The development of 6G network technology is progressing well. Ellie McCann visited Finland to learn about the world’s first deployment.
At a time when we seem to be just settling into 5G, the concept of 6G (sixth generation communications) is hard to grasp, and memories of corona-era conspiracies and widespread mast vandalism are still fresh in our minds.
In fact, 5G was only introduced in May 2019, with EE and Vodafone being the first to establish their networks. Most major network providers now offer 5G, but next-generation connectivity is still out of range for many providers.
5G rollout will continue, with the general goal of networks overtaking 4G by 2025, according to leading providers. EE and Three have committed to providing nationwide service by 2028.
So why do we need 6G and what do we need? that’s right Is that…?
engineer will visit Oulu, Finland, home of the world’s first 6G development program, to learn how 6G differs from 5G/5G Advanced (5GA) and what the future holds for next-generation networks with an expected rollout date of 2030. was invited to. .
As the demands on technology increase at the personal, industrial and societal levels, stronger and more developed data networks are needed, especially in terms of processing more data faster and improving energy efficiency. It will be required. .
6G aims to meet this advanced technological demand as it uses higher frequencies to deliver significantly higher capacity and lower latency than previous networks.
Next-generation networks aim to not only expand 5G’s capabilities and increase speed and data capacity, but also accelerate applications and innovation around the Internet of Things (IoT), which 5G is beginning to establish.
According to Nokia, mid-band spectrum frequencies between 1 and 6 gigahertz (GHz) are considered “ideal for 5G as they can transmit large amounts of data over long distances,” while mmWave (high-speed band) frequency is also used. 5G Advanced Network – 24 GHz band and above on the spectrum chart.
Current 6G research and development is testing networks at much higher frequencies, with a heavy focus on terahertz (THz) frequencies, which refers to frequency bands ranging from hundreds of GHz to several THz. GHz is equal to one billion hertz, while THz is a measurement of one frequency cycle per second, or one trillion cycles per second.
The University of Oulu has been running a 6G flagship since 2018. This is an eight-year planning program to push the limits of radio frequency networks, with over 500 researchers and his €300 million budget behind it.
The University of Oulu is currently developing 6G technology in the THz frequency band, which it claims will deliver peak data throughput of 1,000 gigabits per second with over-the-air latency of less than 100 microseconds.
Comparing the network speeds of 5G and 6G, researchers at the university say 6G is expected to be 100 times faster than 5G, with improved reliability and wider network coverage, but testing is still early. It was emphasized that this is just a stage.
Despite unprecedented download and upload speeds, the problem with raising the frequency level of a network is that based on the relationship between frequency and wavelength, the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength, and therefore the availability from the device to the transceiver. This means that the distance will be shorter.
Although subject to constantly evolving research, Nokia estimates that 6G peak sub-THz capacity, or frequency bands generally above 175 GHz, may have a range of less than 10 m and up to 100 m. Masu.
Currently being tested by 5G Advanced and 6G research, lesser capacities from 7 to 15 GHz extend to approximately 300 m from the transceiver to accommodate within “dense urban” environments, but still quite limited. Current 5G basic mobile coverage is between 470 and 694 MHz and can extend beyond 3000 meters in rural areas where the network is available.
So what does the future hold for these high-frequency, ultra-fast, yet more localized 6G networks?
Considering next-generation mobile network capabilities, the University of Oulu proposes that 6G can facilitate private, individual networks such as campuses, hospitals, and factories.
According to Ari Pouttu, deputy director of 6G Flagship, these private networks could potentially host a myriad of devices from micro-operators, from mobile phones to drones to cars, depending on the capabilities of those devices themselves. is on the rise.
Since 2018, the University of Oulu has been developing a 5G test network limited to its campus. The university’s researchers test the network every day and have private SIM cards for their mobile phones to access his accelerated 5G, and eventually his 6G, frequencies.
While the current base stations on campus operate at 3.5GHz, Putu said designs for 140GHz and 300GHz 6G transceivers are underway, with the aim of completing the design in 2028.
The vision is that these localized networks will be able to provide the unprecedented speed and capacity that is increasingly needed by companies that process large amounts of data, such as manufacturers and hospitals.
However, the need for faster data processing and higher capacity extends far beyond mobile networks. One of the sectors he sees eyeing the potential connectivity benefits that 6G will bring is the automotive industry.
Tomi Tallgren of software and automotive company Elektrobit envisions that “modern cars will be software-defined.”
While the industry is already progressing rapidly with respect to the beginnings of electric and self-driving cars, 6G will provide the connectivity speeds and speeds needed for fully autonomous vehicles, smart cockpits, and ultimately “every vehicle on the planet.” Enables data processing. The roads were connected. ”
Tallgren envisions automotive connectivity in 10 years to be “vehicle-to-everything,” including vehicle-to-cloud, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and vehicle-to-vehicle.
