Key highlights
- While 5G adoption is still ramping up, 6G is already on the horizon.
- With integrated AI, extended reality (XR), non-terrestrial networks and ISAC technology, 6G will revolutionize wireless communication, industrial automation and IoT.
It’s still early days for 5G adoption; however, my friend Mike Wood, Telstra Australia, successfully trialed the first pre-6G trial mobile network device operation at 6GHz. If we’re only starting to realize the benefits of 5G, why rush to 6G, and how will 6G be better than 5G?
For starters, 6G promotes the continuing evolution of multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) technology with an increase in the number of ports and antenna elements. It also integrates with 5G, so the work underway to install that infrastructure is maintained, but inter-networking with 4G is discouraged so its support may decline.
Meanwhile, 6G will consistently enable more secure and reliable networks with higher capacity. The plans for 6G use new midband radio frequencies from 4-15 GHz. Combined with existing mobile frequencies, coverage will be better and include seamlessly integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (satellites) for ubiquitous coverage and resilient services. Because they now include many different platforms, the 6G standards promote open/interoperable interfaces and collaboration to foster innovation, avoiding market fragmentation. The interfaces, increased security, integrity and privacy are required from day one, and 6G incorporates zero-trust principles and post-quantum security measures.
The 6G technical specifications or standards outlining the 6G technical operating requirements are set by the international standards organization 3GPP. In March, 3GPP started the process of defining the initial 6G technical requirements, including feasibility studies with the 6G summary.
Ensuring the safety of 6G and new wireless technologies is a key aspect for international standardization. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is responsible for developing the global testing standards.
Other than being faster and more secure, 6G offers these new use cases:
- Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) capability will be useful for remote locations and to provide backhaul services to local area networks on board aircraft, vessels, and trains;
- Extended reality (XR)/immersive communication (e.g., 3D video streaming);
- Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC); and
- AI-based services.
Most of us are familiar with NTN and XR, but the always evolving AI and ISAC offer potentially new ways for 6G to change the automation industry.
ISAC aims to seamlessly unify wireless sensing and communication functionalities meaning the same wireless signals and hardware that are used for transmitting data (communication) are also used to sense the environment.
ISAC is dependent on next generation node B (gNB), base station that can both connect and perceive the world around it and user equipped (UE)-based sensing elements.
Like wireless sensor networks, the UE sensing elements can work as a sensing transmitter, sensing receiver, or cooperative node (analogous to mesh). Sensing transmitters can be monostatic (sense and receive its own signals), bistatic (one node senses, second transmits), or tristatic (UE transmits, and the gNB receives).
ISAC, which is based on identifying patterns, is dependent on the pervasiveness of UE-based sensing to provide:
- Ubiquitous sensing: Every connected device becomes a potential sensor;
- Granular data: UEs are often closer to objects of interest (allows for more precise and fine-grained sensing data;
- Diverse perspectives: Multiple UEs at different locations provide diverse angles of observation; and
- Enhanced localization and tracking: UEs can contribute to highly accurate self-localization.
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AI is used to aggregate the data and recognize meaningful patterns. AI is also incorporated in 6G RAN (Radio Access Network) for robust network management and resource allocation to withstand various events such as operational errors, heavy traffic and disasters.
6G RAN understands and adapts to the specific requirements of different services and applications by:
- Identifying and differentiating between service types to know what kind of application or service is generating traffic;
- Understanding service requirements for comprehending the specific quality of service (QoS) demands of each service such as latency, bandwidth, reliability and jitter;
- Dynamically allocating resources to intelligently prioritize and allocate radio and network resources;
- Optimizing network performance can adjust parameters like scheduling, power allocation, and beamforming to ensure that each service gets the best possible experience, even under varying network conditions; and
- Enabling network slicing to allow the creation of multiple optimized virtual networks on a single physical infrastructure.
AI is a core part of 6G in operation and development:
- AI for 6G: using AI technologies to enhance and optimize 6G network operations, performance and management; and
- 6G for AI: designing 6G networks to natively support and facilitate AI-driven applications, services and use cases.
When it comes to integrating AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), 6G will support the evolution of AI and IoT, enabling faster video streaming, machine-to-machine communication and potential applications we have not yet seen. They include collaborative virtual and augmented reality, more precise location and sensor positioning (1-10 cm) fully networked vehicles, smart factories, more widespread use of digital twins and greater energy efficiency and sustainability.
It’s not only a matter of where your 6G is, but also when you can get it and identifying use cases.
