Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1192126
16 I ICT TODAY For many, 6G will not remain confined to research labs, and a com- mercial launch should be expected in a decade or so (Figure 5). Cynics claim that the 6G introduction will be dic- tated by commercial/marketing needs. In other words, even if the underlying requirements do not justify the emer- gence of a new standard, 6G will become an industry term one way or another. There are a few reasons or signs why 6G may be needed: • The "curse" of odd numbers: around 6G focus on the topic of energy efficiency. Indeed, the advent and success of the energy-hungry virtual/cloud networks is likely to require additional action on top of what has been envisaged as part of 5G. Combined with its environmental impact, energy efficiency may well become the headline 6G capability. 6G Enablers Unsurprisingly, 6G will require more spectrum, and the above 300 GHz territory is currently under investigation. Promising new technologies, such as light fidelity (Li-Fi) based on the Wi-Fi acronym or visible light communica- tions, are being discussed as potential 6G candidates. These discussions effectively form part of convergence efforts to bring different networks (e.g., mobile, Wi-Fi, satellite, and fiber/cable/copper) closer together. 6G could well be the fixed-mobile convergence standard. On the other hand, despite the huge interest in AI, 6G standard- ization, rather than 5G, may incorporate AI. A similar point holds true for other hot concepts (e.g., blockchain) that could become 6G pillars. 6G Applications Is 6G the network generation/standard to fully support tactile internet that has already been described as a 5G application? Is 6G the technology that will successfully merge communications with biology? Perhaps. Also being discussed in the context of 6G are the require- ments for applications of less intriguing but still chal- lenging use cases related to rural communities or sup- porting 8k video. FIGURE 5: Will 6G be launched in 2029-2030? According to this curse, odd-numbered mobile generations are not as complete or successful as the subsequent even-numbered ones. 1G could not take the world by storm like 2G did, while the hugely problematic 3G pales in comparison to 4G. Like its odd-numbered predecessors (1G and 3G), 5G will not be able to deliver fully on its promises. • The 5G hubris: A favorite topic in ancient Greek tragedies, hubris deals with excessive pride or self-confidence and the defiance of gods that leads to punishment. For 5G, the need to address a variety of use cases and the complexity inher- ent in end-to-end network slicing has raised some eyebrows. Therefore, the all-encompassing, highly ambitious vision of 5G reflects an industry overconfidence that may be difficult to realize. • The future cannot be predicted: New use cases and enhanced capabilities in adjacent areas typically arise following research breakthroughs. A typical use case example would be the impact of the iPhone launch, which few had foreseen. On the capability/infrastructure side, the IT and telecom network convergence would be a relevant example. So, what would 6G look like? 6G Capabilities 6G is expected to deliver even better throughput/capac- ity, latency, and reliability. Enhancements to privacy and security are also expected. Interestingly, many discussions