IMT-2030
Roles of 3GPP and ITU-R WP 5D in the IMT 2030/6G standards process
Setting the Record Straight: Many pundits and tech media outlets have been buzzing about 6G. One of many examples is today’s featured Light Reading post titled, “Looking ahead: Ready or not, here comes 6G.” There are also a plethora of 6G alliances and consortiums that are working on proposed 6G technologies — long before the 3GPP specifications or ITU-R IMT 2030/6G standards have been completed. We endeavor to provide an accurate summary of the standardization work in this article, including the delineation of activates between ITU-R and 3GPP.
Executive Summary:
As we’ve explained in numerous IEEE Techblog posts (see References below), ITU-R establishes the technical requirements and minimal performance objectives for IMT 2030 (6G) Radio Interface Technologies (RITs), and Sets of RITs (SRITs). As in IMT 2020 (5G RITs/SRITs), 3GPP develops the actual RIT/SRIT specifications, which are then contributed to ITU-R WP 5D (via ATIS) where they are discussed and agreed upon as a candidate ITU-R IMT 2030 RIT/SRIT for the forthcoming recommendation (i.e. standard). Other IMT 20230 RIT/SRITs might also be considered by 5D.
Author’s Note on IMT 2020: In addition to the 3GPP 5G-NR specs included in IMT 2020 standard (ITU-R M.2150), there were also two others (5Gi/LMLC and ETSI/DECT 5G-SRIT) which have not been widely deployed (ETSI/DECT 5G-SRIT) or deployed at all (5Gi/LMLC). The ITU-R standard for IMT 2020 Frequency Arrangements is ITU-R M.1036, which provides templates and guidelines for implementing IMT in the WRC identified bands, while Recommendation ITU-R M.2150 details the radio interfaces.
5G and 6G Frequency Bands and Arrangements: In addition to IMT 2020/5G and IMT 2030/6G RIT/SRITs, ITU-R WP5D develops the associated 5G and 6G Frequency Arrangements, based on the inputs received from the most recent ITU-R World Radio Communications (WRC) conference. The most recent WRC (#23) was held Dec 2023 in Dubai, UAE which did not definitively identify specific frequency bands for IMT-2030 (6G) deployment, but rather agreed on frequency bands to be studied as potential candidates for WRC-27 (in 2027) and beyond. So we don’t even know which frequencies will be used for IMT 2030/6G at this time.
5G and 6G Non-Radio Specifications: As with IMT 2020, 3GPP will develop all the non-radio specifications for IMT 2030/6G but will not likely send them to ITU-T for standardization as 3GPP did not do that for IMT 2020. Those non-radio specs include: mobile core network (and the role AI will play), signaling, security (including cryptography), network management (including AI), integrated sensing and communications, distributed access points, digital models for network optimization and planning, extending MEC, etc.
3GPP 6G Status: 3GPP’s specification work on 6G is currently in the early stages, focusing on requirements, architecture, and key technology enablers with a projected timeline that targets initial 6G specifications by 2028–2030 for commercial systems. The work is organized through 3GPP’s releases:
- Release 19 initiating 6G requirement studies in 2024.
- Release 20 expanding on 6G architecture and technology exploration in 2025 in parallel with 5G advanced.
- Release 21 delivering the first concrete 6G specifications, and subsequent releases refining features and interoperability toward mass deployment around 2030. The timeline for the actual spec work for this release is to be decided by June 2026.
The overall plan aligns with ITU’s timeline for 6G ecosystem readiness and commercial availability by roughly 2030, though exact finish dates depend on evolving technical, regulatory, and market conditions.
3GPP Release 20 concurrent work on 5G Advanced and 6G: This approach reflects a general view that 6G should be more of an evolution rather than a revolution. The big three equipment vendors Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia see 5G Advanced as a foundation for 6G, but in their own specific ways. “This dual focus on both 5G Advanced and 6G we needed to ensure that there is a continuity and to create a framework that allows the two tracks to complement but not compete with each other,” said Puneet Jain, Chair of 3GPP’s Service and Systems Aspects working group and senior principal engineer for technical standards at Intel, in a video interview.
Examples of 5G Advanced capabilities that are expected to be further developed in 6G include: the integration of machine learning into the RAN and core networks, energy efficiency, low latency, advanced MIMO techniques and satellite integration, according to 5G Americas. The latest 5G Advanced specs also address integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), which is considered to be an important new capability for 6G.
