The Vision and Requirements of the 6G Systems

- Overview 

6G will be like 5G, but more so. Even higher speeds, even lower latency, and masses of bandwidth. Researchers and scientists are talking about 6G going beyond a “wired” network, with devices acting as antennas using a decentralized network not under the control of a single network operator. If everything connects using 5G, 6G will set these connected devices free, as higher data speeds and lower latency make instant device-to-device connection possible.

The researchers around the globe are proposing cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), quantum communication/quantum machine learning (QML), blockchain, tera-Hertz and millimeter waves communication, tactile Internet, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), small cells communication, fog/edge computing, etc., as the key technologies in the realization of beyond 5G and 6G communications. I

The vision of future 6G wireless system, network architecture, and its emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), terahertz communications, optical wireless technology, free space optic network, blockchain, three dimensional networking, quantum communications, unmanned aerial vehicle, cell-free communications, integration of wireless information and energy transfer, integration of sensing and communication, integration of access-backhaul networks, dynamic network slicing, holographic beamforming, and big data analytics that can assist the 6G architecture development in guaranteeing the QoS. 

- The Vision of the 6G Systems

The 6G vision is to create an intelligent network of everything, enabling a ubiquitous and intelligent mobile society. This vision focuses on ultra-high data rates, near-zero latency, and the integration of wireless, AI, and the Internet of Everything (IoE). 

6G aims to revolutionize various sectors, including healthcare, energy management, and AI-driven applications, by providing a more reliable, faster, and secure connectivity platform. 

Here's a more detailed look at the 6G vision: 

Key Pillars of the 6G Vision: 

• Ultra-High Data Rates and Low Latency: 6G aims to provide data rates in the range of hundreds of Gbps and latency of less than 1 millisecond, significantly surpassing 5G's capabilities.
• Internet of Everything (IoE) Integration: 6G will seamlessly integrate various devices and systems, creating a connected ecosystem where everything can communicate and interact.
• AI-Driven Network Intelligence: 6G networks will leverage AI to optimize network performance, manage resources efficiently, and provide intelligent services.
• Ubiquitous Connectivity: 6G aims to provide seamless and reliable connectivity in various environments, including terrestrial, aerial, and maritime.
• Focus on Specific Use Cases:
• 6G will enable a wide range of applications, such as smart cities, driverless cars, telemedicine, and virtual reality.
• Enhanced Security and Reliability: 6G will prioritize security and reliability to ensure data protection and uninterrupted connectivity.
• Energy Efficiency: 6G will focus on optimizing energy consumption to reduce the environmental impact of wireless communication.

Enabling Technologies: 

• Higher Frequencies: 6G will utilize higher frequencies, such as millimeter waves and terahertz, to achieve higher data rates and capacity.
• Massive MIMO: 6G will employ massive MIMO technology to improve network capacity and coverage.
• Cognitive Radio: 6G will utilize cognitive radio technology to adapt to changing network conditions and optimize resource allocation.
• Satellite Communication: 6G will integrate satellite communication to enhance connectivity in remote areas.

Impact and Benefits: 

• Improved Quality of Life: 6G will enable faster and more reliable connectivity, leading to improved quality of life for individuals and businesses.
• Economic Growth: 6G will drive innovation and create new business opportunities, fostering economic growth in various sectors.
• Social Transformation: 6G will enable new applications and services that can transform society, such as telemedicine, smart cities, and virtual reality.

- The Requirements of the 6G Systems

The 6G systems aim to achieve high spectral and energy efficiency, low latency, and massive connectivity because of extensive growth in the number of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. These IoT devices will realize advanced services such as smart traffic, environment monitoring, and control, virtual reality (VR)/virtual navigation, telemedicine, digital sensing, high definition (HD), and full HD video transmission in connected drones and robots. 

IoT devices are predicted to reach 25 billion by the year 2025, and therefore, it is very challenging for the existing multiple access techniques to accommodate such a massive number of devices. Even 5G systems, which are being rolled out in the world at the moment, cannot support such a high number of IoT devices. Third generation partnership project (3GPP) is already working on the development of 5G standard and has identified massive machine type communication (mMTC), ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC), and enhanced mobile broad band (eMBB) as three main use cases for 5G in its Release 13 (R13). 

At the same time, algorithms for the next generation (6G) communication systems, which will have the performance higher than that of existing 5G networks, are being developed. A typical 5G communication system has the capability to support at most 50,000 IoTs and/or narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) devices per cell. Specifically, a more robust network must be designed to realize the massive access in beyond 5G (B5G)/6G communication systems. 

Currently, there is little information about the standards of 6G. However, it is estimated that the international standardization bodies will sort out the standards for 6G by the year 2030. The work at some of the research centers has shown that 6G will be capable of transmitting a signal at a human computational capability by the year 2035. While the rollout of 5G is still underway, the researchers across the world have started working to bring a new generation of wireless networks.

- AI-Enabled 6G Air Interface

AI-enabled 6G air interface (or AI-AI) is a key component of 6G networking that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to replace parts of the signal processing chain on the physical layer. The goal of AI-AI is to serve applications with the data they need in the most efficient way possible, while taking into account the available hardware and radio environment.

 AI-AI could give radios the ability to:

• Learn from their environments and each other
• Adapt their signaling schemes to perform best in any situation
• Make smart choices, such as reconfiguring signal paths, modulation schemes, and moving between spectrum bands
• Set up bespoke constellations, waveforms, and pilot signals

Some other potential benefits of AI-AI include: Improved performance, Increased energy efficiency, Simplified network management and optimization, and Cheaper network operation.

To establish an AI-native air interface, individual processing blocks are replaced with trained ML models, and then tasks that logically belong together are combined into a single model.

For example, channel equalization, channel estimation, and demapping tasks could be combined into a single trained ML model called a neural receiver.
 

- The 6G Ecosystem

In the 6G era, the digital, physical and human world will seamlessly fuse to trigger extrasensory experiences. Intelligent knowledge systems will be combined with robust computation capabilities to make humans endlessly more efficient and redefine how we live, work and take care of the planet. 

The 6G ecosystem is a collaborative network of researchers, businesses, and ICT enterprises. It's expected to support technologies like: 

• Automated cars
• Smart-home networks
• E-health
• Precision health care
• Smart agriculture
• Earth monitor
• Digital twins
• Cobots
• Robot navigation

6G will also include features like:

• Intelligent connected management and control functions
• Programmability
• Integrated sensing and communication
• Reduction of energy footprint
• Trustworthy infrastructure
• Scalability
• Affordability

The FCC estimates that 6G's frequencies will be between 95 GHz to 3 THz, which is 3 to 1,000 times more potent than 5G's frequencies. However, the frequencies are non-ionizing and safe.