How close are we to 6G may be a commonly asked question as the next generation of cellular technology provokes discussions for the kind of impact it will have – but Houman Zarrinkoub, Principal Product Manager of MathWorks posed a different question: what key challenges need to be addressed to support 6G networks?
According to Zarrinkoub, resolving network connection will be key to getting the most out of 6G. Network congestion has been a steadfast challenge, from 1G to now, as a growing number of connected devices guarantees more crowding on a network.
“Upgrading networks to address congestion often requires significant investment in new infrastructure, such as additional base stations,” he noted. “In urban or indoor environments, obstacles and other blockages cause signal degradation, and weak signal power.”
However, there is an answer, in the form of two technologies: Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS). Exploiting these two technologies can ease network congestion, as well as enhance capacity and improve user experiences, particularly in densely populated areas.
ISAC works by giving the network operator more intelligence about users, more specifically it brings sensing and spatial location of passive objects into the network.
“The same equipment that offers communication services can also sense the environment, providing valuable data about use locations and movements,” explained Zarrinkoub.
Generally speaking, the more intelligence an operator has at their fingertips, the better, as they can understand, for instance, where congestion is heaviest, at what times, and allocate resources in response.
RIS, meanwhile, is a technology made up of elements like antennas or passive reflecting units that can manipulate electromagnetic waves, more specifically radio frequency (RF) signals. RIS can reconfigure these signals based on where the user is, and direct it towards specific users.
“This capability ensures signals reach their intended audience, even in environments with obstacles, or indoor settings with multiple walls and partitions,” said Zarrinkoub.
ISAC and RIS are “promising technologies”
According to Zarrinkoub, ISAC and RIS are “promising technologies” to address network congestion and optimise resource allocation.
One major advantage of these technologies is that they do not require additional infrastructure and associated cost to work.
“Instead, engineers can integrate them into existing network setups and avoid major infrastructure changes,” said Zarrinkoub. “ISAC uses existing base station setups, simply enhancing their operation with sensing capabilities. While RIS requires some investment in metasurfaces, the overall hardware investment is significantly lower than deploying new base stations or overhauling existing network infrastructure.”
The applications both could benefit include broadband wireless communications, autonomous vehicles, and smart manufacturing – demonstrating how they can complement one another when deployed.
“Smart manufacturing relies on efficient communication and sensing to optimise production processes and improve operational efficiency,” explained Zarrinkoub. “ISAC and RIS technologies facilitate these goals by enabling real-time data exchange and environmental monitoring within manufacturing facilities.
“ISAC’s sensing capabilities provide detailed insights into machine operations and environmental conditions, while RIS ensures reliable connectivity by dynamically adjusting signal paths to avoid interference.”
When will 6G be finally realised?
Zarrinkoub said he thought that its standardisation will take place at the end of this decade; 2028-2030, noting that 5G Advanced is already being developed and explored with 6G ideas being tested out in this framework.
“As the era of 6G wireless communications draws closer, the challenge of network congestion grows with every passing day,” he said. “The integration of ISAC and RIS has the potential to transform many industries by enabling simultaneous sensing and communication and optimising signal propagation and coverage.”
By being economically viable technologies taking advantage of existing infrastructure, both ISAC and RIS are slated to be attractive propositions to companies cognisant of the importance of tackling network congestion.
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