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Here’s a concise technical summary of the 6G standardization work in both ITU-R and 3GPP:
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Scope and objectives
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Establish 6G service requirements and use cases, including extreme data rates, ultra-low latency, high reliability, and enhanced AI-driven network management, while ensuring backward compatibility where feasible.
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Define a scalable, flexible air interface and spectrum strategy to support wide bandwidths (including frequencies above 7 GHz and potential THz considerations) and diverse deployment scenarios.
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Core architectural themes
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Enhanced cloud-native, end-to-end network architecture with distributed computing, edge capabilities, and AI/ML-driven orchestration for dynamic resource management.
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Native support for integrated space-air-ground networks and network slicing to enable heterogeneous service delivery and global coverage.
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Air interface and radio aspects
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Investigations into wider channel bandwidths, robust channel coding hybrids (LDPC and Polar codes as baselines with extensions), and numerology that can span multiple bands while maintaining scalable, energy-efficient designs.
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Emphasis on robust coverage, especially at cell edges, and efficient use of mid-band and higher-frequency spectrum to balance performance and practical deployment considerations.
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Mobility and latency
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Aiming for lower end-to-end latency, improved reliability, and advanced mobility support to enable new immersive and industrial applications, while ensuring interoperability with 5G and future network layers.
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Security and privacy
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Early attention to security-by-design within the 6G architecture, including native protection of data planes and resilient identity/authentication mechanisms across heterogeneous networks.
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Timeline and milestones (progress up to projected completion dates):
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2024: Initiation of 6G work in Release 19, focused on requirements and initial study items for 6G SA1 service requirements.
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2025–2026: Continued refinement of use cases, service requirements, and architectural concepts; preparatory work for Release 20 items.
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2027–2028: First concrete 6G specifications anticipated in Release 21, with core radio and network framework definitions, and initial protocol stack extensions.
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2029–2030: Further releases (Release 22 onward) expand interoperability, optimization, and ecosystem compatibility, moving toward commercial deployment and early trials.
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Target commercial availability: Roughly 2030, with initial systems expected to appear earlier in some pilots or regional deployments depending on market and regulatory readiness.
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Public summaries and industry analyses triangulate the timeline and major themes from 3GPP plenaries and RAN/SA/WG discussions, with dates anchored to 2024–2028 planning and the stated aim of Release 21 delivering the first 6G specifications.
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Draft documents and WG SID proposals provide insight into technical directions (coding, bandwidth, channel modeling, and spectrum considerations), though these are interim and subject to change as the standardization process evolves.
Submission of IMT 203o RIT/SRIT proposals may begin at 54th meeting of ITU-R WP 5D, currently planned for February 2027. The final deadline for submissions is 16:00 hours UTC, 12 calendar days prior to the start of the 59th meeting of WP 5D in February 2029.
The evaluation of the proposed RITs/SRITs by the independent evaluation groups and the consensus-building process will be performed throughout this time period and thereafter. Subsequent calendar schedules will be decided according to the submissions of proposals.
After ITU-R WP 5D approves a recommendation (e.g for IMT 2030) it then goes through a formal approval process before it becomes a standard. It is sent to ITU-R SG 5 for approval, then all ITU member states review the draft and if there is near unanimous approval it is adopted as an official ITU-R recommendation or standard. That ITU-R recommendation approval process takes ~3 or 4 months. Therefore, we expect the ITU-R IMT 2030 RIT/SRIT standard to be approved in late 2030 to early 2031 with early 6G deployments to begin at that time.
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References:
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2030/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.lightreading.com/6g/looking-ahead-ready-or-not-here-comes-6g
https://www.3gpp.org/specifications-technologies/releases/release-20
https://www.5gamericas.org/5g-advanced-overview/
ITU-R WP5D IMT 2030 Submission & Evaluation Guidelines vs 6G specs in 3GPP Release 20 & 21
ITU-R WP 5D Timeline for submission, evaluation process & consensus building for IMT-2030 (6G) RITs/SRITs
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
AI wireless and fiber optic network technologies; IMT 2030 “native AI” concept
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
Should Peak Data Rates be specified for 5G (IMT 2020) and 6G (IMT 2030) networks?
