6G: Innovation Unleashing Transformation

6G is the sixth-generation mobile system standard currently developing in telecommunications for wireless communications technologies supporting cellular data networks. It is the anticipated successor to 5G and will likely be much faster. 6G, also called the "Internet of Sense," would enable applications like a better Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), ubiquitous instant communications, and pervasive intelligence.

Millimeter waves (30 to 300 GHz) and Terahertz radiation (300 to 3000 GHz) are expected to transport data in 6G. Millimeter and Terahertz waves are more sensitive to obstructions than microwave frequencies in 5G (approximately 2 to 30 GHz).
6G will support technology such as holographic communications, a tactile internet, intelligent network operations, network and computer convergence, and many more exciting possibilities due to its high speed, ultra-low latency, and greater bandwidth. 6G will connect the physical and virtual worlds.

6G networks seek to connect commercial and consumer devices to rapid Gigabit Ethernet networks. 6G is projected to significantly increase throughput and data flow. 6G, as planned, will enable the following:

  1. Offer a potential data throughput of approximately 11 Gbps over multiple gigahertz channels simultaneously;

  2. Deploy up to three 160-megahertz (MHz) bandwidth channels; and

  3. Multiplex up to eight spatial streams.

The following technologies are likely to be included in 6G:

  1. Nano-core. A nano-core will develop as a standard computing core incorporating HPC and AI features. A physical network element is not required for the nano-core. Instead, it could mean a logical grouping of computational resources shared by multiple networks and systems. 

  2. Core and edge coordination Sixth-generation networks will generate far more data than fifth-generation networks, and computing will grow to incorporate coordination between edge and core platforms. Data centers will need to evolve in response to these changes.

  3. Data administration. The sensing, imaging, and position-finding features of 6G will create vast amounts of data that network owners, service providers, and data owners must deal with. 

6G will also address 5G's shortcomings for IoT, including as

  1. Security. It's commonly known that the Internet of Things has severe security difficulties due to the lack of standards, and we're still not acclimated to the thought that something that doesn't seem like a computer may be connected to the Internet and hacked. This is something that 6G researchers are working on.

  2. Privacy. What kind of privacy exists if everyone is carrying an inbuilt internet connection? 

  3. Complexity. Because of the necessity to build infrastructure, 5G already confronts significant complexity difficulties. Reconfiguring the network could be the answer for 6G, but no solid answer exists. 

  4. Sovereignty. A somewhat unspoken concern regarding 5G is whether global standards exist or whether states should maintain control over connectivity in their territories. Unless this dispute is overcome, the Internet of Things may be hampered from reaching its full potential.

In addition, 6G will offer environmental sustainability use cases in areas such as

  1. Transportation. A smart traffic management system that allows traffic signals to self-learn and recognize trends can save travel times by up to 25% while lowering emissions by 13%.

  2. Manufacturing. 6G will improve the system's efficiency and resilience, reducing waste output and saving energy expenses. 

  3. Agriculture. A recent Qualcomm study found that real-time data collected by IoT-enabled drones and sensors make pesticide spraying more effective and accurate. This could cut the use of pesticides by 50%. 

  4. Energy. 6G will enable smart grids to better monitor rising energy demands, optimize electrical distribution, and use automation to manage huge variations in loads, resulting in a 12% reduction in gas and electricity use.

6G is expected to be commercialized around 2030, giving us the possibility of one day being able not only to see, hear, and sense textures online but also smell and taste.

Author

Nishant Chopada

Associate Consultant at Lumenci

Nishant Chopada is an associate consultant at Lumenci with experience in mobile applications, medical devices, and wireless communication. His work at Lumenci focuses on Claim charting and product testing. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the SRM Institute of Science and Technology.

Lumenci Team