6G research should be prepared for a rainy day

Since 5G is still in the development and deployment phase, it may seem premature to plan for the next generation of wireless communication technology. There are still many technical, regulatory, geographical and educational challenges to achieve ubiquitous 6G. However, given the ambitious goals set by the current generation of technology, it is not too early to start preparing for these challenges now.

This next-generation wireless technology promises faster speeds, lower latency and greater bandwidth, enabling the instantaneous transmission of massive amounts of data to more devices through decentralized, intelligent networks.

Based on past experience, when developing new industry standards, technical research generally needs to be started 10 to 15 years in advance. 6G, like 5G, includes both evolution and innovation. Overall, we can foresee that technical capabilities will develop in a step-by-step manner.

6G will accelerate the digital transformation of the economy and society, taking the world a critical step toward a truly globalized and digital community. According to the vision of 6G, by 2030, we will be in a data-driven world with near-instant, unlimited wireless connectivity. 6G will further expand on the capabilities of 5G and is expected to provide the capabilities needed by vertical industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, transportation, and public safety that rely on connectivity. This capability will no longer be a novel or special use case, but an integral part of our daily lives.

Use cases include holographic communications that include non-audiovisual information, more complex and thorough digital twins, and changing the way we use data through machine learning (ML) and other forms of artificial intelligence. 6G will lay the foundation for building a complex emergency and disaster management system. From a consumer perspective, it will promote mobile communications to be more closely integrated into our daily lives - driving to work, educating children, cooking, health care, shopping, and banking.

The opportunities brought by 6G are numerous, but we still have a long way to go to make 6G a reality. To realize the promise of 6G, businesses, governments, and innovators must first focus on achieving the following key breakthroughs:

1. Reimagine seamless networks through technological innovation

Although 5G is a global standard, seamless integration between all wireless networks (from Bluetooth to 5G), wired networks (from LAN to WAN), and even non-terrestrial networks is still elusive. 6G requires a new generation of wireless technology that can flexibly and seamlessly use these systems based on location and demand. Although artificial intelligence is widely used in today's industrial applications, we still need to incorporate artificial intelligence into the 6G network architecture to dynamically optimize the performance, efficiency and flexibility of complex 6G networks. Finally, continued innovation in areas such as the Internet of Things, enhanced mobile broadband, and ultra-high reliability communications is key to laying the foundation for 6G.

2. Setting global industry standards

A single global standard that applies to all industries and all regions will ensure consistency and economies of scale in 6G deployment. It is too early to get into specifics, but we must establish a framework for the evolution and innovation of 6G.

We must work together to anticipate the needs of 6G by evaluating and evolving 5G standards through joint projects, trials and demonstrations. Innovative initiatives such as the 6G Flagship Program, a global research and co-creation ecosystem for 5G rollout and 6G innovation, have begun to bring together industry stakeholders to jointly develop the foundational technologies required for 6G.

3. Be proactive in addressing network security issues

Each new generation of mobile wireless technology must address a dual cybersecurity challenge: 1) address the inherent vulnerabilities of the previous generation of technology; 2) address new vulnerabilities caused by the expanded threat surface of the new generation of technology. 5G has better encryption and security architecture than 4G, but its application scope will be wider and more devices will be connected. The vision of 6G is to create a more sophisticated usage model, so it is a bigger target for dynamic software-based cyber threats. With the booming development of IoT applications, each of the billions of connected devices spread across the network has the potential to become an intrusion point for attackers.

All 6G participants - from mobile operators, suppliers and their customers to over-the-top (OTT) application developers - need to implement and adopt new security, testing and training standards. In addition, they need to incorporate cybersecurity into the design and development lifecycle of software architectures, use built-in protection features to identify vulnerabilities, and help networks recover quickly in the event of an intrusion, thereby reducing the risk of 6G development and operations across the ecosystem.

4. Enabling innovation, accessibility and safety through policies

Starting now, policymakers have the opportunity to lay the regulatory foundation for 6G. They need to work with industry leaders to develop policies that support industry and protect people and data in mission-critical applications such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, military, smart cities, and more.

We see growing inequalities in economic conditions, education and social status caused by access to the internet. The early vision for 6G set out by the European Hexa-X project aims to reduce this digital divide, but bringing the benefits of 6G to people in rural or low-income areas will require collaboration between the private sector and the public sector.

5. Train the next generation of engineers

To make 6G a reality, we need to train the next generation of researchers, scientists, physicists, and engineers. Electrical engineering, which covers digital, radio, and semiconductor fields, and computer science, which covers a wide range of fields, will continue to play an important role in this field. Engineers who will solve the connectivity problems of the future will need a well-rounded, multidisciplinary education to enter a technically diverse career. Businesses and educational institutions should work together to close the skills gap by increasing students' interest in STEM subjects, strengthening their related skills, and promoting how to take advantage of this unique and rewarding opportunity to create the wireless technology of the future.

6G research should be prepared for a rainy day

Although 6G is still in the research stage, it will take time to overcome the many technical difficulties. As 5G is gradually promoted, now is the right time to start planning for 6G. Leaders in the private and public sectors must work together to develop the infrastructure, new technologies and new standards as the basis for realizing the countless innovations enabled by 6G. Now is the time to act. We must maintain the momentum of 5G on the one hand, and pave the way for 6G on the other.