Go farther, faster. With ultra-fast and near-instantaneous transmission, 5G will not only improve performance but also usher in a digital revolution, enabling new use cases in the commercial world and military. Hélène Bachatène, Vice President for Research, Technology and Innovation, explains why Thales is playing a pivotal role in this new ecosystem and why she needs to think now about her 6G planned for 2030. I will explain what is there.
Today, mobile phone network standards have reached their fifth generation, from 1G in 1980, which enabled the first analog radio transmission, to 4G, which significantly increased connection speeds. Why do we need another step forward with 5G?
5G offers even higher data rates, up to 100 times higher than earlier 4G networks, reducing latency and limiting the risk of network saturation, the levels required for mission-critical system applications such as medical and military theaters. performance has been significantly improved. of operation. But that’s not all.
5G is paradigm shiftBecause network softwareization becomes possible (See box 1) In an era when the cloud and software are revolutionizing the communications industry. In fact, 5G is inseparable from the emergence of the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things allows physical devices to communicate with each other and with their digital twins.
Today is Over 500 million connected devices worldwideTo achieve this, everyone needs to share information efficiently. data driven Architecture to function. In this new ecosystem, only his 5G can provide a completely satisfactory level of performance.
1. To virtual network. Since the beginning of the 2020s, software-defined networking (SDN) has made it possible to move networks to the cloud by separating hardware from software and applications. This technology, known as softwareization, is revolutionizing the way carriers do business, benefiting from increased flexibility, lower costs, and expanded pool coverage. This more responsive approach makes better use of your network resources, allowing them to adapt to the ever-growing needs of your business and applications.
Bernhard Quent, Chief Technology Officer of Thales, said 5G/6G is one of the disruptive technologies that will revolutionize our daily lives and that Thales plans to invest particularly heavily in 5G/6G. . Why is it such an important technology for the company?
First, the future applications promised by 5G/6G will have a significant impact on the architectures we currently design for civil and defense customers.
Thales has no intention of becoming the network operator responsible for 5G/6G deployment in France or Europe. Our role is to help you prepare for the future.we need to Ensure you always have the world-class connectivity and applications you need for decades to come. We operate in a fast-paced technology industry that requires us to always stay ahead of the curve. The essentials are always the same. It’s about ensuring the security of data and complex systems in the face of increasing network fragmentation. For this reason, we cannot be satisfied with existing standards.
The essentials are always the same. It’s about ensuring the security of data and complex systems in the face of increasing network fragmentation.
Is that why Thales is working on Beyond 5G?
Yes, we are participating in this joint project (See box 2) because Cybersecurity is more than ever a necessary precondition of our sovereignty. Beyond 5G, organizations will have more control over security as they can set their own parameters and be freed from dependence on providers and carriers.
2. Beyond 5G: Breakthroughs are already here. The Beyond 5G research project launched in 2021 by Thales in partnership with Ericsson France, Institut Mines Telecom Engineering School in Sophia Antipolis and Eurecom aims to unlock the full potential of 5G. want to be. Areas of focus include developing architectures that meet critical market needs and strengthening sovereignty, including cybersecurity and the integration of big data and artificial intelligence. By bringing together dozens of researchers from all stakeholders, the project will design technological solutions for the development of networks and new use cases for future industry, healthcare, transportation, and other sectors. I will start on. It is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
But there are other challenges ahead. Adapting to the impending emergence of quantum technology and supercomputers, represents a potential threat to security due to its very high processing power. Our commitment to Beyond 5G is a reminder that Thales never waits to reach new levels. Rather, we develop solutions up front. This is also reflected in our involvement in mid-year 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology, which today enables soldiers, for example, to share data more easily and securely within their theater of operations. It will be.
We are always looking to go beyond the currently available standards. Change is permanent. One generation always paves the way for the next. And this especially applies to 5G and 6G.
What are the benefits of 5G?
The real benefits of 5th generation networks are not found in the services offered by private operators today. Additionally, 5G has not yet been widely deployed in France and Europe compared to the US and China, which are the driving forces behind this technology.
5G has demonstrated that industrial private networks can be developed with the required connection speeds and security. Another benefit is network slicing. In other words, the ability to use the same physical architecture but “slice” it into multiple virtual networks. Each slice can be configured with its own quality of service criteria, such as security.
This is important for Thales and its activities. Especially since military law has different classifications and requirements for data on the network.
Did 5G deliver on its promise?
