Why 6G Will Happen in a Decade

Asking why we get a next-generation mobile network about every decade is a bit like asking why we get new smartphone models, TVs, Wi-Fi generations, PCs or anything else that is powered by processors. Because of Moore’s Law and other changes in chip architecture, better technology, running faster, and costing less, happens every two years or so. 

Suppliers want to use those new capabilities in their products, which means new versions must be created and marketed. 

The “new platforms” are not driven by pure marketing desires, shift to virtualized, cloud-native computing architectures, clearly-understood new use cases or applications or revenue models, though those things happen. 

source: Ericsson 

New mobile network platforms are necessary about every decade because--as an untethered platform--usage always grows to the point that capacity is challenged. And though use of smaller cells does help, at some point additional spectrum is required. Unlike optical or other waveguide networks, capacity cannot be increased by fiddling with end points. 

In the case of mobile networks, the actual pipe has to be augmented by use of new spectrum. 

Also, as processing power grows less costly, more-complicated modulation and transmitting techniques can be used by radios. That, in turn, allows higher bits-per-Hertz efficiency, again increasing capacity. 

Other technology developments--such as open source technology and cloud-native computing--also can be incorporated into next-generation standards. As always, next-generation mobile networks increase capacity and feature lower latency. In 5G device density and support of lower-power end points were notable. That will likely continue to be a focus for 6G. 

source: EDN 

Much present discussion of 6G centers on use cases, especially around communication realism. Think of it as the communications analogy to higher-definition video experiences: a move towards the same sort of “presence” as experienced face-to-face. Many believe this will include ways to incorporate senses such as touch, feel and smell into interactions. 

Beyond that, at the technology level, use of teraHertz frequencies is expected to be a focus, including architectures that are more “mesh-like” than prior generations, in part to compensate for teraHertz frequency propagation characteristics. 

As artificial intelligence is incorporated into general computing, so AI will be used throughout the network.

The marketing of each next-generation network often focuses on "new things you can do." That is the sizzle. New use cases and applications will develop, but what is controllable by standards bodies are network-related developments that enable the new uses.