GSMA Vision 2040 study identifies spectrum needs during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040
Highlights and Summary of the 2025 Brooklyn 6G Summit
NGMN: 6G Key Messages from a network operator point of view
Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver years before IMT 2030 RIT submissions to ITU-R WP5D
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
Nokia Bell Labs and KDDI Research partner for 6G energy efficiency and network resiliency
Deutsche Telekom: successful completion of the 6G-TakeOff project with “3D networks”
Market research firms Omdia and Dell’Oro: impact of 6G and AI investments on telcos
Qualcomm CEO: expect “pre-commercial” 6G devices by 2028
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
KT and LG Electronics to cooperate on 6G technologies and standards, especially full-duplex communications
Highlights of Nokia’s Smart Factory in Oulu, Finland for 5G and 6G innovation
Nokia sees new types of 6G connected devices facilitated by a “3 layer technology stack”
Rakuten Symphony exec: “5G is a failure; breaking the bank; to the extent 6G may not be affordable”
India’s TRAI releases Recommendations on use of Tera Hertz Spectrum for 6G
New ITU report in progress: Technical feasibility of IMT in bands above 100 GHz (92 GHz and 400 GHz)
AI wireless and fiber optic network technologies; IMT 2030 “native AI” concept
To date, the main benefit of AI for telecom has been to reduce headcount/layoff employees. Light Reading’s Iain Morris wrote, “Telecom operators and vendors, nevertheless, are already using AI as the excuse for thousands of job cuts made and promised. So far, those cuts have not brought any improvement in the sector’s fortunes. Meanwhile, ceding basic but essential skills to systems that hardly anyone understands seems incredibly risky.” Some say that will change with 6G/ IMT 2030, but that’s a long way off. Others point to AI RAN, but that has not gotten any real market traction with wireless telcos.
As Gen AI development accelerates, robust wireless and fiber optic network infrastructure will be essential to accommodate the substantial data and communication volume generated by AI systems. Initially, the existing network ecosystem—encompassing wireless, wireline, broadband, and satellite services—will absorb this traffic load. However, the expanding requirements of AI are anticipated to drive the future emergence of entirely new network architectures and communication paradigms.
For sure, AI needs massive, fast, reliable connectivity to function, driving demand for low latency optical networks and 6G/ IMT 2030, which AI itself will optimize, leading to better efficiency, security, resource management, and new services like real-time AR/VR, ultimately boosting telecom revenue and innovation across the entire digital ecosystem.
Source: Pitinan Piyavatin/Alamy Stock Photo
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- AI Backend Scale-Out and Scale-Up Networks: These are specialized, private networks within and across data centers designed to connect numerous GPUs and enable them to function as one massive compute resource. They utilize technologies like:
- InfiniBand: A long-standing high-bandwidth, low-latency technology that has become a top choice for connecting GPU clusters in AI training environments.
- Optimized Ethernet: Ethernet is gaining ground for AI workloads through the development of enhanced, open standards via the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC). These enhancements aim to provide lossless, low-latency fabrics that can match or exceed InfiniBand’s performance at scale.
- High-Speed Optics: The use of 400 Gbps and 800 Gbps (and soon 1.6 Tbps) optical interconnects is critical for meeting the massive bandwidth and power requirements within and between AI data centers.
- Edge AI Networking: As AI inferencing (generating responses from AI models) moves closer to the end-user or device (e.g., in autonomous vehicles, smart hospitals, or factories), specialized edge networks are needed. These networks must ensure low latency and localized processing to enable real-time responses.
- AI-Native 6G Networks: The upcoming sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks are being designed with AI integration as a core principle, rather than an add-on.
- These networks are expected to be fully automated and self-evolving, using AI to optimize resource allocation, predict issues, and enhance security autonomously.
- They will support extremely high data rates (up to 1 Tbps), ultra-low latency (around 1 ms), and new technologies like AI-RAN (Radio Access Network) that integrate AI capabilities directly into the network infrastructure.
- More in next section below.
- Self-Evolving Networks: The ultimate goal is the development of “self-evolving networks” where AI agents manage and optimize the network infrastructure autonomously, adapting to new demands and challenges without human intervention.
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In IMT 2030/6G networks, AI will shift from being an “add-on” optimization tool (as in 5G) to a native, foundational component of the entire network architecture. This deep integration will enable the network to be self-organizing, highly efficient, and capable of supporting advanced AI applications as a service. Native AI for IMT-2030 (6G) means building AI directly into the network’s core architecture, making it AI-first and pervasive, rather than adding AI as an overlay; this enables self-optimizing, intelligent networks that can autonomously manage resources, provide ubiquitous AI services, and offer seamless, context-aware experiences with minimal human intervention, fundamentally transforming both network operations and user applications by 2030.
