6G wireless technology

6G is the sixth generation of wireless communication networks and will include several new technology components compared to previous generations. These are, for example, the support of THz frequencies for communication or gesture recognition, additional frequencies between 7 and 24 GHz, joint communication and sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.

There are many driving forces that make the development of 6G standard networks necessary, such as new applications like the metaverse, realized via eXtended Reality (XR) which typically requires consistently high data rates and low latency. Today’s 4G and 5G networks cannot guarantee this anytime and anywhere. Combining the aforementioned technology components will improve the situation and link performance and enable these applications.

While 6G frequency will work on the same frequencies as 4G LTE (410 MHz to 6 GHz) and 5G New Radio (410 MHz to 7.125 GHz and 24.25 to 71 GHz), it will add the support for additional frequency layers such as FR2-0 (7.125 to 24.25 GHz) as well as the support of sub-THz frequencies. This is because 6G targets peak data rates of up to 1 Tbps. To achieve these data speeds, wider bandwidths of 10 GHz (or more) are required. These wide bandwidths are only available at higher frequencies in the THz frequency range.

6G wireless communication will include several technology components that are not available in today’s 5G mobile networks. For example, support for THz-based communication, joint communication and sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces.

6G will also provide higher capacity and throughput combined with lower latency than 5G networks – it is set to expand the performance of 5G applications. 6G can take advantage of additional frequencies compared to 5G to support innovative applications in wireless connectivity through sensing, imaging, localization, and object detection. One interesting application is to aid beam alignment and management on the air interface while using the gained information. Overall, when it comes to 6G vs. 5G, 6G will improve the communication link performance by intelligently applying machine learning-based algorithms for signal processing.

Mobile edge computing: improved access to AI functions and support for sophisticated mobile devices resulting in fewer transmission errors and greater spectral efficiency for mobile networks.

The typical technology cycle for a wireless communication standard is 10 years. 5G New Radio launched commercially in 2019. While 5G network deployments are in full swing and there is a clear evolution path for 5G, academic institutions and research institutes have begun fundamental research for the next generation of wireless communication, commonly known as 6G. Based on current industry predictions, the commercial deployment of 6G wireless communication networks will start in late 2029 or early 2030.

6G will offer a vast range of new uses cases and applications, which among others include truly immersive extended reality, holographic communication including mobile holograms, digital twinning and replicas. Most of these applications have unprecedented performance requirements that cannot be met by today’s communication standards.

Similar to the 5G New Radio standard, 6G will also take advantage of frequency range 1 (FR1) up to 7.125 GHz and frequency range 2 (FR2) mmWave from 24.25 GHz to 71 GHz. In addition, current research suggests that 6G will use THz frequencies and frequencies from 7.125 GHz to 24.25 GHz, which are often referred to as FR3 or FR2-0.