6G Massive Radio Access Networks: Key Issues, Technologies, and Future Challenges

TL;DR

This paper discusses the key issues, enabling technologies, and future challenges of 6G massive radio access networks, emphasizing the need for flexible, sustainable, and AI-driven solutions to support diverse applications and massive connectivity.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of 6G RAN requirements, critical issues, and potential AI-based approaches, highlighting new challenges and technological directions beyond 5G.

Findings

Identification of key 6G applications like smart city and factory

Discussion on critical performance requirements such as flexibility and energy efficiency

Proposals for AI-based solutions to address future RAN challenges

Abstract

Driven by the emerging use cases in massive access future networks, there is a need for technological advancements and evolutions for wireless communications beyond the fifth-generation (5G) networks. In particular, we envisage the upcoming sixth-generation (6G) networks to consist of numerous devices demanding extremely high-performance interconnections even under strenuous scenarios such as diverse mobility, extreme density, and dynamic environment. To cater for such a demand, investigation on flexible and sustainable radio access network (RAN) techniques capable of supporting highly diverse requirements and massive connectivity is of utmost importance. To this end, this paper first outlines the key driving applications for 6G, including smart city and factory, which trigger the transformation of existing RAN techniques. We then examine and provide in-depth discussions on several critical performance requirements (i.e., the level of flexibility, the support for massive interconnectivity, and energy efficiency), issues, enabling technologies, and challenges in designing 6G massive RANs. We conclude the article by providing several artificial-intelligence-based approaches to overcome future challenges.