IETF advances SIMAP standard for multi-layer network simulation and digital twins

The formalization of SIMAP standardizes how streaming providers and telcos map physical assets to virtual services, which is critical for reducing downtime during complex deliveries. By establishing a common language for network digital twins, the IETF is enabling more predictable performance for bandwidth-heavy traffic like 4K video. This moves the industry away from proprietary vendor models toward interoperable maps of the global content delivery stack. Watch for the reconciliation of this draft with the separate IRTF digital twin architecture to solidify a single industry-standard modeling framework.

The progress of the SIMAP (Service & Infrastructure Maps) framework, formerly known as the 'Digital Map' concept, reflects a broader push within the IETF’s Network Management Operations (NMOP) working group to modernize operator toolsets. Per IETF records from July 2026, the group is currently focused on integrating YANG data models with message brokers like Apache Kafka to handle large-scale telemetry updates. This effort aims to address long-standing gaps in how multi-layered topologies from different vendors communicate during real-time network incidents. Historically, complex layer violations—such as IP layers carrying transport-specific types—have complicated automated management, a hurdle the SIMAP draft seeks to resolve through clearer network layer abstractions. Parallel efforts in the industry validate the commercial urgency for these standards. According to Fortune Business Insights in June 2026, the global digital twin market is projected to reach $33.97 billion this year, driven largely by demand in the telecommunications and aerospace sectors. In February 2026, NVIDIA and Siemens demonstrated advanced industrial metaverse tools that integrate physical engineering with AI-driven simulation, highlighting a shift from static monitoring to predictive modeling. Within the IETF, the nmop working group is now debating which base topology model—either RFC 8345 with extensions or RFC 8795—will serve as the permanent foundation for SIMAP's actual YANG implementation. This technical choice will dictate how easily future AI-driven management agents can navigate across multi-domain and multi-technology networks.