{"id":125254,"date":"2023-11-13T14:41:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T14:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com"},"modified":"2023-11-13T14:52:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T14:52:33","slug":"when-6g-met-ai-how-next-gen-mobile-networks-will-change-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/6g-and-ai-next-gen-mobile-networks-will-change-the-world","title":{"rendered":"When AI Meets 6G: How Next Gen Mobile Networks Will Change the World"},"content":{"rendered":"

The telecom industry is completing the global rollout of fifth-generation (5G) networks<\/a>. Still, it\u00a0is already looking ahead to the next stage of development, wisely called 6G.<\/p>\n

The deployment of 6G networks will take what already feels like unprecedented speeds and capabilities of 5G networks to the next level. Given the demand for robust data transfer at rapid speeds to run artificial intelligence<\/a> (AI) \u2014 and the ability to use AI to optimize communication networks, 6G and AI will converge in many ways.<\/p>\n

What are the potential synergies between 6G and AI? How might they shape the future of connectivity and automated technologies?<\/p>\n

The Evolution of Connectivity: From 5G to 6G<\/span><\/h2>\n

The commercial rollout of 5G technology started in 2019 in South Korea, China, and the U.S. there were more than 1 billion connections by the end of 2022, according to the GSM Association industry group.<\/p>\n

The super-fast speeds, low latency, capacity for simultaneous connections, and increased security that 5G enables are starting to facilitate new smart device and robotics applications across industries \u2014 from communications, manufacturing, and transportation to healthcare, education, and entertainment.<\/p>\n

But while 5G connections provide the capacity to usher in a new era of communication powered by the Internet of Things<\/a> (IoT), 6G offers vast potential.<\/p>\n

This is because 6G technology is expected to support up to 10 million IoT devices per square kilometer<\/strong> \u2013 a tenfold increase from the 1 million limit for 5G \u2014 and a massive increase over 4 G’s limit of around 2,000 devices per square kilometer.<\/p>\n

\"Evolution
Evolution of 2G to 5G via Nokia<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the 5G rollout has been slower than expected \u2013 partly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic \u2013 businesses are anticipating the potential for 6G to create new opportunities. The specific standards for 6G networks are still being developed. Still, it is expected to use a higher frequency spectrum and offer terabit-per-second speeds, lower latency, and broader connectivity than 5G, enabling advanced sensor capabilities in IoT devices.<\/p>\n

The first 6G networks could be deployed in 2028, with services becoming commercially available by 2030.<\/p>\n

“This year, we’ve seen very significant progress\u2014the first tangible moves based on the concept,” said Peter Vetter, President of industrial research company Nokia Bell Labs.<\/p>\n

The Role of AI in a 6G World<\/span><\/h2>\n

“AI is expected to play a very big role in 6G, both in terms of running the network and the services delivered on the network,” according to Tim O’Farrell, Chair Professor of Wireless Communications at the University of Sheffield.<\/p>\n

In terms of new applications, the ultra-low latency of 6G connectivity will enable AI applications to be processed closer to the network edge<\/a>. This will allow AI algorithms<\/a> to retrieve and process large volumes of data and provide rapid responses, allowing for real-time decision-making critical for autonomous vehicles, remote surgeries, and augmented and virtual reality experiences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

AI-powered devices such as IoT sensors, smart drones, and robots will be able to communicate more effectively with minimal delay, making them more reliable and efficient in applications from agriculture to healthcare.<\/p>\n

“Integrating sensing capabilities and native support for artificial intelligence will turn a mobile network from a mere connectivity infrastructure to a full-fledged application enablement platform. This will provide significant value-add and further accelerate the digital transformation of our economy and society,” according to Andreas Mueller, Project Director of 6G at Bosch.<\/p>\n

Technology companies such as Nokia are exploring the concept of “Network as a Sensor”<\/a>, which will bring together the digital and physical worlds. Sensors will be fully integrated into 6G networks to operate simultaneously with communication services. This will allow people to gather information about their surroundings and interact with objects at a distance.<\/p>\n

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A 6G Explainer via Bell Labs<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How AI and 6G May Evolve<\/span><\/h2>\n