- Ubiquitous Intelligence: Embedding AI everywhere, enabling distributed intelligence for AI model training, inference, and deployment directly within the network infrastructure, extending to the network edge.
- Autonomous Operations: AI handles complex tasks like network optimization, resource allocation, and automated maintenance (O&M) in real-time, reducing reliance on manual intervention.
- AI-as-a-Service (AIaaS): The network transforms into a unified platform providing both communication and AI capabilities, making AI accessible for various applications.
- Intelligent Processing: AI drives functions across the air interface, resource management, and control planes for highly efficient operations.
- Data-Driven Automation: Leverages big data and real-time analytics to predict issues, optimize performance, and automate complex decision-making.
- Seamless User Experience: Moves beyond touchscreens to AI-driven interactions, offering more natural and contextual computing.
- Autonomous Operations: AI will enable self-monitoring, self-optimization, and self-healing networks, drastically reducing the need for human intervention in operation and maintenance (O&M).
- Dynamic Resource Management: ML algorithms will analyze massive amounts of network data in real-time to predict traffic patterns and user demands, dynamically allocating bandwidth, power, and computing resources to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency.
- AI-Native Air Interface: AI/ML models will replace traditional, manually engineered signal processing blocks in the physical layer (e.g., channel estimation, beam management) to adapt dynamically to complex and time-varying wireless environments, improving spectral efficiency.
- Enhanced Security: AI will be critical for real-time threat detection and automated incident response across the hyper-connected 6G ecosystem, identifying anomalies and mitigating security risks that are not well understood by current systems.
- Digital Twins: AI will power the creation and management of real-time digital twins (virtual replicas) of the physical network, allowing for sophisticated simulations and testing of network changes before real-world deployment.
- Pervasive Edge AI: AI model training and inference will be distributed throughout the network, from the cloud to the edge (devices, base stations), reducing latency and enabling real-time, localized decision-making for applications like autonomous driving and industrial automation.
- Support for Advanced Use Cases: The massive data rates (up to 1 Tbps), ultra-low latency, and high reliability enabled by AI in 6G will facilitate new applications such as holographic communication, remote robotic surgery with haptic feedback, and collaborative robotics that were not feasible with 5G.
- Federated Learning: The network will support distributed machine learning techniques, such as federated learning, which allow AI models to be trained on local data across various devices without the need to centralize sensitive user data, thus ensuring data privacy and security.
- Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC): AI will process the rich environmental data gathered through 6G’s new sensing capabilities (e.g., precise positioning, motion detection, environmental monitoring), allowing the network to interact with and understand the physical world in a holistic manner for applications like smart city management or augmented reality.
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AI‑native air interface and RAN:
IMT‑2030 explicitly expects a new AI‑native air interface that uses AI/ML models for core PHY/MAC functions such as channel estimation, symbol detection/decoding, beam management, interference handling, and CSI feedback. This enables adaptive waveforms and link control that react in real time to channel and traffic conditions, going beyond deterministic algorithms in 5G‑Advanced.
At the RAN level, IMT‑2030 envisions “native‑AI enabled” architectures that are simpler but more intelligent, with data‑driven operation and distributed learning across gNBs, edge nodes, and devices. AI/ML will be applied end‑to‑end for resource allocation, mobility, energy optimization, and fault management, effectively turning the RAN into a self‑optimizing, self‑healing system.
Integrated AI and communication services:
The framework defines “Artificial Intelligence and Communication” (often phrased as Integrated AI and Communication) as a specific usage scenario where the network provides AI compute, model hosting, and inference as a service. Example use cases include IMT‑2030‑assisted automated driving, cooperative medical robotics, digital twins, and offloading heavy computation from devices to edge/cloud via the 6G network.
To support this, IMT‑2030 includes “applicable AI‑related capabilities” such as distributed data processing, distributed learning, AI model execution and inference, and AI‑aware scheduling as native capabilities of the system. Computing and data services (not just connectivity) are treated as integral IMT‑2030 components, especially at the edge for low‑latency, energy‑efficient AI workloads.
System intelligence and new use cases:
AI is central to several new IMT‑2030 usage scenarios beyond classic eMBB/mMTC/URLLC, including Immersive Communication, Integrated Sensing and Communication, and Integrated AI and Communication. In integrated sensing, AI fuses multi‑dimensional radio sensing data (position, motion, environment, even human behavior) to provide contextual awareness for applications like smart cities, industrial control, and XR.
