Sixth generation (6G) mobile networks powered by artificial intelligence (AI) will combine communications and computing in a hyper-connected world of digital and physical experiences that experts predict will transform daily life. .
“We used to talk about the Internet of Things, but with 6G we talk about the intelligent or smart Internet of Things,” said Qin, director of the communications laboratory at Chinese mobile phone maker Vivo, which is ramping up its research and development efforts. Fei said. From 2020 onward to 6G.
Even though 5G has not yet been fully rolled out globally, communications and technology companies are already making plans for 6G wireless networks. With improved data latency, security, and reliability, and the ability to process large amounts of global data in real time, experts like Qin believe that 6G will transform our leisure and work. New use cases for his 6G network envisioned by Vivo include mixed reality, holographic and multisensory communication, interactive 3D virtual digital humans, collaborative robots, and autonomous driving.
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AI boost for next-generation networks
6G is expected to be introduced by 2030. The United Nations telecommunications agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has said it plans to complete its initial 6G standardization process by 2030 at the latest.
Experts predict that 6G, which is optimized with AI technology, will have a bigger impact than 5G for two reasons. One is because it enables the convergence of computing and mobile communications. Second, it integrates the digital and physical realms and introduces new sensory experiences for users.
Qin said, “6G will provide super communication and ubiquitous information, provide converged computing services, and become the foundation for an interconnected and integrated physical and digital world.” Capgemini agrees, predicting that 6G networks will enable immersive and ubiquitous sensory digital experiences at scale. This will allow 6G applications to “sense” their surroundings, turning the network into “our sixth sense,” according to the consultancy’s report.
All about convergence: AI and communications
Each generation of wireless networks increases in complexity and relies on other technologies to leverage their capabilities and facilitate operations. 6G is expected to be one of the first AI-native networks where AI is integrated into network equipment. This allows the network to learn and manage itself, making it more autonomous and cheaper to operate.
“When designing the 6G network, we plan to use AI technology to design the air interface and manage the 6G network,” Qin said. Machine learning and AI-based network automation are essential to simplify network management and optimization. “His 6G network with built-in AI is like a super bright student,” he adds. “The 6G network is self-training, self-learning, and actually grows as a learner, becoming more and more powerful.”
6G disruption
While 6G standards and specifications are still being developed, experts say 6G could be 10, 50, or 100 times faster than 5G, with higher speeds (estimates vary) and significantly greater connectivity. We agree that it will be a breakthrough technology because of its speed. waiting time. Improved connectivity, security, and reliability. and the ability to integrate digital and physical versions of the world.
“For 5G, it is mainly a communication technology, and that is its core,” Qin said. “But 6G also includes enhanced communications technology, as well as computing and other related services.” Another advantage, he said, is that it has wider geographic coverage than 5G. 6G can cover the entire planet and connect all types of machines, he added.
Qin said 6G networks will also popularize the use of digital twins – virtual replicas of products and processes used to predict how physical entities will function in the real world. This is made possible by 6G networks’ enhanced connectivity, stronger sensing capabilities, and ability to collect large amounts of data.
Qin said: “With stronger connectivity and sensing capabilities, we will be able to place more sensors in the physical world and collect massive amounts of data about this world. We will use this data to reshape the world in the digital realm. You can build a model of
in vivo vision
Vivo believes 6G will support dozens or hundreds of new services across a wide range of industries. The company is developing a prototype 6G mobile technology based on his three trends in communication and sensing. communication and computing. and communication and AI.
For example, Vivo is developing a prototype that can collect users’ biometric data and monitor their health while they sleep. According to this technological vision, a person’s bedside phone could become a medical monitoring device. “If you are experiencing health problems or abnormal breathing behavior, [the phone] We can send an alert to the hospital,” Qin said.
Vivo also sees virtual reality and mixed reality glasses as another potential application of 6G that could revolutionize video streaming by making it a more engaging and immersive experience. Currently, Qin says, the computing power of AR glasses is limited. “So they need to be connected to the cloud as a kind of edge device so that they can provide a better experience for users.”
6G will also support self-driving and self-driving cars. “I think autonomous driving will become very popular after 2030 and will be supported by 6G,” he says. “Self-driving cars actually need to collect all kinds of data, including the surrounding environment, road conditions, and even neighboring cars, in order to make informed decisions. [such as] Should I speed up or break? 6G can provide computing power and networking. ”
Rollout challenges
Although 5G mobile networks have not yet lived up to initial expectations, most experts agree that 6G has the potential to bring significant advances in connectivity and computing power. However, like any complex and powerful new technology, 6G faces challenges such as network capacity and energy consumption.
Emerging into the 6G era requires increased network capacity. Finding the right communications spectrum to support that deployment is critical. Although not finalized, 6G is being considered from 6.4 to 15 gigahertz. “We believe that the 6G spectrum should be in the lower spectrum, such as 6.4 to 7.1 gigahertz, because lower bands of electromagnetic waves physically have much better coverage and penetration characteristics. ,” Qin said.
Minimizing 6G’s energy consumption and carbon emissions is also a major challenge. 6G networks will have much more computing demands than 5G. Suppliers and users must work together to minimize energy use. According to a report by the GSMA, which represents the world’s carriers, energy-saving technologies (such as AI-powered sleep states and lithium-ion batteries) could help make 6G more energy efficient.
Ultimately, Qin says 6G will only be successful if it provides better experiences and services for consumers and businesses. “We should avoid over-engineering 6G networks, and we need to really collaborate with different industries.” Bottlenecks in other technologies needed to support new devices should be a lesson for 6G development, he added. “We hope to avoid these problems, which means the entire ecosystem will need to work together to co-develop 6G infrastructure, mobile devices, and applications.”
This content was created by Insights, the custom content division of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by the editorial staff of MIT Technology Review.
