In recent advancements in telecommunications, Samsung Electronics has released a comprehensive white paper on 6G technology, titled "AI-Native & Sustainable Communication." This document delves into the evolving trends of next-generation mobile communication technologies. It follows Samsung’s initial 6G white paper, "The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All," published in July 2020, which laid the groundwork for understanding the direction of 6G. The latest white paper explores the trends fueling the standardization of 6G and its future role in mobile communications. It examines the changing market dynamics, emerging services, critical 6G attributes, and enabling technologies.
Samsung’s vision for 6G entails the integration of cutting-edge AI technology across the telecommunications infrastructure to enhance network quality, aiming for a future-focused and sustainable user experience. Charlie Zhang, Senior Vice President of the Advanced Communications Research Center at Samsung Research, stated, "We are intensifying our 6G research efforts, focusing on AI-enabled communication technologies and sustainable networks." As the telecommunication sector accelerates the standardization of 6G, Samsung is committed to developing technologies that meet market expectations.
Market and Technology Trends Towards 6G
The surge in mobile data traffic is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of AI technologies and the increasing popularity of streaming services. As a result, there is an urgent need for advancements in technology to efficiently manage this data and enhance user experiences in next-generation mobile communications. Since the rollout of 5G, the telecommunications industry has concentrated on optimizing system operations, sustainability, and user experiences. Besides improving communication performance, such as data rates and latency, there is a pressing need to reduce operational costs, improve energy efficiency, expand service coverage, and introduce innovative technologies like AI.
Emerging Services
The evolution towards 5G-Advanced aims to enhance 5G performance further and incorporate AI, paving the way for new services and use cases. This progression is essentially setting the stage for 6G technology. The white paper highlights several key emerging services, including immersive extended reality (XR), digital twin technology, massive communication, ubiquitous connectivity, and fixed wireless access (FWA).
Immersive Extended Reality (XR): XR provides deeply immersive user experiences by merging the virtual and real worlds. This technology is gaining traction across various industries, including entertainment, healthcare, and scientific research.
Digital Twin: 6G technology facilitates the creation of virtual replicas of physical entities, such as objects, people, devices, and places. These digital twins allow for remote monitoring, problem detection, and control.
Massive Communication: This service connects an extensive array of devices, including sensors, machines, and terminals, to networks. It supports the automation and management of smart cities, homes, and factories.
Ubiquitous Connectivity: By extending network coverage and integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial components like satellites and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), ubiquitous connectivity expands service areas.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): FWA enables the wireless delivery of broadband services traditionally reliant on wired connections, becoming a crucial driver for expanding telecommunications businesses.
6G Key Attributes
Samsung’s white paper identifies four essential attributes of 6G that are critical for adapting to evolving market demands. These include AI-native functionalities, sustainable network operations, ubiquitous coverage, and secure and resilient networks.
AI-Native: This attribute involves incorporating the latest AI technologies into communication functionalities, from system design to development, management, and operation, to enhance performance.
Sustainable Network: By improving the energy efficiency of networks and terminals, sustainable networks aim to reduce operational costs and increase user satisfaction.
Ubiquitous Coverage: This attribute enhances communication service areas and strengthens connectivity by interlinking terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, thereby reducing capital expenditures (CAPEX) for networks and improving service quality.
Secure and Resilient Network: This ensures network security, user privacy, and resilience to accommodate significant advancements in computing capabilities and AI technology anticipated in the 2030s.
6G Timeline
The publication of this white paper solidifies Samsung’s leadership in shaping the future of 6G research and technology. Since 2020, both the telecommunications industry and standardization organizations have been actively researching 6G. By 2030, the 6G technology standards are expected to be finalized, following comprehensive development, evaluation, and consensus-building processes. Recent timelines from the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) indicate a growing momentum for 6G research and development.
Samsung remains committed to leading global standardization efforts and preparing for the 6G era, leveraging insights gained from the commercialization of 5G and adapting to new market demands. In November, Samsung hosted the Silicon Valley Future Wireless Summit, where it engaged industry experts in discussions about the intersection of telecommunications and AI technologies. The company showcased AI-RAN technologies and Proof of Concept (PoC) results, demonstrating the potential of AI-native technologies and capturing significant interest from major telecommunications operators.
Good to Know Information:
The ITU, or International Telecommunication Union, is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for information and communication technologies. It includes 193 Member States and over 1,000 companies, universities, research institutes, and international and regional organizations. The ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is tasked with regulating and standardizing global radio communication.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is dedicated to developing global unified technical specifications for mobile communications. It plays a crucial role in establishing standards that ensure compatibility and interoperability among mobile networks worldwide.
As Samsung continues to push the boundaries of telecommunications technology, its commitment to sustainable and advanced communication solutions will likely have a profound impact on the future of mobile connectivity. The integration of AI and the focus on energy efficiency are poised to transform the landscape of telecommunications, making it more adaptable to the demands of the future. For further insights and detailed information, readers are encouraged to review Samsung’s white paper on their research portal.
Reference: Samsung Research
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