Mobile connectivity has come a long way since 1979 when NTT initiated the first generation of cellular networks in Tokyo. 2G and 3G quickly followed 1G. These were voice and text communication networks. The more recent 4G and 5G networks enabled advanced content and massive data consumption.
By 2023, after more than four decades, mobile operators, telcos, and providers will be back at the design table, shaping the next generation of mobile networks: 6G.
The term 6G refers to the sixth generation of mobile networks. Why do networks change? Technology advancements and the amount of data that must be transferred from data centers to devices have increased exponentially. Furthermore, networks improve in more ways than one. They reduce latency or delay as well as energy consumption during data transmissions while improving reliability, security, and performance.
5G networks will be widely available worldwide by 2023. The virtualization of network hardware, which is now operating in the cloud with Open RAN standards, is making deployment easier. However, 5G is expected to become obsolete soon as the digital and physical worlds integrate with virtual and augmented reality. Furthermore, the Internet of Things and Industrial IoT are gaining traction to support the fourth industrial revolution.
These new technologies, as well as the volume of data that must be instantly communicated between devices, necessitate a faster, more reliable, and more robust generation of mobile networks — enter 6G.
6G is still in its early stages of development and, like all mobile networks, will rely on radio transmissions. 6G is also anticipated to improve connectivity in rural and remote areas, thereby affecting populations affected by the digital divide. Because of its high capacity and low cost, the technology has the potential to connect the space and satellite sectors.
To outperform 5G in terms of capacity, latency, and connectivity, 6G will need to use new high-frequency bands, such as sub-terahertz bands above 100 GHz. These radio waves are more sensitive to obstacles, posing technological challenges that must still be addressed.
Antennas, nodes, edge centers, gateways, and Open RAN virtual machines running in the cloud are used to connect devices in engineering network areas. Because radio waves require a direct line of sight for transmission, several factors must be considered, including urban blockage, refraction, diffraction, scattering, absorption, and reflection of radio waves.
To overcome these challenges, the industry intends to build multipath environments in which sensible high-frequency waves can travel without losing strength, consuming too much power, or experiencing latency. AI computing applications will be critical in calculating the shortest and most optimal paths for 6G radio waves.
The Advantages of 6G
1. 6G provides improved connectivity: The most obvious and direct benefit of 6G is that it will boost connectivity by providing instantaneous communications for any device, including smartphones, computers, wearables, robotics, and IoT. 6G will connect industrial IoT devices and drive the fourth industrial revolution with a core structure of automation and intelligence in the industrial sector, which is undergoing digital acceleration by deploying smart factories, production, and distribution systems.
Improved connectivity will benefit every industry. Healthcare, remote and robotic surgery, and telehealth, for example, are expected to be transformed by 6G. Similarly, sectors such as finance, retail, manufacturing, and others that are undergoing significant digitalization and modernization will utilize 6G to continue disruptive transformations.
2. 6G will propel technological advancement: 6G mobile networks are a game changer in terms of innovation. Supercomputers, quantum computing, machine learning, AI, global cloud data centers, the metaverse, and new devices will be able to operate only with 6G connectivity.
3. 6G is low energy and efficient: Low energy consumption and energy efficiency are critical advantages of 6G. Organizations and businesses are aiming for net-zero emission targets and reducing energy consumption for economic and environmental reasons. The 6G energy economy has become appealing to all industries. Low-energy connections are also required to extend the battery life of IoT and mobile devices.
4. 6G has low latency: With its extremely low latency, 6G will benefit society. Latency is the amount of time it takes for a digital system to transfer data. The greater the amount of data, the greater the effort required by the network; thus, the threat of latency uptick. However, thanks to 6G innovation, connectivity should be immediate.
Disadvantages of 6G
1. 6G is still in the early stages of development: 6G technology is currently in the development phase, which is its most significant disadvantage. While Nokia, NTT, and other companies have plans to test small 6G networks, these are only pilot projects. 6G is expected to be available globally by 2030.
2. The initial investment costs for 6G are high: Another obstacle is demonstrating the value of 6G as a low-cost connectivity technology. In the long run, 6G may lower end-user costs compared to 5G, but the initial investment required globally to get there is massive. Other technical challenges include optimizing terahertz-sensitive frequency paths, stabilizing visible light communication technology, and optimizing the AI, ML, and advanced computing resources required to run these futuristic networks.
3. 6G necessitates a rethinking of traditional cybersecurity: The security of 6G networks is a top priority. With network redesign, cybersecurity and privacy features must be reimagined, strengthened, and adapted. Traditional cybersecurity methods will become obsolete, and developers will need to innovate in areas such as authentication, encryption, access control, communication, and malicious activity.
6G is on the rising trend
The 6G race is well underway, with leading global operators already entering testing phases. Without a doubt, 6G is a foregone conclusion. 6G, on the other hand, is not a one-man show. A diverse range of companies, organizations and developers must collaborate to create the next generation of connectivity.