Feature: Industry 4.0
single room or vehicle. To automate the connection of such cells to the overall network structure, many network functions will be virtualised – i.e., described with pure logic. The network’s function blocks must provide multi- vendor support for this abstract language and interpret it in compliance with the standard. Rohde & Schwarz is involved with the O-RAN initiative, which is already laying the foundations for this development.
Figure 3: 6G is set to conjoin the physical world (environment, machines) with the digital (data, virtual environments) and human worlds in a symbiotic way, as shown here, as envisaged by the European Hex-X initiative
replacement, unfeasible for the IoT. Since many applications are conceived for long- term use over many years, the sensors must have their own power. Zero-energy devices and energy harvesting are two trends of significance here. Today’s RFID sensors work with electromagnetic energy harvested directly from a nearby reader or scanner. But 6G sensors will have to make do without this convenience, and obtain power from local sources such as heat, light or motion. As with many other 6G topics, research in this area is still in its infancy (see box “Key 6G research areas”).
A network of radio networks 6G will likely bring a new kind of Internet. The conventional Internet is a network of computer networks, whereas 6G will be a network of radio networks. The monolithic structure of today’s mobile networks will give way to a constantly changing heterogeneous network landscape. Commercial, private and public subnetworks will be interconnected this way, ranging from today’s micro-cells that provide coverage over an entire square kilometre, to atto-cells and zepto-cells covering a
The race is underway Initial discussions of 6G began only a few years ago, but since then a lot has happened in industry, research institutes and politics. Research initiatives have been set up around the world, financial support has been granted and alliances forged. Politicians understand that competitiveness – and the economic prosperity this brings – may rest on equal participation in the 6G system whilst avoiding dependency. In 2021, Japan and the US agreed to
invest $4.5bn in 6G research. Europe has launched its flagship 6G project, Hexa-X, with participants from nine different countries. Separately, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is providing 700m euros until 2025. South Korea has an ambitious plan to invest some 195 million dollars over the next four years and will be ready for preliminary field tests by 2026. In the short term, 250m euros will go
to four national research hubs. Rohde & Schwarz is also involved in these hubs as a partner. And then, there is China; its Ministry
of Science and Technology is working with other government agencies to coordinate national resources and get 6G up and running as quickly as possible. Rohde & Schwarz has been a close
Figure 4: Design study carried out by network equipment supplier Ericsson: Zero-energy devices can benefit more than just civilisation. For example, a 6G IoT radio sensor could measure ecosystem data
partner to industry and academia with its T&M equipment and expertise since the very beginning of the digital mobile communications era. The company’s products are already in use today in various 6G research projects, in addition providing the measuring equipment needed for 6G.
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