6G Wireless Communications: Future Technologies and Research Challenges
01 Nov 2019-
TL;DR: The latest research work on 6G technologies and applications is summarized, and the associated research challenges are discussed.
Abstract: 5G wireless communications technology is being launched, with many smart applications being integrated. However, 5G specifications meagre the requirements of new emerging technologies forcefully. These include data rate, capacity, latency, reliability, resources sharing, and energy/bit. To meet these challenging demands, research is focusing on 6G wireless communications enabling different technologies and emerging new applications. In this paper, the latest research work on 6G technologies and applications is summarized, and the associated research challenges are discussed.
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TL;DR: A comprehensive survey on UAV communication towards 5G/B5G wireless networks is presented in this article, where UAVs are expected to be an important component of the upcoming wireless networks that can potentially facilitate wireless broadcast and support high rate transmissions.
Abstract: Providing ubiquitous connectivity to diverse device types is the key challenge for 5G and beyond 5G (B5G). Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to be an important component of the upcoming wireless networks that can potentially facilitate wireless broadcast and support high rate transmissions. Compared to the communications with fixed infrastructure, UAV has salient attributes, such as flexible deployment, strong line-of-sight (LoS) connection links, and additional design degrees of freedom with the controlled mobility. In this paper, a comprehensive survey on UAV communication towards 5G/B5G wireless networks is presented. We first briefly introduce essential background and the space-air-ground integrated networks, as well as discuss related research challenges faced by the emerging integrated network architecture. We then provide an exhaustive review of various 5G techniques based on UAV platforms, which we categorize by different domains including physical layer, network layer, and joint communication, computing and caching. In addition, a great number of open research problems are outlined and identified as possible future research directions.
566 citations
TL;DR: This survey discusses four key aspects of 6G networks – real-time intelligent edge computing, distributed artificial intelligence, intelligent radio, and 3D intercoms – and some promising emerging technologies in each area, along with the relevant security and privacy issues.
182 citations
Cites background from "6G Wireless Communications: Future ..."
...In any case, the Radio Frequency (RF) band is almost full and cannot be used for future technology [70]....
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TL;DR: Its prospects, core technologies, scenarios, challenges, and the related issues are discussed and a potential framework for 6 G is proposed as well.
155 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors chart the major directions and scope emerging dimensions inherent to 6G technology, including Digital Twins and Immersive Realities (XR) that, when applied to cities that are currently being equipped with digital infrastructural backbones, may have direct socio-economic impacts upon our lives while responding to the tenets of the Sustainable Development Goal 11.
110 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a comprehensive review/survey about the key enabling technologies for 6G networks, which include a discussion about the main operation principles of each technology, envisioned potential applications, current state-of-the-art research, and related technical challenges.
Abstract: The commercial fifth-generation (5G) wireless communications networks have already been deployed with the aim of providing high data rates. However, the rapid growth in the number of smart devices and the emergence of the Internet of Everything (IoE) applications, which require an ultra-reliable and low-latency communication, will result in a substantial burden on the 5G wireless networks. As such, the data rate that could be supplied by 5G networks will unlikely sustain the enormous ongoing data traffic explosion. This has motivated research into continuing to advance the existing wireless networks toward the future generation of cellular systems, known as sixth generation (6G). Therefore, it is essential to provide a prospective vision of the 6G and the key enabling technologies for realizing future networks. To this end, this paper presents a comprehensive review/survey of the future evolution of 6G networks. Specifically, the objective of the paper is to provide a comprehensive review/survey about the key enabling technologies for 6G networks, which include a discussion about the main operation principles of each technology, envisioned potential applications, current state-of-the-art research, and the related technical challenges. Overall, this paper provides useful information for industries and academic researchers and discusses the potentials for opening up new research directions.
79 citations
References
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TL;DR: This article identifies the primary drivers of 6G systems, in terms of applications and accompanying technological trends, and identifies the enabling technologies for the introduced 6G services and outlines a comprehensive research agenda that leverages those technologies.
