Researchers and business executives are already anticipating 6G and its possible advantages since the worldwide rollout of 5G networks is still in progress and many regions of the globe continue to rely on outdated and less sophisticated communications networks. 6G testing and deployments might begin as early as 2030, following the 10-year development schedules of earlier cellular technologies. However, we still have a lot of work to do over the next eight years to create standards that are pertinent to the requirements that are now apparent as well as those that will become apparent in the years to come. The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is leading the charge to define 6G technology in order to achieve this.
Deepening the link and integration between the digital, physical, and human worlds is the overarching goal of 6G. Although it is too soon to predict the exact configuration of 6G before it is standardized, we may make educated guesses about the features of the next network, such as the technologies that will be used and their significance.
The Network of 6G
6G is the successor of 5G communications technology, as the name implies. In addition to facilitating mobile, 6G will facilitate smart-home networks and driverless automobiles, facilitating smooth integration of the internet with daily life.
At the moment, 5G networks offer download rates that are several times faster and have much lower latency than 4G LTE networks. It goes without saying that 6G networks will use higher frequencies than 5G networks, provide far more capacity, and have significantly reduced latency. 6G is expected to reach a maximum speed of one terabit per second (Tbps), 100 times faster than 5G, according to current forecasts. The frequency of 6G is expected to increase from 60 kilobits for 5G to 95 kilobits. More sophisticated radio equipment and a wider variety and volume of airwaves—including an extremely high frequency (EHF) spectrum that provides exceptionally fast speeds and enormous capacity over short distances—will be used in 6G compared to 5G. Instead than being an add-on like current 5G, mobile edge computing technology will be incorporated into all 6G networks, offering advantages including better access to AI capabilities and support for advanced mobile devices and systems.
In addition to enhancing applications for improved performance and connectivity, the design of tomorrow’s 6G network should leverage AI and machine learning to enhance support and efficiency, promote greater sustainability outcomes, boost security to promote dependability and trust, and extend and enhance connectivity with remote regions of the globe.
The 6G network has to use less power and be more efficient than the 5G network. Given the projected increase in data output, energy efficiency attained via digitization is essential for a more sustainable mobile business. The apps required to do this can be powered by the 6G network.
It is not enough for the network to be secure. It must be trustworthy as well. Consistent, dependable, and quick end-to-end data delivery—like that required to enable the safe and effective operation of autonomous cars without worrying about potentially hazardous latency glitches—is crucial to security, even if privacy is a significant component.
Future networks must prioritize social and economic demands by emphasizing greater global access rather than performance, as the COVID-19 epidemic made clear. Broadband connection is lacking in many places around the globe, especially in rural and impoverished communities. To reach the aim of universal wireless communications access, future networks will need to cost-effectively accommodate an ever-increasing number of users and their expected network consumption.
Low latency and multi-gigabit connection may be achieved using 6G satellite technology in conjunction with intelligent surfaces that can reflect electromagnetic signals. In regions of the globe where establishing access to traditional mobile networks is too costly, too difficult, or both, this potential might be particularly revolutionary. Network expenses should decrease as a result of the advancements made possible by the open radio access network (Open RAN).
6G and the Social Transformation
6G will further change how we live, govern and run our community infrastructures, and do business, much like the advancement of other technology, including faster networks and smartphones. The foundation of all interactions with and simulations of the real world, sensing is essential to 6G’s promise. Its applications include precise healthcare, smart industries, driverless cars, and much more.
Developers would undoubtedly be excited to take use of 6G’s expected features if it were already available. 6G will enable new and creative applications in wireless networking, cognition, sensing, and imaging thanks to its remarkable data throughput, low latency, secure dependability, agility, and dynamic insights.
By looking at the apps that are being deployed now, we can already sense the draw for 6G. For instance, 5G technological developments like virtualized networks are paving the way for 6G by making tailored deployments possible. Operators have more antennae and denser radio networks. Getting a signal is significantly simpler, particularly inside. Cloud and edge computing technologies have made data processing and storage more accessible to users. Latency is significantly reduced, even at scale.
