InDRA Project
InDRA: smarter and safer cities
Urban mobility, traffic management and infrastructure monitoring are evolving thanks to Edge Cloud Computing (ECC) and artificial intelligence. It is in this context that InDRA – Intelligenza Distribuita per Reti Avanzate (Distributed Intelligence for Advanced Networks) was launched, one of the pilot projects funded by the Department for Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, in line with the Italian Ultra-Broadband Strategy 2023–2026.
The initiative is part of the broader development of Edge Cloud Computing platforms in Telco access networks, with the aim of bringing computing capabilities ever closer to citizens and businesses, while improving the performance, reliability and efficiency of digital services. Edge Cloud Computing represents an evolution of traditional Cloud Computing, distributing computing capabilities at the edge of networks and enabling data to be processed closer to end users, significantly reducing latency and optimising data transport across the network.
The project involves testing Edge Cloud Computing platforms installed at Open Fiber’s fixed-network nodes (POPs), integrating advanced computing capabilities directly into telecommunications infrastructure. Thanks to this architecture, it will be possible to support next-generation digital services related to Smart Cities, smart mobility and advanced urban infrastructure management.
The 12-month pilot projects involve universities, Telco operators, ECC platform vendors, OTTs, system integrators and consulting firms, creating an ecosystem that brings together research and industry expertise. The objective is to assess the technological and economic benefits of using ECC platforms in access networks, both in terms of application service quality and their impact on economic growth and the development of ultra-fast networks.
The four pilot projects planned as part of InDRA focus on strategic areas such as intelligent traffic management, support for autonomous driving, monitoring and predictive maintenance of urban infrastructure, the use of artificial intelligence and Digital Twin technology for advanced simulations and analysis, as well as a comparison between traditional Cloud architectures and Edge Cloud solutions integrated into Telco access networks. The project represents a concrete step towards more innovative, efficient digital services that are closer to the needs of citizens and businesses.
Project partners
As the lead partner, Sapienza University of Rome coordinates the project and develops mathematical models to integrate different use cases and assess node efficiency. It develops autonomous driving solutions through MIL simulations in urban and interurban scenarios. It also designs and optimises multimodal corridors and traffic using advanced models and real-time monitoring to improve efficiency and safety.
The university develops machine learning and clustering algorithms to analyse sensor data and support real-time decision-making. Finally, it is also responsible for infrastructure monitoring and the optimisation of ECC nodes.
We contribute to the project by making our network infrastructure available, enabling the installation of the hardware and platform and ensuring scalability. We are responsible for designing and implementing the network and ECC platform architecture, including node configuration and the integration of hardware and software components.
We support the implementation of field trials and vertical solutions, ensuring that the infrastructure operates correctly in real-world scenarios. We also assess the performance of the implemented solutions, contributing to KPI measurement and the dissemination of project results, with a particular focus on the efficiency and scalability of ECC solutions.
As the project’s Business Advisor, PTS leads the economic and market analysis of ECC solutions, defining KPIs and sustainable business models to assess their feasibility. It also conducts analyses of the economic sustainability of investments and the overall effectiveness of the initiative.
Activities include defining and evaluating KPIs, analysing market scenarios and monitoring the performance of ECC solutions. PTS completes its contribution through the dissemination of project results, promoting knowledge sharing and value creation for additional stakeholders.
FibreConnect acts as the project’s OTT and will participate in the project trials required to measure and monitor the identified KPIs, in order to assess the level of services delivered using ECC architectures compared with traditional Cloud architectures.
This represents an important enabler for the development of innovative services for end customers, with a particular focus on businesses located in the country’s industrial and craft areas, which will thus be able to move towards Industry 5.0.
Based on the experience gained through the trials, FibreConnect will assess the availability of new business models for companies, promoting projects focused on smart cities and urban mobility.
As a strategic technology partner, Lutech provides its Edge Cloud Computing software platform and expertise in Smart Mobility, AI and Digital Twin technologies, contributing to the development of advanced use cases.
It provides an open-source framework for Smart City and Smart Mobility applications. Thanks to its modular and scalable architecture, the platform facilitates integration with ECC, AI, Digital Twin and HPC technologies. This approach enables the development of innovative and interoperable solutions for the intelligent management of urban environments.
As a core network vendor for Telco operators and technology provider offering transparent solutions for network and ICT infrastructure, Huawei provides the edge computing platform, including computing and storage servers, networking and the Huawei Cloud Stack platform.
The project will also include platform design, installation, configuration, training and maintenance services. The technologies adopted will ensure ultra-low-latency performance, enabling a new generation of digital services for urban transport.
Find out more about InDRA
Learn more about the objectives, partners and progress of the pilot project in the official press release.