Similarly, near-instant connectivity and data sharing are key for the healthcare industry as it seeks to develop more efficient approaches to testing and treatment.
Experts envision that 6G could help develop medical technologies such as home testing devices with faster data processing and response.
“New connectivity-based technologies will form the backbone of future healthcare, enabling the Internet of Things and personalized healthcare services,” says the multidisciplinary research program combining medicine, 6G technology and healthcare. said Mariela Sarestoniemi, a postdoctoral researcher at the 6G Enabling Sustainable Society (6GESS). work.
For example, 6G will enable electronically delivered health care (eHealth) by enabling “cloud computing, big data processing, and virtualized private and secure personal follow-up and treatment options.” I’ll make it.
Särestöniemi described potentially life-saving eHealth devices, such as wearable breast cancer screening devices and brain tumor detection applications. These devices are worn on the head to scan tissue using microwaves, which are destroyed if a tumor is present.
“These future wireless intelligent devices have the potential to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for hospitals,” says Särestöniemi, but only with 6G. Higher network frequencies and capacity mean large amounts of data can be quickly transferred to hospitals for analysis and response.
It would be remiss to envision a 6G future without considering the AI technologies that underpin the network and are indeed rapidly evolving. Because 6G can consist of many connected devices and systems, AI will be essential to optimizing the performance of this complex network.
“Future data-intensive applications will require distributed AI and data analytics solutions deployed on edge and fog computing platforms across 6G networks,” said Professor of Computer Vision, Digital Health at the University of Oulu , said Miguel Bordallo López, professor of application verticals.
“With the help of AI, human decision-making processes will be enhanced and autonomous systems ranging from small devices to complete factories – autonomous systems that never sleep – will be developed.”
Powered by AI, 6G networks will reimagine digital interactions across all devices and unify the digital and physical realms, enabling hyperconnectivity and immersive everyday experiences as consumers.
For example, the already emerging field of augmented reality (XR) is expected to further develop with the support of AI and 6G networks. For example, Finland-based technology company Dispelix believes that its XR eyewear, with 6G capabilities that support the data processing required for smart lenses and instantaneous AI responses, will become a staple of daily life in the future. I’m planning it.
Dispelix waveguide lenses blend virtual and reality to deliver bright, sharp, full-color virtual content, allowing users to experience AI assistance such as reminders and projected images in their everyday glasses. Once again, the company stated that 6G will unleash the full potential of this technology.
Looking beyond XR wearable glasses, Bordallo López believes 6G could ultimately help enable connected “smart cities.”
“Imagine a world where everything is sensed, connected, autonomous, multimodal, personalized, and biointegrated,” he said. “All information associated with the physical world will be digitized, creating a cyberspace where data transfer and storage capabilities can be ‘tracked’ wherever you go. ”
The vision is all All of our devices, from personal phones, cars, and homes to public cameras, streetlights, and offices, can communicate and autonomize our reality.
Imagine roads where all cars can communicate with each other to reduce the risk of accidents and congestion, or where your mobile phone can communicate with your home and “wake up” just before you arrive.
“This is more than fusion, it requires unprecedented capabilities, and it is transforming the interaction between disciplines,” Bordallo López said.
Of course, this vision is far in the future, but as 6G networks evolve and AI capabilities continue to grow, this is likely to become a reality for generations to come.
“Ultimately, it is not yet clear what 6G will bring. This includes related technologies that are considered too immature for 5G or that are outside the defined scope of 5G.
“More specifically, the way data is collected, processed, transmitted, and consumed within wireless networks,” researchers at the University of Oulu write in their 6G white paper, “Key drivers and research challenges for 6G ubiquity,” It will be a major driver of 6G.” wireless intelligence.
“Now is the perfect time to identify future communications needs, performance requirements, system and radio challenges, and key technology options for 6G to establish research goals for the 2030s.”
6G may deliver a host of advanced technologies that will support advancements in self-driving cars, eHealth devices, smarter AI, and even software-driven, fully connected cities, but experts say networks are still A reminder that we are only in the early stages of development. .
Meanwhile, looking further ahead, researchers are already in the early stages of 7G (seventh generation) network development. Although deployment is expected to occur in the mid-2030s at the earliest, 7G technology will move further into the THz spectrum and will be supported by next-generation communications satellites and High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS, see feature on page 16). There is also a possibility that What is certain is that technology advances, as does time, and humanity’s demand for ever-better network capabilities shows no signs of slowing down.
