It is no surprise that operators have shown reservations about 6G in the past. While they acknowledge the importance of looking into the next generation of networks, companies also worry about more practical issues, such as legacy systems, costs, and monetisation.
The latest Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) report on 6G is a good example of this hesitation. Released in early June, the document shows an apparent feeling of anxiety among operators who participated in the study.
“The introduction of 6G should not necessitate a forced hardware refresh,” the report, endorsed by 17 operators on the NGMN board, reads. “While new radio equipment is required for deployment in new frequency bands, the evolution toward 6G in existing bands should primarily occur through software upgrades, ensuring a smooth transition.”
Evolution, by the way, is another insightful word. According to the document, titled “6G Key Messages – An Operator View”, carriers lean more towards a smooth transition rather than disruptive changes.
“[6G] is expected to be built upon the features and capabilities introduced with 5G, alongside new capabilities to deliver new services and value. Such technological evolutions should be assessed with respect to their benefits versus their associated impact,” the report goes on.
By “impact”, operators mainly mean the financial struggles that could stem from the change to 6G, depending on what the technology looks like and what it requires to work properly.
Among the report’s takeaways is a pledge for clear benefits that justify investments within a “realistic technoeconomic framework.”
Let’s Go Simple
However, it’s not all about economics. Carriers understand that a share of the problems they face with 5G today happen because the systems are too complex. And that’s something companies want to change for the future.
“6G standards should include […] functionalities and specifications really needed, with a clear target of having the vast majority of requested specifications implemented in future 6G systems,” NGMN says about the network architecture evolution. “Also, 6G should have only one option of architecture, not replicating the mistakes of 5G architecture options.”
Among other topics, the document also touches on sustainability, NTN, compatibility, radio frameworks, and more.