Abstract: The ongoing deployment of 5G cellular systems is continuously exposing the inherent limitations of this system, compared to its original premise as an enabler for Internet of Everything applications. These 5G drawbacks are spurring worldwide activities focused on defining the next-generation 6G wireless system that can truly integrate far-reaching applications ranging from autonomous systems to extended reality. Despite recent 6G initiatives (one example is the 6Genesis project in Finland), the fundamental architectural and performance components of 6G remain largely undefined. In this article, we present a holistic, forward-looking vision that defines the tenets of a 6G system. We opine that 6G will not be a mere exploration of more spectrum at high-frequency bands, but it will rather be a convergence of upcoming technological trends driven by exciting, underlying services. In this regard, we first identify the primary drivers of 6G systems, in terms of applications and accompanying technological trends. Then, we propose a new set of service classes and expose their target 6G performance requirements. We then identify the enabling technologies for the introduced 6G services and outline a comprehensive research agenda that leverages those technologies. We conclude by providing concrete recommendations for the roadmap toward 6G. Ultimately, the intent of this article is to serve as a basis for stimulating more out-of-the-box research around 6G.
2,416 citations
"6G Wireless Communications: Future ..." refers background in this paper
...2: 6G main Applications, trends, and technologies [3]...
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...BCI applications involve smart wearable headsets, smart embedded devices and smart body implants [3]....
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TL;DR: This article presents a large-dimensional and autonomous network architecture that integrates space, air, ground, and underwater networks to provide ubiquitous and unlimited wireless connectivity and identifies several promising technologies for the 6G ecosystem.
Abstract: A key enabler for the intelligent information society of 2030, 6G networks are expected to provide performance superior to 5G and satisfy emerging services and applications. In this article, we present our vision of what 6G will be and describe usage scenarios and requirements for multi-terabyte per second (Tb/s) and intelligent 6G networks. We present a large-dimensional and autonomous network architecture that integrates space, air, ground, and underwater networks to provide ubiquitous and unlimited wireless connectivity. We also discuss artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning [1], [2] for autonomous networks and innovative air-interface design. Finally, we identify several promising technologies for the 6G ecosystem, including terahertz (THz) communications, very-large-scale antenna arrays [i.e., supermassive (SM) multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO)], large intelligent surfaces (LISs) and holographic beamforming (HBF), orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing, laser and visible-light communications (VLC), blockchain-based spectrum sharing, quantum communications and computing, molecular communications, and the Internet of Nano-Things.
1,332 citations
"6G Wireless Communications: Future ..." refers background in this paper
...Table I compares the main specifications and technologies in both 5G and 6G. 6G will be able to connect everything, integrate different technologies and applications, support holographic, haptic, space and underwater communications and it will also support the Internet of everything, Internet of Nano-Things and Internet of Bodies [2]....
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...thing, Internet of Nano-Things and Internet of Bodies [2]....
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TL;DR: An in-depth view of Terahertz Band (0.1-10 THz) communication, which is envisioned as a key technology to satisfy the increasing demand for higher speed wireless communication, is provided.
1,206 citations
"6G Wireless Communications: Future ..." refers background in this paper
...Because of the broad bandwidth, new multipath channel models need to be developed to overcome the problem of frequency dispersion [4]....
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...The THz band will support the development of minuscule cells in nanometer to micrometre dimensions supplying very high-speed communications within a coverage area of up to 10 m [4] and supporting the Internet of Nano-things [5] - [6]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors 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.
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, including people to vehicles, sensors, data, cloud resources, and even robotic agents. Fifth generation (5G) wireless networks, which are currently being 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 toward a sixth generation (6G) and which we consider as enablers for several potential 6G use cases. We provide a fullstack, 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.
863 citations
TL;DR: A number of key technical challenges as well as the potential solutions associated with 6G, including physical-layer transmission techniques, network designs, security approaches, and testbed developments are outlined.
Abstract: With the fast development of smart terminals and emerging new applications (e.g., real-time and interactive services), wireless data traffic has drastically increased, and current cellular networks (even the forthcoming 5G) cannot completely match the quickly rising technical requirements. To meet the coming challenges, the sixth generation (6G) mobile network is expected to cast the high technical standard of new spectrum and energy-efficient transmission techniques. In this article, we sketch the potential requirements and present an overview of the latest research on the promising techniques evolving to 6G, which have recently attracted considerable attention. Moreover, we outline a number of key technical challenges as well as the potential solutions associated with 6G, including physical-layer transmission techniques, network designs, security approaches, and testbed developments.
731 citations
"6G Wireless Communications: Future ..." refers background in this paper
...considered including the physical layer security techniques and integrated network security techniques [27] with low cost, low complexity and very high security....
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