The 6G Industry Association updates its vision for 6G

Anastasius Gavras
Eurescom GmbH

The 6G Industry Association has been working at the forefront of research and innovation as part of the global efforts to define the 6th generation of mobile communications. As the private partner in the Smart Networks and Service Joint Undertaking, it works together with EU funding authorities through a large number of projects (to date around 100 projects) to research and develop innovative solutions and bring Europe to the spotlight for 6G. A vision white paper has been guiding the efforts since 2021. The rapid evolution of technology called for an update of the 6G-IA vision on 6G. Version 2 of the 6G Vision has been published in November 2024 and is available online.

Global context

Ongoing global efforts are underway to develop and standardise 6G networks, aiming for a commercial launch around 2030. Therefore, it is important to create a unified 6G vision, driven by key stakeholders worldwide, towards a single global consensus. The European perspective, represented by the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA), underlines Europe’s proactive role in 6G Research and Development (R&D) and standardisation, also addressing societal, environmental, economic and market challenges.

Technological advancements

Technological advancements, such as native artificial intelligence (AI) support, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and advanced cybersecurity drive the evolution. At the same time the focus is on sustainability, both in making 6G systems themselves sustainable and in using 6G to enhance sustainability across various industries, including media, transportation, and healthcare.

Globally, 6G development is driven by key priorities like security, AI, energy efficiency, and ubiquitous coverage. Europe, especially through the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS-JU) and its R&D projects like the flagship Hexa-X-II project, has been active in aligning its priorities with global standards and contributing to the 6G vision.

Integrating sustainability metrics, such as Key Value Indicators (KVIs), into the R&D process is essential to ensure that 6G not only meets technical performance targets but also contributes positively to societal, economic, and environmental goals. The use cases and key performance indicators (KPIs) for 6G reflect the European consolidated Research and Innovation (R&I) perspective. These use cases are based on inputs from various SNS JU projects and are categorized into six families, each with a representative use case and corresponding KPIs. In summary, the use case families are: (i) Immersive Experience; (ii) Collaborative Robots; (iii) Physical Awareness; (iv) Digital Twins (DTs); (v) Fully Connected World; and (vi) Trusted Environments.

KPIs are provided for each use case, including data rates, latency, reliability, and positioning accuracy, tailored to the specific needs of each use case family. Furthermore, operational aspects are considered, with a focus on the efficient operation of 6G networks, including spectrum use, unified interfaces, deployment strategies, and seamless migration from 5G.

The anticipated services of 6G technology from an “outside-in” perspective focus on services integrated with or enabled by the 6G system, emphasizing the need to sustain and build on the innovations of 5G during the transition to 6G. A “6G-enabled Services Vision” is introduced, highlighting the importance of interconnected and interoperable smart networks and services, and suggesting a new ecosystem-level approach to business for sustainable 6G. The key points of this Vision are:

  • Foster transition from 5G to 6G to sustain and enhance 5G innovations.
  • Address potential shortcomings of 5G in areas that may have been underdeveloped, e.g., with respect to support of vertical industries.
  • Integrate new service capabilities with an emphasis on interoperability and service continuity.
  • Propose interconnected and interoperable smart networks ensuring seamless interconnection and interoperability among network providers beyond just connectivity.
  • Define sustainable 6G ecosystems prioritising sustainability and encompassing environmental, social, and economic aspects through a new business ecosystem approach.

Technological enablers

The R&D of technological enablers for 6G has been underway for some years, building on the features and enhancements of previous generations while also exploring breakthroughs that could revolutionise mobile connectivity in the near future. The most relevant topics related to the upcoming 6G system include advancements in hardware (HW) and radio technology, flexible network topologies, deterministic networking, network softwarisation, and digital twinning, as well as the widespread adoption of AI and ISAC.

The enablers are categorised in a set of concrete areas such as energy efficient technologies, network and service security, deterministic networking, radio and signal processing, new access and flexible topologies, edge-cloud continuum, network softwarisation, network intelligence (NI), optical networks/photonics, digital twins, and HW technologies.

6G Architecture

An updated vision on the forthcoming 6G architecture focuses on potential innovations and addressing current 5G limitations. Fundamental challenges in 5G that hinder efficient global operations are identified, and potential architectural innovations for 6G to overcome these challenges are outlined. Key areas of focus include interoperability, resource awareness, service-awareness, multi-tenant federation, deeper integration of user equipment (UE), AI/Machine Learning (ML) support, dependable communications, ISAC, seamless integration between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (TN and NTN), enhanced security and privacy, network simplification, and sustainability.

6G builds on 5G usage scenarios (eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC) and introduces new ones, such as immersive communication, hyper-reliable low-latency communication, and ISAC. The KPIs for 6G are significantly more demanding, with higher data rates, lower latency, and enhanced reliability. In contrast to 5G, 6G considerably emphasizes sustainability, trustworthiness, and inclusion, aiming to transform technology interactions and support global sustainability goals. To realise 6G by 2030, several key non-technical steps must be addressed, including standardisation, regulation, business strategy, and sustainability.

Standardisation: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has named the next generation of mobile technology “IMT-2030” or 6G. By 2025, ITU will outline technical requirements that will guide standardisation bodies like 3GPP in defining what constitutes a 6G-compliant system. 6G will build on 5G foundations but also introduce new concepts such as Ubiquitous Connectivity, AI-driven Communications, and Integrated Sensing. A unified global standard is crucial for a resilient telecommunications ecosystem, supported by contributions from industry groups, associations, and open-source communities.

Regulation: 6G must comply with various regulations to be commercially viable. Key regulations include the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which covers safety and spectrum use; the Data Act, which addresses data management; the AI Act, which governs AI system use; and the Cybersecurity Act, which establishes security certification frameworks. Compliance with these regulations is essential as 6G becomes deeply integrated into societal infrastructure.

Business Strategy: Europe, home to two of the top three telecom vendors, holds a strong position in the 6G landscape. However, it faces challenges from non-European Over the top (OTT) providers and hyper-scalers. Opportunities for Europe include leading in industrial applications of 6G and adapting to new business models and regulatory policies that support open networks and AI integration. Robust data management and a holistic approach to network security are vital for maintaining European technological sovereignty and ensuring secure, trustworthy 6G systems.

Sustainability: 6G is set to be a model of sustainability, guided by global and regional goals such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. This involves assessing environmental, social, and economic impacts, optimizing material use, and reducing waste. The 6G industry must innovate in both technology and business models to ensure that 6G benefits are realised sustainably and equitably, balancing connectivity advancements with environmental considerations.

The 6G industry in Europe must innovate in technology, business models and investment strategies. The focus will be on optimizing the use of resources, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring that the benefits of 6G are realised in a sustainable and equitable manner for society and business.

This whitepaper represents an update of a previous version released in June 2021. It incorporates all the advances at all levels of the 6G technology and presents a more mature vision of both the industry and academy of what 6G will be and what it can enable and mean for the society.