Sign in Subscribe

What organizations and initiatives are actively involved in 6G research and standardization?

Last updated on 

Several organizations, academic institutions, and industry players have been actively involved in 6G research and standardization efforts. While the landscape might have evolved since then, here are some key entities and initiatives that were prominent at that time:

  1. Academic Institutions:
    • University Research Groups: Many universities worldwide have dedicated research groups focusing on advanced wireless communication systems, which includes 6G research. Institutions like the University of Oulu in Finland, NYU Tandon School of Engineering in the US, and University of Surrey in the UK were known for their 6G-related research.
  2. Industry Consortia:
    • 6G Flagship: Led by the University of Oulu in Finland, the 6G Flagship program involved collaboration among academia, industry, and government to conduct research and drive innovations in 6G technologies.
    • 5GPPP (5G Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership): Although primarily focused on 5G, the 5GPPP also laid the groundwork for discussions and initial explorations regarding 6G within its various projects and working groups.
    • Global mobile industry leaders: Companies like Huawei, Samsung, Nokia, Ericsson, and Qualcomm have dedicated research teams working on next-generation wireless technologies, including 6G.
  3. Standardization Bodies:
    • ITU (International Telecommunication Union): ITU is a key global organization that typically sets international standards for telecommunications. It initiated the process for defining 6G by establishing a Focus Group on Technologies for Network 2030.
    • IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers): IEEE has various working groups and initiatives related to wireless communication technologies. They play a significant role in setting standards.
    • 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project): Although primarily focused on cellular standards like 4G and 5G, 3GPP often initiates discussions and research toward future technologies, potentially including 6G.
  4. Government Initiatives:
    • National governments and agencies: Several countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and European nations, have initiated national strategies or funding programs to support research and development in 6G technologies.

These organizations collaborate through workshops, conferences, joint research projects, and contributions to standardization bodies. They aim to define the technical requirements, potential use cases, spectrum needs, and overall vision for 6G technology.

6G research at this stage involves exploring concepts like terahertz frequency bands, AI-driven networks, holographic communications, ultra-low latency, extremely high data rates, and sustainability considerations.