RFC 9913 on "Reliable and Available Wireless (RAW) Technologies" was published by IETF

23 April 2026

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) has published RFC 9913 entitled "Reliable and Available Wireless (RAW) Technologies", marking a significant step toward bringing deterministic performance to wireless networks. The document surveys a broad range of wireless technologies and evaluates how they can support ultra-reliable, low-latency IP communications for mission-critical systems. It was authored by Pascal Thubert, Dave Cavalcanti (Intel), Xavier Vilajosana (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya), Corinna Schmitt (Research Institute CODE, UniBw M), and Janos Farkas (Ericsson).

RFC 9913 aims to extend Deterministic Networking (DetNet) principles into the wireless domain, addressing challenges such as intermittent connectivity and variable latency. While deterministic networking has traditionally focused on industrial Ethernet and time-sensitive networking (TSN), wireless links introduce unique challenges - interference, fading, mobility, and unpredictable latency - that demand new architectural considerations. Thus, RAW provides a technology overview and explores how lower-layer features like scheduling and diversity can support reliability and availability for critical applications.

In order to bridge reliable gaps in wireless areas, RFC 9913 provides a comprehensive overview of wireless systems such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi 6/7), IEEE 802.15.4 TSCH, 5G URLLC, and the aviation-focused L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS). The document analyzes how features like multi-path diversity, packet replication, scheduled transmissions, and time synchronization can help wireless networks meet deterministic service guarantees. This work is particularly relevant for sectors where failure is not an option:

• Industrial automation requiring precise motion control,
• Smart grids needing predictable fault response,
• Autonomous transportation systems, and
• Aviation communications, where safety and availability are paramount.

By cataloging the strengths and limitations of each wireless technology, the draft helps network designers understand how to combine lower-layer capabilities with RAW’s path diversity and redundancy mechanisms to achieve higher levels of reliability.

One of the most forward-looking aspects of RFC 9913 is its inclusion of LDACS - an IPv6-capable digital air-to-ground communications system designed for next-generation aviation networks. The LDACS-related standardization activities reflect joint work between Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmitt (RI CODE / SeCoSys, Universität der Bundeswehr München) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Their collaboration bridges academic research, aerospace engineering, and Internet standardization efforts. DLR has long been advancing LDACS as a secure, spectrum-efficient successor to legacy aviation communication systems. By integrating LDACS considerations into the IETF RAW framework, the collaboration ensures that aeronautical communication systems can benefit from deterministic IP routing concepts - enabling:

• Improved end-to-end reliability for safety-critical air traffic data
• Native IPv6 integration, aligning aviation networks with the global Internet architecture,
• Enhanced cybersecurity and resilience through deterministic routing and redundancy, and
• Greater interoperability between ground infrastructure and airborne systems.

This convergence of aviation research and Internet engineering demonstrates how RAW is not limited to industrial IoT but extends to large-scale, mobility-intensive environments.

The undertaken investigations toward RFC 9913 matters nowadays, because wireless connectivity is rapidly becoming the backbone of digital transformation. However, industries increasingly require not just connectivity - but predictable connectivity. RAW’s approach introduces architectural enhancements such as path selection control, packet replication over disjoint routes, and dynamic adaptation to link conditions. These capabilities significantly reduce packet loss, jitter, and downtime. For operators, the benefits include:

• Reduced operational risk in critical systems,
• Higher availability SLAs,
• Improved spectrum efficiency through intelligent scheduling, and
• Future-proof integration of heterogeneous wireless technologies.

As wireless networks evolve toward 6G concepts and increasingly autonomous infrastructures, deterministic principles will be central to maintaining trust, safety, and performance. Thus, Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmitt and her team SeCoSys foresee that wireless networks are no longer limited to best-effort data services; they increasingly support industrial automation, smart energy systems, autonomous mobility, and aviation communication. In these domains, communication failures are not mere inconveniences - they can directly impact operational safety, economic stability, and public trust. Deterministic networking principles extend traditional cybersecurity by introducing bounded latency, path diversity, redundancy, and controlled routing behavior. These properties enhance resilience against both accidental failures and malicious interference. Moreover, safety and cybersecurity are increasingly converging. A cyberattack on communication infrastructure can escalate into a physical safety incident, and unreliable wireless behavior can undermine certification and regulatory compliance. Continued research allows Prof. Dr. Corinna Schmitt and her team SeCoSys to systematically integrate security models, risk assessment methodologies, and deterministic wireless architectures, creating holistic solutions rather than isolated optimizations.

Maintaining active involvement in IETF standardization strengthens European technological sovereignty and ensures that security requirements are embedded directly into emerging global standards. Rather than reacting to externally defined protocols, SeCoSys contributes to shaping them.

In summary, continuing this research is a strategic necessity. It advances resilient communication architectures, strengthens safety-critical systems, supports aviation innovation, and reinforces secure-by-design principles in future wireless networks. Sustained commitment will ensure that next-generation communication systems are not only faster and more efficient, but fundamentally safer, more predictable, and more secure.

Links:

RFC 9913: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9913.html

IETF Working Group DetNet: https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/detnet/about/

Bilder: © SeCoSys/Schmitt - generated by Chatgpt