Embedding intelligence across air interface, edge, and cloud is seen as necessary to manage 6G complexity and enable “Intelligence of Everything,” including real‑time digital twins and AIGC‑driven services. The vision is for the 6G/IMT‑2030 network to act as a distributed neural system that tightly couples communication, sensing, and computing.
IMT 2030 Goals:
- To create self-healing, self-optimizing networks that can adapt to diverse demands.
- To enable new AI-driven applications, from intelligent digital twins to advanced immersive experiences.
- To build a truly intelligent communication fabric that supports a hyper-connected, AI-enhanced world.
Summary table: AI’s roles in IMT‑2030:
| Dimension | AI role in IMT‑2030 |
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| Air interface | AI‑native PHY/MAC for channel estimation, decoding, beamforming, interference control. |
| RAN/core architecture | Native‑AI enabled, data‑driven, self‑optimizing/self‑healing network functions. |
| Compute and data services | Built‑in edge/cloud compute for AI training, inference, and data processing. |
| Usage scenarios | Dedicated “Integrated AI and Communication” plus AI‑rich sensing and immersive use cases. |
| Applications and ecosystems | Support for digital twins, automated driving, robotics, AIGC, and industrial automation. |
In summary, AI in IMT‑2030 is both an internal engine for network intelligence and an exported capability the network offers to verticals, making 6G effectively AI‑native end‑to‑end.
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References:
https://www.lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/the-lessons-of-pluribus-for-telecom-s-genai-fans
https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/white-papers/ai-native
https://www.5gamericas.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ITUs-IMT-2030-Vision_Id.pdf
ITU-R WP 5D Timeline for submission, evaluation process & consensus building for IMT-2030 (6G) RITs/SRITs
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver years before IMT 2030 RIT submissions to ITU-R WP5D
NTT DOCOMO successful outdoor trial of AI-driven wireless interface with 3 partners
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
ITU-R WP5D IMT 2030 Submission & Evaluation Guidelines vs 6G specs in 3GPP Release 20 & 21
Dell’Oro: Analysis of the Nokia-NVIDIA-partnership on AI RAN
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
Draft new ITU-R recommendation (not yet approved): M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]
Deutsche Telekom: successful completion of the 6G-TakeOff project with “3D networks”
The 6G-TakeOff project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space was focused on development of a unified three dimensional (3D) network architecture for future 6G communications, which integrates terrestrial networks with non-terrestrial networks (NTN) like satellites and drones. Led by Deutsche Telekom, the three-year project focused on creating a dynamic, flexible, and intelligent network that could provide seamless connectivity by using AI to manage network resources and dynamically switch between different network types. The project has successfully concluded and its results were presented at a closing event at the University of Bremen.
Three-dimensional (3D) networks are where base stations on the ground are complemented by base stations aboard airborne platforms and satellites. Stations in the air offer the opportunity to provide additional network capacity temporarily and locally as needed. The project focused on the holistic view of a 3D network and the question of how the various subnetwork elements can be connected to each other (handover) in a unified 6G architecture. By combining and intelligently coordinating the various access technologies, optimal access to connectivity is thus enabled for every application. The results of the project are an important part of basic research for so-called non-terrestrial networks (NTN) and will be incorporated into the standardization of the future generation of mobile communications (by 3GPP and ITU-R).
From its inception, the 3D network consortium was designed to integrate perspectives and innovations from a wide range of research and industry fields. This enabled close collaboration between the aerospace sector and the communications and software industries as well as manufacturers, while facilitating the transfer from the academic environment to the industrial context. Led by Deutsche Telekom, the research consortium brought together a total of 19 partners:
- The manufacturers participating in the project included Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Creonic GmbH, DSI Aerospace GmbH, EANT GmbH, IMST GmbH, NXP® Semiconductors, OTARIS Interactive Services GmbH, Rohde & Schwarz, and Boldyn Networks.
- The user perspective was represented by John Deere GmbH & Co. KG and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
- In addition to Deutsche Telekom, the network operator O2 Telefónica was also involved.
- The project team was completed by research institutes and universities: the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, the IHP Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics, the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, the University of Bremen, and the Center for Telematics Würzburg all contributed their expertise.
