Viavi Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAV) has been awarded $1.1 million in funding from the European Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking and Horizon Europe to participate in the SHIELD-6G project, a consortium focused on AI-driven security testing for 6G networks.

The SHIELD-6G project aims to develop an AI-based Cyber Threat Intelligence platform for 6G networks, covering security, orchestration and regulatory compliance. Viavi will use its TeraVM AI RAN Scenario Generator technology to build digital twins that simulate, detect and analyze potential threats in 6G network environments before commercial deployment.

The project is coordinated by University College Dublin and includes Ericsson, Nokia, Thales, Thales SIX, Telefónica and LMT of Latvia. SHIELD-6G was among 20 projects selected through a Horizon Europe SNS JU competitive call to advance European 6G research.

"Security for 6G networks has to be built in from day one, and that requires the ability to simulate, test and detect threats before a single commercial 6G signal goes live," said Ian Langley, Senior Vice President of the Wireless, Security and Applications Business Unit at Viavi.

According to the company's statement, Viavi's technology will generate realistic network datasets to support anomaly detection and the refinement of AI-based security mechanisms, with the goal of identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in live networks.