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This paper presents on-going research to develop the Intercloud Architecture Framework (ICAF) that addresses problems in multi-provider multi-domain heterogeneous cloud based infrastructure services and applications integration and interoperability. The paper refers to existing standards in Cloud Computing, in particular, recently published NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (CCRA). The proposed ICAF defines four complementary components addressing Intercloud integration and interoperability: multi-layer Cloud Services Model (CSM) that combines commonly adopted cloud service models, such as IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, in one multilayer model with corresponding inter-layer interfaces including also access and delivery infrastructure layer; Intercloud Control and Management Plane (ICCMP) that supports cloud based applications interaction; Intercloud Federation Framework (ICFF), and Intercloud Operation Framework (ICOF). The paper provides general definition of the ICFF, its generic components and interfaces. The paper briefly describes the architectural framework for cloud based infrastructure services provisioned on-demand being developed in the framework of the GEYSERS project that provides a basis for CSM and ICCMP implementation allowing optimized provisioning of computing, storage and networking resources. The proposed architecture is intended to provide an architectural model for developing Intercloud middleware and in this way will facilitate clouds interoperability and integration.

This article introduces the key innovations of the 5Growth service platform to empower verticals industries with an AI-driven automated 5G End-to-End (E2E) slicing solution which allows industries to achieve their service requirements. Specifically, we present multiple vertical pilots (Industry 4.0, Transportation and Energy), identify the key 5G requirements to enable them and analyze existing technical and functional gaps as compared to current solutions. Based on the identified gaps, we propose a set of innovations to address them with: (i) support of 3GPP-based RAN slices by introducing a RAN slicing model and providing automated RAN orchestration and control, (ii) an AI-driven closed-loop for automated service management with Service Level Agreement (SLA) assurance, and, (iii) Multi-domain solutions to expand service offerings by aggregating services and resources from different provider domains and also enable the integration of private 5G networks with public networks.

Abstract-In this paper we propose energy efficient design and operation of infrastructures incorporating integrated optical network and IT resources. For the first time we quantify significant energy savings of a complete solution jointly optimizing the allocation and provisioning of both network and IT resources. Our approach involves virtualization of the infrastructure resources and it is proposed and developed in the framework of the European project GEYSERS -Generalised Architecture for Dynamic Infrastructure Services.

5G requires a redesign of transport networks in order to feed the increasingly bandwidth hungry Radio Access Networks and to benefit of the performance/cost efficiency provided by the integration of both backhaul and fronthaul segments over the same transport substrate as well as the incorporation of Cloud RAN architectures. In addition, to increase its usage and costefficiency, this new transport network should allow simultaneous use by different tenants, e.g. MVNOs, OTTs, or vertical industries. This paper presents the 5G Transport Network architecture designed in the 5G-Crosshaul project to address this challenge. An SDN/NFV-based control plane has been designed that enables multi-tenancy through network slicing. The proposed solution allows for a flexible and efficient allocation of transport network resources (networking and computing) to multiple tenants by leveraging on widespread architectural frameworks for NFV (ETSI NFV) and SDN (e.g., Open Daylight and ONOS).