Yes, it does in many ways. Speeds up to 10 Gbit/s, 1,000x more bandwidth per unit area, 100% coverage, significantly reduced network power consumption, and superior battery life for energy-efficient IoT devices.
but One aspect in particular still needs improvement: latency. The goal set by the 5G standard was 10 milliseconds. The average human reaction time to a visual stimulus is 250 milliseconds, or one quarter of a second. For example, imagine the incredible potential of cars equipped with in-vehicle systems that can react 25 times faster than we can, responding to incoming information and relaying that response to other vehicles within 10 milliseconds. please. We’re not there yet. That’s why 5G is not an end in itself; A necessary step in the continued evolution of mobile networksahead of 6G.
Have we entered the age of immediacy?
The key challenge is to achieve extremely low latency and the shortest data processing times in order to provide the best possible decision support to stakeholders.
For military users, we can expect a shift to near real-time, allowing near-instant decisions. However, the evolution of network standards must be combined with her AI and defense cloud so that the network learns from previous tasks and improves its services in response to future requests.
As well as issues of immediacy, our team is passionate about autonomous management. this is, The ability of networks to dynamically adapt and self-configure using AI and machine learning. This allows you to provide the best possible performance while limiting the consumption of technical and human resources..
Our researchers are working hard on technologies that will ultimately allow communications networks to autonomously identify and resolve problems and optimize resource use according to mission requirements.
Our expertise in the field of autonomous networks could be a great asset for Europe in the race to 6G. Thales makes this claim, HexaX projectlaunched in late 2020 by Nokia to lay the foundations for the pre-standardization of future mobile communications.
Is Thales’ know-how and experience helping to develop new communication standards?
Until now, users needed a ground-based access point to access mobile networks from their devices. One of Thales’ major achievementsUnder the leadership of Thales Alenia Space, it was to promote the integration of non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including satellite networks, into 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). 5G-6G standard. Coordinate cooperation between carriers and standards bodies.
The same device will then be able to directly access 5G and 6G mobile networks via terrestrial or non-terrestrial relays (low-orbit satellites, high-altitude platforms, drones). These non-terrestrial or 3D components seamlessly complement and/or complement network coverage beyond 5G and even 6G.
Why is 6G deployment not planned by 2030?
Typically, one generation of mobile networks runs for 10 years. Now it’s 5G. And achieving 6G’s ambitious goals will require overcoming many technical hurdles. Material questions.
The transition to terahertz (THz) frequencies requires cutting-edge materials, which are currently under development. The more materials used to achieve high frequency performance, the greater the problem with energy dissipation. Tests are currently being conducted on graphene and metamaterials, which play a crucial role in thermal, optical, electrical, and electronic functions.
Demand for III-V semiconductors, which are widely used in 5G, is also expected to increase further. Materials issues are critical as they will determine the technical feasibility of 6G’s incredible potential..
So what exactly does 6G offer?
Its applications are beyond imagination, offering both virtual and physical experiences. At 100 Gbit/s, 6G takes us into the realm of moments.
It is difficult to grasp all the benefits that the 6th generation will soon offer in e-health, transportation, logistics, robotics, and cybersecurity. But one thing is certain: we are moving from science fiction to scientific reality.
You will be able to create digital twin High-speed interconnection on the cloud allows us to explore the real world beyond the constraints of space and time. As an industry specialist, that’s interesting. Imagine being able to provide solutions and solve problems in immersive environments, or create digital replicas of real-world objects for monitoring, diagnostics, and predictions.
Augmented reality and hologramsalthough today it is still in its early stages. Maximize their potential. 6G connects the human, physical and digital worlds: Research is currently focused on how we can taste, smell, and even touch objects through networks. You may have heard the phrase 6G brings the ‘Internet of Senses’.
While 5G is currently leading the way, 6G opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for digital applications.
Mobile holograms, digital avatars… could teleport machines be next?
We’re not there yet, but never say no. 5G is now leading the way, but 6G opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for digital applications, as reflected in the current patent count.
The competition between major countries over 6G reminds us that: Critical to both technological sovereignty and leadership. In his last three years, Thales has been more mobilized than ever on these issues, responding to requests from the French government and Europe.
We conducted a demonstration for NATO on the risks and benefits of future mobile connectivity for cybersecurity. We currently have teams working on digital applications for 5G and 6G in various sectors, from cybersecurity to space, and we are constantly working with our customers to understand their expectations and the issues they are facing. We’re talking.
We’re always looking for people who understand not just the communications side, but the broader ecosystem of systems, software, cybersecurity, and connectivity.
The possibilities that 6G offers are staggering. It’s up to us to invent the applications of the future.
