6G

For other uses, see 6G (disambiguation).
Part of a series on the
Wireless network technologies
Analog
Digital
Mobile telecommunications

In telecommunications, 6G is the designation for a future technical standard of a sixth-generation technology for wireless communications.

It is the planned successor to 5G (ITU-R IMT-2020), and is currently in the early stages of the standardization process, tracked by the ITU-R as IMT-2030[1] with the framework and overall objectives defined in recommendation ITU-R M.2160-0.[2][3] Similar to previous generations of the cellular architecture, standardization bodies such as 3GPP and ETSI, as well as industry groups such as the NGMN Alliance, are expected to play a key role in its development.[4][5][6]

Numerous companies (Airtel, Anritsu, Apple, Ericsson, Fly, Huawei, Jio, Keysight, LG, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Samsung, Vi, Xiaomi), research institutes (Technology Innovation Institute, the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre) and countries (United States, United Kingdom, European Union member states, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Israel) have shown interest in 6G networks, and are expected to contribute to this effort.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

6G networks will likely be significantly faster than previous generations,[14] thanks to further improvements in radio interface modulation and coding techniques,[2] as well as physical-layer technologies.[15] Proposals include a ubiquitous connectivity model which could include non-cellular access such as satellite and WiFi, precise location services, and a framework for distributed edge computing supporting more sensor networks, AR/VR and AI workloads.[5] Other goals include network simplification and increased interoperability, lower latency, and energy efficiency.[2][16] It should enable network operators to adopt flexible decentralized business models for 6G, with local spectrum licensing, spectrum sharing, infrastructure sharing, and intelligent automated management. Some have proposed that machine-learning/AI systems can be leveraged to support these functions.[17][18][19][16][20]

The NGMN alliance have cautioned that "6G must not inherently trigger a hardware refresh of 5G RAN infrastructure", and that it must "address demonstrable customer needs".[16] This reflects industry sentiment about the cost of the 5G rollout, and concern that certain applications and revenue streams have not lived up to expectations.[21][22][23] 6G is expected to begin rolling out in the early 2030s,[14][22][24] but given such concerns it is not yet clear which features and improvements will be implemented first.

  1. ^ "IMT towards 2030 and beyond". ITU – International Telecommunications Union. International Telecommunications Union (published November 2023). 2023. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Recommendation ITU-R M.2160-0" (PDF). ITU - International Telecommunications Union. November 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "The ITU-R Framework for IMT-2030" (PDF). ITU – International Telecommunications Union. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "Introduction to 3GPP Release 19 and 6G Planning". 3GPP – 3rd Generation Partnership Project. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024. In 2024, 3GPP is poised to finalize its specification efforts for Release 18, focusing on 5G Advanced systems, while making major progress in the development of Release 19. 3GPP will also prepare for the transition to 6G standardization.
  5. ^ a b "ITU-R Framework for IMT-2030: Review and Future Direction" (PDF). NGMN – Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance. February 2, 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Lin, Xingqin (September 1, 2022). "An Overview of 5G Advanced Evolution in 3GPP Release 18". IEEE Communications Standards Magazine. 6 (3): 77–83. arXiv:2201.01358. doi:10.1109/MCOMSTD.0001.2200001. The 6G standardization is expected to start in 3GPP around 2025.
  7. ^ Khan, Danish (January 2022). "Airtel, Vi push for work on 6G tech". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "Indian Telecom Jio partners with University of Oulu over development of 6G technology". Indian Express. January 21, 2022. Archived from the original on October 31, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Rappaport, Theodore S. (February 10, 2020). "Opinion: Think 5G is exciting? Just wait for 6G". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Kharpal, Arjun (November 7, 2019). "China starts development of 6G, having just turned on its 5G mobile network". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  11. ^ Boxall, Andy; Lacoma, Tyler (January 21, 2021). "What is 6G, how fast will it be, and when is it coming?". DigitalTrends. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  12. ^ "DoT to seek TRAI comment on use of 95GHz-3THz airwaves". TeleGeography. November 11, 2022. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Looking toward 6G: Israel in the Age of Technological Decoupling". The Institute for National Security Studies. November 18, 2020. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Fisher, Tim. "6G: What It Is & When to Expect It". Lifewire. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Björnson, Emil; Özdogan, Özgecan; Larsson, Erik G. (December 2020). "Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: Three Myths and Two Critical Questions". IEEE Communications Magazine. 58 (12): 90–96. arXiv:2006.03377. doi:10.1109/MCOM.001.2000407 – via IEEE.
  16. ^ a b c "6G Position Statement" (PDF). NGMN - Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance. November 9, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2024.
  17. ^ Saad, W.; Bennis, M.; Chen, M. (2020). "A Vision of 6G Wireless Systems: Applications, Trends, Technologies, and Open Research Problems" (PDF). IEEE Network. 34 (3): 134–142. doi:10.1109/MNET.001.1900287. ISSN 1558-156X. S2CID 67856161. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  18. ^ Yang, H.; Alphones, A.; Xiong, Z.; Niyato, D.; Zhao, J.; Wu, K. (2020). "Artificial-Intelligence-Enabled Intelligent 6G Networks". IEEE Network. 34 (6): 272–280. arXiv:1912.05744. doi:10.1109/MNET.011.2000195. ISSN 1558-156X. S2CID 209324400. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  19. ^ Xiao, Y.; Shi, G.; Li, Y.; Saad, W.; Poor, H. V. (2020). "Toward Self-Learning Edge Intelligence in 6G". IEEE Communications Magazine. 58 (12): 34–40. arXiv:2010.00176. doi:10.1109/MCOM.001.2000388. ISSN 1558-1896. S2CID 222090032. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  20. ^ Guo, W. (2020). "Explainable Artificial Intelligence for 6G: Improving Trust between Human and Machine". IEEE Communications Magazine. 58 (6): 39–45. doi:10.1109/MCOM.001.2000050. hdl:1826/15857. S2CID 207863445. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  21. ^ Meyer, Dan (November 20, 2023). "When will the 5G RAN market slump end?". SDX Central. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Morris, Iain (February 14, 2023). "Ericsson says 5G is spurring telco sales, but its case is weak". Light Reading. Archived from the original on April 3, 2024.
  23. ^ Dano, Mike (February 20, 2024). "In private wireless 5G, reality is strangling hype". Light Reading. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024.
  24. ^ "Korea plans to launch 6G network service in 2028". February 20, 2023. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.