Mobile industry leaders recently convened in Incheon, South Korea, for a pivotal workshop organized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The focus sharpened on the standardization of 6G, with commercial deployments anticipated around the turn of the decade.

This early stage of development signals a significant shift, moving beyond the ongoing expansion of 5G networks towards a future where connectivity is not just about faster data speeds but an innovative and integrated digital fabric underpinning society.

While 5G laid the foundation for enhanced mobile broadband and the initial steps into massive machine-type communications and ultra-reliable low-latency communications, 6G is envisioned as an “innovation platform connecting an expansive compute and intelligence fabric for the next decade and beyond.”

The new wireless era aims to address the evolving needs of consumers and industries, promising to revolutionize everything from immersive experiences to industrial automation and beyond.

Beyond simple communication

A defining characteristic of 6G will be its ability to enable numerous new services extending far beyond traditional voice and data communication. Integrated sensing is emerging as a key capability, allowing network infrastructure to function as a sophisticated sensing platform for applications ranging from industrial safety and drone detection to localized weather mapping.

During the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC), Peter Vetter, President of Nokia Bell Labs Core Research, told EE Times that 6G would leverage the ubiquity of base stations, allowing them to be used “simultaneously for communication but also as a kind of radar… without impairing the quality of service of your connection.”

Furthermore, 6G is poised to be the bedrock for truly immersive extended reality (XR) experiences. Media consumption will evolve from mobile phones to XR wearables, necessitating advancements in remote rendering facilitated by robust 6G networks.

During MWC, in a panel at Ericsson pavilion, Zhu Ji, wireless systems manager and architect at Meta, argued that 6G is critical to realizing their vision of “XR wearables as the next phase of human and machine interactions.” The demand for seamless, high-capacity connectivity that supports real-time, context-based assistance from AI agents in various environments, from crowded subways to national parks, underscores the ambition for 6G to deliver “anywhere, anytime live” experiences.

AI at the core of the intelligent network

The most transformative aspect of 6G is the fundamental integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the network’s architecture. Vetter asserted that “the main reason to define a next generation is to have AI capability so that the existing standard does not prevent you from exploiting AI’s capabilities to the fullest.”

6G represents a paradigm shift from previous generations, where AI was essentially an overlay. 6G envisions an “AI-native network system design, improving efficiency in network management and resource allocation,” he argued.

The potential benefits of AI-driven networks are vast, including dynamic optimization of network parameters, intelligent resource allocation based on diverse device types and use cases, and automated network management.

The goal is to create a self-optimizing network that can adapt to changing demands and deliver enhanced service reliability and customer experience. It also includes leveraging AI to dynamically learn and optimize 6G system parameters.

Powering a sustainable and efficient standard

As network capacity demands continue to climb exponentially, energy efficiency has become a critical imperative for 6G. The industry has pledged ambitious goals for reducing the absolute power consumption of networks while increasing capacity.

Achieving this will require disruptive research and innovation beyond incremental improvements in existing technologies and a complex supply chain.

Enhanced system efficiency is a core principle of 6G, encompassing energy consumption and overall network design and operation. A key objective is simplifying network architecture to reduce complexity and improve operational efficiency, drawing lessons from the complexities encountered in 5G deployments.

The aim is to have a leaner and more streamlined system with a well-dimensioned set of functionalities, minimizing redundant options and excessive configurations.

Coverage and capacity for all

Efficient and innovative spectrum use is paramount to realizing the full potential of 6G. Drawing on the experiences with 5G, particularly the limitations of millimeter-wave deployments, the focus for 6G spectrum is shifting towards bands just above the mid-band that 5G uses today for 7 GHz to 15 GHz. This approach aims to leverage existing cell site infrastructure while providing wider bandwidths for increased capacity and improved coverage.

Furthermore, 6G envisions ubiquitous coverage by seamlessly integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. The goal is to have one experience: an integrated network with satellites. This integration promises to extend mobile broadband to underserved and remote areas, fulfilling the vision of truly global connectivity. Additionally, 6G standardization will explore dynamic spectrum sharing and improvements in efficiency in existing lower bands.

Shaping a smoother transition from 4G and 5G

The standardization of 6G consciously incorporates lessons learned from the rollout and evolution of 5G. A key priority is ensuring a simplified and smoother migration compared to the complexities experienced in the transition from 5G non-standalone (NSA) to standalone (SA) architectures. The goal is to focus on a single SA option with multi-RAT spectrum sharing and seamless interworking with 5G.

Reducing architectural complexity is another critical takeaway from 5G. The multitude of options, features, and configurations in 5G led to increased system complexity, which impacted device capabilities and slowed down adoption. 6G standardization aims to reduce system complexity for faster, more efficient adoption.

Analyzing the reasons behind the slower-than-expected adoption of certain 5G features, such as network slicing, will also inform the design of 6G to ensure better utilization of key capabilities.

Global efforts underway

The 3GPP 6G workshop in South Korea marked a significant milestone, initiating the official global technology standardization effort for 6G. The workshop witnessed broad participation from network operators, industry associations, hardware and software vendors, academia, system integrators, and technology providers from all regions.

This level of engagement underscores the global recognition of 6G’s importance and the need for a unified, interoperable standard. Juan Montojo, head of 3GPP standardization at Qualcomm Technologies, highlighted the “wide collaborations ahead.”

While the standardization process has just begun, the overarching vision for 6G is taking shape. The focus on enabling new services, leveraging AI and automation, enhancing efficiency, and improving spectrum use and coverage reflects a collective ambition to create a wireless system that can address the evolving needs of a hyper-connected world.

The journey has just begun, but the destination promises a world where wireless connectivity is smarter, more versatile, and more deeply integrated into the fabric of our lives than ever before.

By: DocMemory
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