While the world embraces 5G technology, some countries and organisations have already set their sights on 6G technology. The next generation of mobile connectivity is still about a decade away from being implemented, but technological innovation is gaining traction.
According to reports, 6G will necessitate dramatic advances in communications technology to achieve 10 to 100 times the speeds and capacities of 5G, with an ultra-low power consumption of 1/100 and coverage extending from the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space.
According to public reports, more than 500 billion machines will be connected to the Internet by 2030, which is more than 60 times the world’s population, and these machines will drive a variety of different technical requirements in addition to simply connecting people. While 5G is still in its early stages, we believe now is the time to begin planning for 6G.
When we look back at previous generations of communications systems, such as 3G, 4G, and 5G, the general consensus is that a new generation of wireless communications technologies is introduced every 10 years. According to this trend, we can expect 6G to be ready for commercialization around 2030, especially given that each generation of wireless technology typically takes about a decade from identifying target services, applications, performance requirements, and conducting research for the required technologies to actual commercial deployments. Furthermore, as we work to shape 6G, the industry will need to come together to discuss, collaborate, and cooperate, which will also take time.
With all of these factors in mind, now is the time to start talking about and identifying 6G technologies as we prepare for 6G as a key technology that will drive service convergence across industries.
With the 6G era expected to connect up to 500 billion machines, we’ll see vehicles, appliances, and even the buildings around us connected to this super-fast communications network at any time and from any location. We can already see how XR devices and services like VR and AR are being used today, and how digital replication technology is being used in industrial IoT. The possibilities made possible by today’s software, hardware, and communications have just begun. Those truly immersive XR and high-fidelity mobile holograms will begin to bloom in a world where 6G technology is universal, and as we bring the virtual and real worlds together, we will be able to safely and more easily address problems encountered in the real world.
When it comes to communication technology standardisation, the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) – a UN agency – must first define the 6G vision and technical performance requirements, followed by the work of standard development organisations such as 3GPP to establish technical specifications to meet these requirements. The ITU-6G R’s vision will provide a global direction and roadmap for technology, service, spectrum, and commercialization. We anticipate that the ITU-R 6G Vision Group will define the 6G vision, including target services and capabilities, by mid-next year, and that the ITU-R will define the detailed technical performance requirements around 2024-2026.
The development of 6G technology specifications within 3GPP is expected to begin around 2025, with the goal of delivering the first release of 6G technical standards by 2028. While it is critical to develop outstanding technologies, it is also critical to reach a consensus on 6G technologies during the standardisation process in order to successfully achieve 6G.
