The 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) concluded just two months ago, but decisions on next-generation spectrum are already having a major impact on 6G. Spectrum experts attended the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference in Geneva this month to chart the next steps for 6G. Meanwhile, standards bodies have started his 6G standardization process.
Full-scale work on 6G has begun.
Every generational network can be thought of as building a new home. The first thing you need to do is choose the land on which you want to build your home. In December, WRC-23 did just that by identifying new candidate spectrum to study 6G.
WRC-23 made several important frequency decisions that will pave the way for 6G harmonization and make it easier for service providers to adopt next-generation networking. In short, we now have solid real estate on which to build the foundation for 6G.
Specifically, the WRC has identified the 7.1-8.4 GHz band as a future candidate for 6G services. 7.1 to 8.4 MHz is not only part of the so-called “golden band”, but also the most golden band of them all. It meets all the criteria to drive his 6G deployment worldwide.
The 7.1-8.4 GHz propagation characteristics allow carriers to build 6G on top of their existing infrastructure. This is widespread and means there is enough capacity for multiple service providers in any country. And most importantly, it has the potential to be harmonized in large parts of the world. This means that many countries will be able to deploy his 6G across the full bandwidth of these frequencies, achieving significant economies of scale and ensuring widespread interoperability.
This is not the only decision made by WRC-23 that impacts 6G. Voting members of the WRC will designate the upper 6 GHz band (6425MHz to 7125MHz) for licensed mobile broadband services in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (EMEA), Mexico, Brazil, and some Asian countries. also agreed. More countries have indicated their intention to support the band in the coming years. The upper 6 GHz band and the 7.1-8.4 GHz band are similar, so both offer the same benefits for outdoor deployments. The top 6 GHz will initially be used for 5G services, but in the future it could be easily reused for 6G.
Finally, WRC-23 agreed to study two other bands for future 6G use: 4.4-4.8 GHz and 14.8-15.3 GHz. While these frequencies will certainly be leveraged for future network deployments, they are not as ideal for 6G as other golden bands in terms of larger contiguous blocks of bandwidth. Service providers build their primary networks in the upper 6 GHz and 7.1-8.4 GHz, but can also use 14-15 GHz to increase capacity, especially in areas of high density or high demand. 4.4 to 4.8 GHz, on the other hand, can be used in industrial and corporate campus environments.
But perhaps the most encouraging thing about WRC is that regulators and spectrum policymakers around the world are increasingly positive about 6G. Many WRC members have expressed enthusiasm for exploring other 6G spectrum bands independently, which will only further enhance his 6G prospects.it’s no longer a problem if We pursue 6G.rather it’s just a matter of how.
What’s next?
Continuing with my house analogy, the next step would be to survey the land and design this future house. We conducted a four-year study of the 7.1-8.4 GHz, 4.4-4.8 GHz, and 14-15 GHz bands to ensure that economically viable high-performance networks can be built in these frequency bands. We also need to demonstrate that we are good stewards of this spectrum and responsible neighbors to wireless technologies operating in adjacent bands, and in some cases sharing it with other users in the band. You also need to think of smart ways to do so. These findings will be submitted to the International Telecommunication Union, which will make a final decision on whether to allocate spectrum to 6G at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference.
At the same time, you need to design the house you plan to build on the planned land. This means we need to create a 6G standard and develop the underlying technology for 6G. It is no coincidence that 3GPP announced his 6G standardization plan in December, when WRC-23 was finalizing his 6G spectrum decisions. 3GPP plans to draft a blueprint for his future 6G system. This year, those efforts will be in full swing. Meanwhile, from Hexa-X II he researchers across the ICT industry, working on projects such as 6G-ANNA, innovate new technologies that distinguish 6G from its predecessors.
There are many moving parts to this process, all of which are about to start moving at the same time. A new generation of wireless networking appears only once every 10 years. I’m looking forward to a fruitful discussion on 6G at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It’s time to join forces and once again ensure the world has the next-generation technology it expects.
