Modular Multi-Domain Digital Twin Architecture: Sustainable Intent-Driven 6G Management

2026-06-11

AI Summary

This work addresses the challenges of proactive, trustworthy, and automated management in 6G networks operating over distributed heterogeneous infrastructures. The authors propose a modular multi-domain digital twin (DT) service architecture that integrates network digital twins as dedicated service domains within the 6G service-based orchestration framework. A DT orchestrator dynamically composes intra-domain twin modules and simulators to support predictive and prescriptive “what-if” queries, while retaining decision authority with the requesting entity to enable closed-loop control. This architecture pioneers cross-domain twin collaboration, facilitating sustainable, intent-driven network autonomy. Evaluated in a green networking scenario involving 105 base stations, the approach jointly optimizes coverage and renewable energy deployment, reducing average daily grid energy consumption by 28.5% and identifying 17 critical base stations exhibiting both high coverage activity and priority for solar deployment.

Abstract

Future 6G networks will operate across distributed and heterogeneous domain infrastructures, making conventional single-domain management insufficient for proactive, trustworthy automation. Network Digital Twins (NDTs) enable what-if analysis, AI-assisted optimization, and risk-free validation of control actions before deployment, yet monolithic end-to-end twins remain impractical due to scalability, fidelity, and cross-domain coordination challenges. Accordingly, this paper proposes a Digital Twin-enabled 6G architecture that exposes NDT capabilities as a specialized service domain within a multi-domain orchestration framework built on a state-of-the-art service-based 6G architecture. A DT Orchestrator interprets \textit{predictive} and \textit{prescriptive} what-if queries and composes domain-specific DT modules and simulators on demand, while decision authority remains with the requesting entity. Furthermore, a generalized workflow covers telemetry synchronization, simulation-based decision support, and closed-loop execution. The framework is demonstrated through a green-networking use case that couples a system-level O-RAN cellular digital twin component with a two-stage solar-allocation simulator, evaluated over a 105-base-station deployment in Poznan using simulative datasets. Joint coverage and renewable optimization reduces daily grid consumption by 28.5\% with 32 solar panels at the diminishing-returns threshold, with 17 base stations identified as both coverage-active and high-priority solar candidates as evidence that cross-domain NDT coordination enables sustainable, intent-driven 6G network management.

Problem

• 6G networks
• Network Digital Twins
• multi-domain management
• sustainable networking
• intent-driven automation

Innovation

• Modular Digital Twin
• Multi-Domain Orchestration
• Intent-Driven Networking
• 6G Network Management
• Sustainable Optimization