AI is already being used by the 5G platform for data processing, dynamic resource allocation, and optimization. However, 6G will be able to provide worldwide, integrated intelligence because to its distributed design and very low latency of less than one millisecond. The industrial Internet of things (IoT) services combined with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will play a major role in enabling 6G, which will drive the fourth industrial revolution.
Government and industrial approaches to public safety and critical asset protection, including threat detection, health monitoring, and air quality assessments, will be impacted by 6G wireless sensing systems. We should expect increased decision-making power with real-time data, which will increase first responders’ and law enforcement authorities’ response.
One of the primary use cases where 6G is anticipated to be crucial is autonomous driving, since it will allow for increased precision and dependability. The new autonomous vehicle (AV) safety standard IEEE 2846, which was just announced, is a significant step forward for AV mass testing in the United States. To propel an AV civilization in the future, 6G and other networks will be required. For instance, it is clear that in order to allow hundreds of AVs to negotiate traffic in a given geographic region, data speed with full coverage would be necessary. However, it will also be required to link to a sensor network that can guide the AV to a parking space near the intended conclusion of the journey.
Advanced maps, the ground-based equivalent of GIS, will be a crucial component of AV navigation systems. Real-time 4D maps will be available in the future, and everyone—including government agencies—will use them to monitor, control, and run infrastructure, including traffic that is mostly made up of autonomous cars. Everything from traffic to weather conditions will be mapped using a massive sensor network that aggregates data from air and ground sources. We can visualize how we handle every space, including the air space above us, via 4D mapping.
Additionally, 6G will make immersive communication possible via high-fidelity holograms, location and context-aware digital services, and sensory experiences like completely immersive extended reality (XR). Look for augmented reality to replace virtual reality, which often needs a heavy headgear. Numerous fields, such as communication, healthcare, architecture, interior design, and gaming, will include holographic technology. With the use of wearable sensors, virtual reality (VR) will replace today’s video conferences by enabling real-time communication with others while giving users the physical impression that they are in the same room.
Low-power IoT gadgets could even be able to be charged via the network as 6G uses less power than 5G. This effectiveness would improve sustainability and change the economics of large-scale deployments. Beyond the network, however, 6G will power the technologies that will improve the sustainability of our planet by using global sensors to measure inputs from enormous ecosystems, such as cities, houses, forests, and seas. A smart home might, at the most detailed level, employ information from sensors both inside and outside the house to learn from and adjust to your actions, including knowing when to turn on HVAC systems and when to stop or turn them off.
We may also anticipate developments in precision healthcare, where biomedicine, analytics, and data science are integrated to build a learning system that optimizes data and tools to improve patient outcomes while conducting research in the context of clinical treatment. The utilization of small nodes that assess bodily processes connected to equipment that may help and medicate patients is one example of precision healthcare.
With the help of satellite and other technologies, the 6G network might provide infinite connectedness and immense intelligence, connecting all facets of our digital and physical worlds—collectively, what some refer to as the metaverse. The introduction of 6G might significantly accelerate the adoption of IoT by enabling real-time data transfer to update its digital representation, such as temperature sensors positioned across a city or in a factory. Applications that monitor and analyze events, make more accurate forecasts about probable outcomes, and automatically program reaction actions will all be built with 6G.
For example, 6G will provide terabit speeds that will undoubtedly make video conversations less uncomfortable and streaming more pleasurable. This is a personal and accessible example for most people.
How IEEE SA Aids in the Creation and Introduction of 6G
By means of our Connectivity & Telecom Practice, IEEE SA is establishing a global network of interested parties to address the demand for reliable, cost-effective, and robust wired and wireless platforms that are aimed at delivering better and more dependable connectivity to satisfy the constantly growing demands for data. Virtualized RAN (Open RAN), universal connection, energy savings, cybersecurity, IoT, augmented reality, and a sustainable future are among the technologies and social concerns imagined for 6G technology that are part of our emphasis. We are pleased to have participation from business, government, and academia.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, future technologies like 6G are still under research and development, and actual results may differ from current predictions. The views expressed are based on publicly available data and do not represent official statements from IEEE or any other organization. Readers are encouraged to verify details before making any decisions based on this content.