Successful completion after three years of 6G research in the project “6G-TakeOff” © Deutsche Telekom
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Key aspects of the project:
- Unified 3D Network: The project aimed to create a single network architecture that seamlessly combines ground-based base stations with airborne (like drones) and satellite-based stations.
- Dynamic Connectivity: The network was designed to dynamically adjust and manage connections, so it can provide temporary capacity where needed and automatically select the best access method for a user’s needs.
- AI-powered Management: Artificial intelligence (AI) was used to manage the network, helping to optimize connections, anticipate disruptions, and ensure the overall resilience of the system.
- Industry and Academic Collaboration: The project involved a large consortium of 19 partners, including universities, research institutes, and companies from the aerospace, telecommunications, and technology sectors.
- Contribution to 6G Standards: The research and results from 6G-TakeOff are intended to be incorporated into the ongoing standardization efforts for 6G technology, forming a strong foundation for future development.
- Focus Areas: Research included topics such as device handover, local deployment of edge compute, and the development of technologies to connect terrestrial and non-terrestrial components.
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Research results:
The consortium developed several demonstrators to test the feasibility of different solutions:
- Device handover in the 3D network: Arguably, handover is the most important element of a 3D network. The three-dimensional structure of the network was tested in a testbed at the University of Bremen. Using base stations on the ground, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the air and satellite hardware on a 146-meter-high tower, the 3D network was simulated and the handover of a moving device between network components was studied. The testbed will remain in place even after the conclusion of the project.
- Local deployment of mobile edge computing (MEC) services: Edge computing makes it possible to process large amounts of data securely and on-site in near real-time. The project was able to successfully demonstrate that edge computing is also possible for non-terrestrial networks. In this way, appropriate networks can be set up temporarily and as needed.
- Feederlink technology for ground stations and UAVs: UAVs must be connected to the core network on the ground via so-called feederlinks. These links allow data to be transmitted at high rates between ground stations and UAVs. Beamforming antennas are required for this purpose. They direct radio waves in a targeted manner rather than spreading them broadly, thereby improving signal strength and range. In 6G-TakeOff, novel antenna designs were developed and tested. These are characterized by a particularly strong directional focus when transmitting and receiving radio waves, as well as a lightweight design. In addition, new methods for beam steering, meaning the precise alignment of ground station antennas with moving UAVs, were developed.
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The project’s three-year milestone exhibits a strong track record for the research initiative. Beyond the demonstrators, seven patent filings underscore the consortium’s innovation.
“The 6G-TakeOff project has helped us better understand the practical challenges of integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial components into a unified 3D communication framework. It offers valuable insights on how future 6G systems could improve service continuity, resilience and capacity wherever needed. The project has laid a strong foundation for further cross-industry cooperation towards 6G,” said Thomas Lips, SVP RAN Disaggregation & Enablement at Deutsche Telekom.
Commercial deployment of 6G is anticipated in the early 2030s, pending 3GPP specifications and ITU-R WP 5D evaluation completion of IMT 2030 RIT/SRITs based on minimum performance requirements. Please see references for more information about 6G initiatives and IMT 2030.
References:
https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/successful-completion-6g-takeoff-1099886
GSMA Vision 2040 study identifies spectrum needs during the peak 6G era of 2035–2040
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver years before IMT 2030 RIT submissions to ITU-R WP5D
Highlights and Summary of the 2025 Brooklyn 6G Summit
Nokia Bell Labs and KDDI Research partner for 6G energy efficiency and network resiliency
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
Summary of ITU-R Workshop on “IMT for 2030 and beyond” (aka “6G”)
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
Ericsson and IIT Kharagpur partner for joint research in AI and 6G
Ericsson’s India 6G Research Program at its Chennai R&D Center
ETSI Integrated Sensing and Communications ISG targets 6G
Enable-6G: Yet another 6G R&D effort spearheaded by Telefónica de España
China’s MIIT to prioritize 6G project, accelerate 5G and gigabit optical network deployments in 2023
6th Digital China Summit: China to expand its 5G network; 6G R&D via the IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group
Nokia to open 5G and 6G research lab in Amadora, Portugal
Nokia and Rohde & Schwarz collaborate on AI-powered 6G receiver years before IMT 2030 RIT submissions to ITU-R WP5D
Nokia and the test and measurement firm Rohde & Schwarz have created and successfully tested a “6G” radio receiver that uses AI technologies to overcome one of the biggest anticipated challenges of 6G network rollouts, coverage limitations inherent in 6G’s higher-frequency spectrum.
