WHAT IS 6G REALLY, AND HOW IS IT SHAPING UP?
6G is expected to provide hyper-connectivity that will lessen the divide between humanity and the inanimate world of machines and computers.
The mega trends that are shaping 6G and future of connectivity are:
Figure 2: 6G platform and ecosystem mega trends
Bearing in mind the general trend, in which successive generations of communication systems introduce new services with more stringent requirements, it is reasonable to expect that 6G will build on the strengths of 5G and introduce new technologies with requirements that far exceed the capabilities of 5G. However, in light of the promises of 5G, can 6G represent a significant technological advancement to justify a so-called new generation?
Regulatory bodies are considering allowing 6G networks to use higher frequencies than 5G networks. Since spectral efficiency, bandwidth, and network densification are the three main ingredients needed to achieve higher data rates, this is likely to provide substantially higher capacity and much lower latency. Terahertz (THz) bands from 100GHz to 10THz are currently being considered. This will allow the delivery of a peak data rate of 1,000 gigabits/second, with over-the-air latency lower than 100 microseconds.
When compared with today’s 5G deployments, 6G is likely to be 50 times faster, 10,000 times more reliable, and able to support ten times more devices per square kilometer, while offering wider coverage.
Though the standardization of 6G is on the near horizon, a rough sketch of how 6G performance compares to 5G is targeted in the initial studies. For example, the peak data rate in 5G is 200 Gb/s, whereas that in 6G is estimated to be 1 Tb/s, maximum bandwidth is 1 GHz in 5G vs 100 GHz in 6G, latency is 1 millisecond in 5G vs 100 microseconds in 6G, reliability is 1-10-5 in 5G vs 1-10-9 in 6G, peak mobility supported is 500 km/h in 5G vs 1000 km/h in 6G, energy latency is not specified in 5G - but in 6G it is estimated to be 1 Tb/J. A detailed comparison is available in figure 5.
6G research and standardization efforts across the world
This research work into 6G may seem early, but the geopolitical race for leadership of the ‘next big thing’ in telecommunications technology is already heating up. Countries across the world are spending huge money on 6G research. Various consortiums have been formed, and research projects started, to address new standards and vertical use cases, like vehicle connectivity and private industrial networks. The key 6G initiatives across the globe are shown in figure 3.
This research reveals a few key themes that will drive mobile network evolution towards 2030 and beyond. These as shown in figure 4.
Figure 3: Stakeholders race for 6G research leadership
Figure 4: The evolving technology themes of 6G
Capgemini is pursuing research across a number of these themes. For example, at our 6G research lab in Gurugram, India, we create comprehensive simulations to analyze the performance of emerging 6G themes, including Mesh Networks, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) designed specifically for 6G. In the area of Net Zero Operations, we focus our Net Zero Strategy and Low Carbon Navigator benchmarking tool.
Figure 5: 6G performance parametersSource: white paper - Broadband Connectivity in 6G
Though these are the early days of 6G research, a tentative timeline is given in Figure 6. 3GPP is currently at work on Release 18 and will soon begin development of Release 19 of its specifications, which is known as “5G Advanced”. Meanwhile, ITU has finalized its 6G vision in 2023, which provides a framework and overall objectives for 6G, including usage scenarios and key capability requirements. 3GPP will begin the development of 6G specifications by the end of 2025 (Release 20). The first version of 6G standardization is expected to be released sometime around 2030.
Figure 6: the journey to 6GSource: white paper - Towards 6G Networks: Use Cases and Technologies
