Towards 6G Networks: Use Cases and Technologies

TL;DR

This paper explores the evolution of wireless networks towards 6G, identifying key use cases, technological enablers, and system-level requirements to meet future digital connectivity demands.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of potential 6G use cases, scenarios, and technologies, highlighting advancements beyond 5G and new communication paradigms.

Findings

Identification of 6G use cases and scenarios

Analysis of technologies to enable 6G connectivity

System-level requirements for future wireless networks

Abstract

Reliable data connectivity is vital for the ever increasingly intelligent, automated and ubiquitous digital world. Mobile networks are the data highways and, in a fully connected, intelligent digital world, will need to connect everything, from people to vehicles, sensors, data, cloud resources and even robotic agents. Fifth generation (5G) wireless networks (that are being currently deployed) offer significant advances beyond LTE, but may be unable to meet the full connectivity demands of the future digital society. Therefore, this article discusses technologies that will evolve wireless networks towards a sixth generation (6G), and that we consider as enablers for several potential 6G use cases. We provide a full-stack, system-level perspective on 6G scenarios and requirements, and select 6G technologies that can satisfy them either by improving the 5G design, or by introducing completely new communication paradigms.