Networked Twins and Twins of Networks: an Overview on the Relationship Between Digital Twins and 6G

TL;DR

This paper explores the emerging relationship between Digital Twins and 6G networks, emphasizing how DT can drive 6G development and how 6G can enhance DT applications in telecommunications.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the potential synergy between Digital Twins and 6G, highlighting research directions and the mutual benefits for future network and digital twin technologies.

Findings

DT can enable proactive AI in 6G networks

Digital Twin technology can improve 6G resilience and reliability

Research on DT in telecommunications is still in early stages

Abstract

Digital Twin (DT) is a promising technology for the new immersive digital life with a variety of applications in areas such as Industry 4.0, aviation, and healthcare. Proliferation of this technology requires higher data rates, reliability, resilience, and lower latency beyond what is currently offered by 5G. Thus, DT can become a major driver for 6G research and development. Alternatively, 6G network development can benefit from Digital Twin technology and its powerful features such as modularity and remote intelligence. Using DT, a 6G network (or some of its components) will have the opportunity to use Artificial Intelligence more proactively in order to enhance its resilience. DT's application in telecommunications is still in its infancy. In this article we highlight some of the most promising research and development directions for this technology.