment leader, lending significant commercial credibility to the results. With 3 industry partners, 2 research organizations, and 1 university, the project was clearly oriented toward practical validation rather than pure academia. The inclusion of 1 SME signals that the technology was also assessed for smaller-company relevance. For a business considering this technology, having Ericsson as the lead partner is a strong signal that a major equipment vendor saw enough potential to invest in large-scale testing.
The coordinator is L.M. Ericsson Limited in Ireland — SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the project team.
Want to explore whether RINA-based networking could simplify your infrastructure? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the ARCFIRE team and provide a tailored briefing for your use case.
