Dominic Jainy stands at the forefront of a digital revolution as a leading expert in high-tech infrastructure and emerging technologies. With a deep background in artificial intelligence and machine learning, he currently helps steer the ambitious Future Network Services consortium, a massive initiative backed by over 200 million euros in public and private funding. His work is instrumental in moving 6G from theoretical research into the “backbone” of the modern economy, focusing on how next-generation connectivity will redefine everything from manufacturing to national security.
The following discussion explores the economic transition of 6G development, highlighting the shift toward commercializing world-record optical speeds and the integration of radar-like sensing into communication networks. We delve into the architectural changes required for hybrid satellite-ground systems, the practical implementation of “wireless factories” that eliminate traditional cabling, and the critical role of regional testbeds in supporting over 100 SMEs. Finally, the conversation addresses the strategic necessity of European technological autonomy and the long-term roadmap for global collaboration in a hyper-connected world.
With an additional 142 million euros in funding and the entry of fifteen new companies, phase two focuses heavily on translating 6G knowledge into economic value. How will you scale the recent 5.7 terabits per second optical link record into commercial infrastructure, and what specific metrics define success for the 100 SMEs joined for pilots?
Scaling a world-record 5.7 terabits per second optical link requires moving beyond the controlled environment where we achieved that 4.6-kilometer transmission and integrating it into standardized network architectures. We are currently working with our industrial partners to miniaturize the photonics components so they can be manufactured at scale and deployed within existing fiber-heavy urban hubs. For the 100 SMEs involved, success isn’t just about speed; it is measured by their ability to achieve “market-readiness” through our National 6G Testbed. We track specific metrics like the reduction in latency during high-load scenarios and the successful integration of their hardware into our unified software framework. Ultimately, the goal is to transform these high-speed prototypes into a resilient backbone that can support the surge of data from millions of new devices without a dip in reliability.
The integration of sensing capabilities allows radio signals to detect objects via reflections, essentially turning communication networks into radar systems. How does this dual-purpose technology transform logistics at busy hubs like Rotterdam, and what are the primary technical trade-offs when balancing data transmission with environmental sensing?
At a massive logistics hub like a Rotterdam junction, this technology allows the network to “see” traffic flow and detect obstacles without needing thousands of separate cameras or sensors. By analyzing how radio signals bounce off vehicles and containers, the system creates a real-time digital twin of the environment, which significantly improves safety and autonomous routing. However, there is a delicate technical balance because every millisecond spent on environmental sensing is a millisecond not used for pure data transmission. We have to carefully manage the spectrum to ensure that the “radar” functions do not cause interference or drop the throughput for critical communication links. Our team is developing AI-driven scheduling algorithms that dynamically shift priorities based on the immediate needs of the hub, ensuring that sensing and signaling coexist seamlessly.
Beyond ground-based mobile networks, 6G aims to integrate more tightly with satellite communications to improve reliability and resilience. What does the architectural roadmap look like for creating these hybrid networks, and how will this connectivity ensure the real-time control necessary for managing national energy systems without interruption?
The architectural roadmap focuses on a “network of networks” approach where the transition between terrestrial towers and low-earth-orbit satellites is completely invisible to the end-user. This involves creating a unified control plane that can hand off data streams instantly if a ground-based fiber line is compromised or if a remote energy site sits outside traditional coverage. For national energy systems, this hybridity is a game-changer because it provides a “fail-safe” connectivity layer that is nearly impossible to disrupt through local hardware failures. We are implementing rigorous synchronization protocols to ensure that real-time commands for power grid balancing remain accurate to within microseconds, regardless of the data path. This level of resilience ensures that even in extreme weather or localized outages, the central management system maintains total visibility over the energy infrastructure.
The development of Wi-Int chips and AI-driven tools like Oakestra marks a shift toward automated network control and wireless device connectivity. Can you describe the step-by-step process of implementing these components in a “wireless factory” setting and explain how these tools eliminate the need for traditional cabling in high-stakes manufacturing?
Implementing a wireless factory begins with deploying Wi-Int chips across every piece of machinery, effectively creating a wireless USB-like interface that provides instant, high-speed connectivity. Once the hardware is in place, we overlay the Oakestra software, which acts as the “brain” of the facility, automatically orchestrating how data flows between robots and control units. This eliminates the “cable spaghetti” that currently limits factory flexibility, allowing manufacturers to reconfigure their entire production line in hours rather than weeks. By removing physical wires, we also eliminate a common point of mechanical failure and wear-and-tear in moving machinery. In this high-stakes environment, the AI ensures that mission-critical commands are prioritized, providing the same—or better—reliability as a traditional wired Ethernet connection.
National testbeds are currently operational in cities like Eindhoven and The Hague to trial innovations in healthcare and mobility. What anecdotes can you share from recent trials involving medical drones or operating theaters, and how do these regional sites help startups secure the funding needed to compete with larger foreign players?
In our recent trials, we witnessed a medical drone successfully navigate a complex urban route to deliver urgent goods, relying entirely on the low-latency 6G testbed to avoid obstacles in real-time. Similarly, in the operating theater pilots, we’ve seen connected medical equipment maintain perfect synchronization, allowing surgeons to access high-definition data streams without a single wired connection in the room. These regional sites are vital because they provide startups with “proof-of-concept” data that is essential for attracting venture capital and government grants. By demonstrating their tech works in a live, high-pressure environment like Groningen or Delft, these smaller companies can prove their scalability to investors. This localized support system levels the playing field, giving our home-grown innovators the technical validation they need to stand tall against global tech giants.
Strengthening strategic autonomy is a major driver for localized 6G development across Europe and partners like Japan or Taiwan. What practical steps are being taken to ensure these international collaborations remain secure, and how does owning the underlying 6G hardware and software reduce long-term dependence on external tech providers?
To ensure security in our international partnerships with countries like Japan and Taiwan, we are developing “security-by-design” protocols where the hardware and software layers are audited at every stage of production. We focus on creating open, yet highly secure, standards that allow for interoperability while maintaining strict control over the core intellectual property. By owning the underlying 6G technology—the chips, the AI controllers, and the optical links—we ensure that our digital economy isn’t vulnerable to the whims or supply chain disruptions of external providers. This strategic autonomy means we can update, patch, and expand our critical infrastructure independently, keeping our data and our industries under our own jurisdiction. It transforms our position from being a mere consumer of tech to being a primary architect of the global digital future.
What is your forecast for 6G?
I forecast that 6G will move us beyond the era of “connected devices” into an era of “integrated intelligence,” where the network itself becomes a sensing and thinking entity. Within the next decade, the distinction between the digital and physical worlds will blur as 6G provides the sub-millisecond precision needed for widespread holographic communication and fully autonomous urban ecosystems. We will see the “wireless factory” become the global standard, driven by the realization that physical cabling is the final bottleneck to industrial productivity. Most importantly, 6G will be the catalyst for truly green technology, as its ultra-efficient AI management reduces the energy footprint of our global data consumption even as our usage skyrockets. It won’t just be a faster version of what we have today; it will be a foundational shift in how human society interacts with the space around it.