Academic collaborations
Collaborations · Academic
Academic collaborations
ZZNets has worked with academic partners that provided specialised measurement infrastructure and methodological expertise in optimisation and machine learning, directly supporting the project's scientific objectives.
CITIC-UGR — Outdoor-to-indoor coverage from aerial base stations
SO2A collaboration was conducted with the research group at the Information and Communication Technologies Research Center of the University of Granada (CITIC-UGR), within the framework of Scientific Objective 2, focused on evaluating outdoor-to-indoor coverage from aerial base stations.
The collaboration enabled three professional radio measurement campaigns at the CITIC-UGR facilities. The transmitter was positioned on the building's rooftop using a 15-metre mast to emulate the geometry of an aerial Hypercell, transmitting directly towards the building's interior. Measurements were taken across multiple frequency bands and several levels — upper floors, ground floor and basement — to assess the capability of an elevated base station to provide indoor coverage and to generate a unique experimental dataset for channel model development and validation.
- JVProf. Juan Francisco Valenzuela
- AVProf. Ana Vázquez
Feasibility confirmed in the lower bands
Outdoor-to-indoor propagation was confirmed as feasible at 2, 3 and 7 GHz, while propagation limitations were identified at higher frequencies. The data also enabled the development of a measurement-based O2I channel model.
Joint publication in preparation
"Measurement-Based Characterization of O2I Multi-Floor Propagation and Link Performance in FR1 and FR3 Bands", being prepared for submission to IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation in 2026, co-authored by researchers from UGR and UPV.
Access to the specialised infrastructure and equipment at the University of Granada enabled a high-quality measurement campaign that would have been challenging to execute using UPV resources alone, providing essential value towards achieving the project's overall scientific objectives.
UPF — AI-based network modelling and advanced optimisation tools
SO3 · SO4Close collaboration has been maintained with Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) within the framework of Scientific Objectives 3 and 4, which focus on network modelling using artificial intelligence and the development of advanced optimisation tools.
The collaboration has been particularly relevant to the project's methodological development, contributing expertise in Bayesian optimisation, reinforcement learning, transfer learning and data-driven optimisation. Although these tools were initially explored in related scenarios — UAV aerial corridors, cellular mobility and antenna configuration — they provided a valuable methodological foundation for the network digital twin and served to evaluate optimisation strategies relevant to the cellular networks studied in the project.
- GGProf. Giovanni Geraci
- MBDr. Mohamed Benzaghta
Cellular Network Design for UAV Corridors via Data-driven High-dimensional Bayesian Optimization
Optimisation of cellular deployments serving UAV corridors using high-dimensional Bayesian optimisation.
Data-Driven Cellular Mobility Management via Bayesian Optimization and Reinforcement Learning
Data-driven design of handover and mobility parameters combining Bayesian optimisation with reinforcement learning.
Data-Driven Optimization and Transfer Learning for Cellular Network Antenna Configurations
Antenna configuration optimisation showing how transfer learning accelerates convergence across related network setups.
Further joint work has been published in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Transactions on Machine Learning in Communications and Networking and top-tier international conferences, as detailed in the project's list of publications. This collaboration enabled the integration, comparison and maturation of advanced optimisation and machine learning tools, strongly reinforcing the network modelling and optimisation objectives of ZZNets.
School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design — Drone operations and aerial 5G integration
SO2A close collaboration has been maintained with the School of Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design (ETSIADI) at UPV, through Prof. Israel Quintanilla and his team of drone experts, within the framework of Scientific Objective 2 — the experimental evaluation of coverage from aerial base stations and the validation of the Hypercell concept.
This collaboration has been essential for the mechanical and electrical integration of the 5G equipment onto an aerial platform, as well as for the safe planning and execution of the measurement campaigns and drone proof-of-concept tests carried out on the UPV campus. The team contributed its experience in drone operation, the use of the DJI Matrice 350 RTK in tethered mode, and the integration of the tethered power station.
- IQProf. Israel Quintanilla
5G payload on a tethered aerial platform
Mechanical and electrical integration of the commercial 5G equipment onto the drone, including the use of the DJI Matrice 350 RTK in tethered mode and the integration of the tethered power station.
Safe planning and execution of flight campaigns
Planning and safe execution of the measurement campaigns and drone proof-of-concept tests carried out on the UPV campus, drawing on the team's expertise in drone operation.
Hypercell trial at UPV building 7I
A portable 5G station was deployed at building 7I of the UPV campus, with coverage and performance measurements taken in both outdoor and indoor environments.
This collaboration provided fundamental added value in demonstrating the practical feasibility of the Hypercell concept and advancing towards its experimental validation in real-world scenarios.