Future Networks
We conduct fundamental and mission-led research into future high-performance, adaptive, secure, and resilient communications networks. Our expertise spans network protocols for performance and security, programmable and software-defined networking, network function virtualisation, and Cloud and Edge computing. We have pioneered end-to-end network and service management across the communications–compute continuum, alongside new protocols and algorithms for Internet routing, transport, naming, and addressing. Our research also advances in-network cybersecurity and resilience, network monitoring, and AI- and Machine Learning-driven resource allocation.
Major UK, European, and industry-funded projects address virtualised infrastructure management, secure and situationally aware communications, programmable data-plane cybersecurity, reinforcement learning for network resilience, and lightweight programmability for industrial and IoT environments. Our experimental research is underpinned by two specialist laboratories:
The Networked Systems Research Laboratory (netlab) provides a highly programmable, fully virtualised networking environment spanning radio, NetFPGA/SmartNICs, P4 switches, orchestration controllers, compute infrastructure, and edge devices. It enables realistic emulation of data centres and Edge environments for evaluating next-generation intelligent control, resource provisioning, security, and resilience.
The Internet Protocols Laboratory investigates the future of Internet protocols, architecture, and standards, with particular expertise in network measurement, network and transport protocol innovation, and improving the Internet standards development process.
Project Highlights
Digital Resilience for Critical National Infrastructure
The project includes the development of technical mechanisms to measure and enrich the ability of systems to respond to challenges in their dynamic operation. It also includes machine-learning approaches for timely diagnosis of adversarial events as they evolve. And the effective integration of technology within broader organisational and regulatory frameworks governing the relevant sectors.
TransiT: Digital Twinning for Decarbonising Transport
This project is focused on building an interconnected digital twin network that spans the whole transport system, including road, rail, maritime and aviation – across both passenger and freight.
COCOON: COoperative Cyber PrOtectiON for Modern Power Grids
COCOON’s goal is to deliver a practical cyber-physical systems solution for converged EPES by bridging secure networked systems research and innovation with power systems engineering.
TruSDEd: Trustworthy, Software-Defined Cyberattack Detection and Mitigation at the Network Edge
The TruSDEd project addresses how to enable in-situ and trustworthy cybersecurity provisioning for resource-constrained Information and Communication Technology (ICT) deployments against local and Internet-originated cyberattacks.