Just as the huge adoption of 5G is taking place around the world, the telecommunications industry is actually gearing up for and exploring the potential opportunities from the next generation of wireless, 6G.
Since the introduction of the revolutionary 3G mobile standard in 2001, the communications world has grown accustomed to the arrival of a new generation in mobile networking every decade. Each new generation of wireless is designed to provide significantly higher capacity and much lower latency than the previous generation, bringing with it a new range of applications and use cases not previously supported. 6G is no exception.
Work to create future 6G network specifications is already planned by standards body 3GPP, and initial 6G networks are being built on the foundations of 5G. 6G networks are expected to operate in very high GHz and 1THz frequency bands, delivering throughput speeds well over 10 Gbps through up to three 160 MHz channels, with potentially microsecond delays. there is.
Why do we need 6G?
There’s a saying that the only two things in life are certain: death and taxes. These two will almost certainly have the potential to increase traffic on your communications network. Everything is connected, and as this happens, data traffic becomes more and more massive. As the demand for mobile phone data increases, 6G networks will meet the expected data rush and significantly boost digitalisation.
6G is designed to revolutionize the way consumers, networks, and devices communicate with each other. It is built to change the way networks perform tasks such as collaborative communications, sensing, and positioning. It promises to build a vital bridge between physical and virtual spaces, enabling new use cases while optimizing industry operations.
The opportunities offered by 6G will form the basis of society and business in 2030, with new integrated capabilities that potentially accelerate digitalization.
What is the difference between 5G and 6G?
Powered by the upcoming evolution 5G-Advanced, 5G networks are fundamentally designed to deliver continued enhancements to mobile network capabilities, including higher data throughput, significantly increased capacity, and lower latency. Masu. They already support applications such as augmented reality (XR), which promises financial opportunities for both the consumer market, with use cases such as gaming and video streaming, and the enterprise market, such as remote work and virtual training. I am.
Unlike 5G and previous generation wireless technologies that aimed to drive network performance towards higher bandwidth, lower latency, and higher reliability, 6G aims to deliver global coverage, better spectral efficiency, and more Designed to meet higher requirements of low carbon footprint. 6G differs significantly from 5G by integrating data communications, device positioning, and radio-based sensing of the environment into the same wireless network.
What applications and services will 6G support?
Among related areas, 6G is seen as an enabling platform for innovation in computing, artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity, sensors, and virtualization.
It will likely be considered the foundation of smart city infrastructure. Self-driving car. Smart traffic. New work environment. smart health. defense and security. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Especially virtual/artificial/mixed/augmented reality (VR/AR/MR/XR) in the industrial metaverse.
When might 6G networks be launched?
With 6G testing progressing rapidly, 6G internet is expected to be commercially deployed in 2030. Work is underway to develop 6G technical capabilities and requirements, which are expected to be defined by 2027.
The final specification of the standard, known as IMT-2030, is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. The first 6G proof-of-concept devices are already in development, and the first “networks” are expected to standardize on 6G in 2025. The initiative will begin in 2026.
What will it take to accelerate the growth of 6G networks?
Looking at the overall development of the 6G market, analyst Juniper Research puts non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and sub-1THz frequency bands at the center of initial trials and testing of 6G networks to provide increased data. identified as a key technology needed. The feature is available on your existing 5G network.
The study also noted that increased costs caused by NTN’s use of satellites and high-frequency spectrum acquisition costs could lengthen the timeline for carriers to secure a return on their 6G investments. Masu. As a result, it urged the telecommunications industry to partner with non-terrestrial connectivity experts to benefit from lower investment costs in 6G networks.
Additionally, developing a comprehensive roadmap for the new commercial radio spectrum is imperative to ensure the successful rollout of 6G infrastructure.
In December 2023, the GSMA, the global mobile communications industry’s trade association, welcomed the decisions reached by governments at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) on new mobile lowband spectrum (below 1 GHz). Enabling mid-band spectrum in the 3.5 GHz and 6 GHz range, shaping the future of mobile communications.
Where is 6G research and development happening?
The 6G industry and technology ecosystem is truly global. Major 6G research programs are currently being conducted in Japan, the United States, South Korea, Germany, and the wider European Union (EU). But you could also argue that if one country could be cited as a leader, it would be Finland.
The University of Oulu has embarked on what it calls the world’s first 6G research program, 6GFlagship, repeating the research carried out on previous generations of mobile systems. The program, co-funded by the University and the Finnish Research Council, envisions 6G supporting a data-driven, sustainable future society enabled by near-instantaneous and unlimited wireless connectivity.
With Nokia engineers and researchers on-site and leveraging the resources of the Finnish VTT Technology Research Center across the road from the university campus, the flagship program has a number of key Strategic Research Areas (SRA). Device and circuit technology. Distributed intelligent wireless computing. Sustainable human-centered services and applications. The company’s research is currently in its second phase, and after establishing the 6G technology enablers, it is currently working on the 6GTest Network (6GTN) and its 6G vertical applications, which the company hopes will eventually lead to its 6G vision. Leadership is realized.
Oulu is also home to the 6G Sandbox project. This project is an EU-implemented project dedicated to providing a clear and concrete contribution towards his 6G experimental ecosystem in Europe. The agency aims to introduce a fully modular facility to Europe’s experimental ecosystem, and the agency expects to provide support for the next 10 years of technology and research validation processes needed on the path to 6G. are doing.
The 6G Sandbox Trial Network is being built in Oulu, as well as Malaga, Athens and Berlin, and incorporates distributed infrastructure within the EU, providing automated experimentation capabilities to third parties through an extensible toolbox. Masu. These aim to create a tangible and long-term impact.
While the 6G KPIs and KVIs quantified in this feature are exposed to stakeholders, the set of development and application programming interfaces created is intended to feed into an open repository and define a European 6G library. Masu.
Which technology companies are working on 6G equipment?
The ecosystem of technology suppliers for 6G networks is growing, but the usual suspects such as Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, and Samsung are telecommunications technology and service providers leading the development of the critical systems underlying 6G to operate. is.
Ericsson will establish a 6G research division in the UK in 2022, focusing on 6G research and breakthrough innovation, investing tens of millions of pounds over the next 10 years in UK-based programs to boost the country’s future. promised. Wireless connection function.
Demonstrating the scope of the 6G ecosystem at the unit, researchers collaborate with academics, communications service providers, and industry partners to lead 6G research projects that contribute to the development of global technologies, network innovations, and new product services. ing. Research areas include network resiliency and security, AI, cognitive networks, energy efficiency, and more.
The 6G-Sandbox project, a project led by Keysight Technologies, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to foster cooperation between European and Taiwanese companies in 6G research.
The partnership will link a 6G sandbox testbed with Taiwan’s telecommunications ecosystem and focus on advanced 6G research topics such as collaborative communications, sensing, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.
ITRI will serve as a catalyst for Taiwan’s ecosystem and actively invite companies to participate in the collaboration.
