The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has made its first serious moves towards making 6G technology a reality after years of rigorous worldwide study and strategic alignment. At the most recent Technical Specification Group (TSG) meetings in Prague, 3GPP officially started in-depth research on 6G radio technology and system architecture. This marks the beginning of a major change in mobile communications.
The 3GPP plenaries for Radio Access Networks (RAN) and System Architecture (SA) have asked for detailed studies of technology to compare and assess prospective 6G technologies with the capabilities of present 5G technologies. These studies will look at how effectively each technology meets the objectives set forth in the IMT-2030 vision for global telecommunications and how much better they perform.
The 3GPP working groups will look at a lot of new technological enablers during the next 22 months. Here are five unique features that are sure to change how we communicate, work, and come up with new ideas:
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Smart sharing of the spectrum between 5G and 6G
The 5G-6G Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS) method is a big step towards smooth migration. It will let both generations use the same spectrum at the same time. MRSS is different from other LTE-based DSS methods since it uses the forward-compatible 5G physical layer. This makes it work better without the extra costs of legacy reference signals. After WRC-27, new frequency bands with wider bandwidths are scheduled to be set aside. This will provide 6G more spectrum to use in the 2030s.
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Networks that can grow to fit many devices
From the start, 6G technology wants to be modular and ready to grow. The system design will work with a wide range of devices, from smartphones to AR/VR wearables, and each device will use the functional modules that are most useful to it. This modular method not only makes it easier to test features and work with other devices, but it also lets new use cases and services spread quickly across device ecosystems.
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Network features built into AI
AI will be included into the core of 6G networks. 5G adds AI features over time, while 6G technology will be AI-native from the start. It will allow model training, inference, data management, and verification right away. These features will improve speed, make operations smoother, and open up new sophisticated use cases across the RAN, core, and network management layers.
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Saving energy and being good for the environment
Sustainability is a key part of how 6G is made. Both networks and consumer devices will benefit from big improvements that save energy. These improvements will assist lower carbon footprints and make batteries last longer. These changes will make sure that 6G stays not just better than other technologies, but also better for the environment and less expensive.
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Connect everywhere and integrate satellites
Even in distant and crowded areas, 6G will make services more reliable and reach more people. 6G will make it possible for people to connect to each other wherever, anytime, even in locations that don’t have good coverage. This is possible by using non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to link satellites.
What happens next?
The foundation for 6G is already coming together. The 3GPP 6G workshop in Incheon, South Korea, in March defined the first strategic direction by looking at recommendations from all throughout the telecom sector. Now that technical studies have officially started in Prague, the path to a fully defined and standardised 6G infrastructure has officially begun.
The goal is clear by 2029, 3GPP wants to create a complete, future-proof 6G standard that will make it possible for businesses to sell it all over the world in 2030. The telecom industry has officially joined the 6G train with this milestone. It’s full speed ahead towards the next generation of wireless connection.