–>This is truly astonishing as ITU-R WP5D doesn’t even plan to evaluate 6G RIT/SRITs till February 2027 when the first submissions are invited to be presented.
Nokia Bell Labs developed the receiver and validated it using 6G test equipment and methodologies from Rohde & Schwarz. The two companies will unveil a proof-of-concept receiver at the Brooklyn 6G Summit on November 6, 2025. Nokia says, “the machine learning capabilities in the receiver greatly boost uplink distance, enhancing coverage for future 6G networks. This will help operators roll out 6G over their existing 5G footprints, reducing deployment costs and accelerating time to market.”
Image Credit: Rohde & Schwarz
Nokia Bell Labs and Rohde & Schwarz have tested this new AI receiver under real world conditions, achieving uplink distance improvements over today’s receiver technologies ranging from 10% to 25%. The testbed comprises an R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, used for uplink signal generation and channel emulation. On the receive side, the newly launched FSWX signal and spectrum analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz is employed to perform the AI inference for Nokia’s AI receiver. In addition to enhancing coverage, the AI technology also demonstrates improved throughput and power efficiency, multiplying the benefits it will provide in the 6G era.
“One of the key issues facing future 6G deployments is the coverage limitations inherent in 6G’s higher-frequency spectrum. Typically, we would need to build denser networks with more cell sites to overcome this problem. By boosting the coverage of 6G receivers, however, AI technology will help us build 6G infrastructure over current 5G footprints,” said Peter Vetter, President, Core Research, Bell Labs, Nokia.
“Rohde & Schwarz is excited to collaborate with Nokia in pioneering AI-driven 6G receiver technology. Leveraging more than 90 years of experience in test and measurement, we’re uniquely positioned to support the development of next-generation wireless, allowing us to evaluate and refine AI algorithms at this crucial pre-standardization stage. This partnership builds on our long history of innovation and demonstrates our commitment to shaping the future of 6G,” said Michael Fischlein, VP, Spectrum & Network Analyzers, EMC and Antenna Test, Rohde & Schwarz.
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Last month, Nokia teamed up with rival kit vendor Ericsson to work on video coding standardization in preparation for 6G. The project, which also involved Berlin’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), demonstrated a new video codec which they claim has higher compression efficiency than the current standards (H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, and H.266/VVC) without significantly increasing complexity, and its wider aim is to strengthen Europe’s role in next generation standardization, we were told at the time.
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About Nokia:
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future
About Rohde & Schwarz:
Rohde & Schwarz is striving for a safer and connected world with its Test & Measurement, Technology Systems and Networks & Cybersecurity Divisions. For over 90 years, the global technology group has pushed technical boundaries with developments in cutting-edge technologies. The company’s leading-edge products and solutions empower industrial, regulatory and government customers to attain technological and digital sovereignty. The privately owned, Munich-based company can act independently, long-term and sustainably. Rohde & Schwarz generated a net revenue of EUR 3.16 billion in the 2024/2025 fiscal year (July to June). On June 30, 2025, Rohde & Schwarz had more than 15,000 employees worldwide.
References:
ITU-R WP5D IMT 2030 Submission & Evaluation Guidelines vs 6G specs in 3GPP Release 20 & 21
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
Market research firms Omdia and Dell’Oro: impact of 6G and AI investments on telcos
Nvidia pays $1 billion for a stake in Nokia to collaborate on AI networking solutions
Highlights of Nokia’s Smart Factory in Oulu, Finland for 5G and 6G innovation
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
Qualcomm CEO: expect “pre-commercial” 6G devices by 2028
NGMN: 6G Key Messages from a network operator point of view
ITU-R WP 5D Timeline for submission, evaluation process & consensus building for IMT-2030 (6G) RITs/SRITs
The ITU-R WP 5D schedule described below applies to the first invitation for IMT 2030 candidate RITs [1] or SRITs [2]
[1] RIT =Radio Interface Technology [2] SRITs =Set of RITs. That terminology was used for IMT 2020 and the IMT 2150 recommendation
Submission of proposals may begin at 54th meeting of Working Party (WP) 5D, currently planned for February 2027. The final deadline for submissions is 1600 hours UTC, 12 calendar days prior to the start of the 59th meeting of WP 5D in February 2029.
The evaluation of the proposed RITs/SRITs by the independent evaluation groups and the consensus-building process will be performed throughout this time period and thereafter. Subsequent calendar schedules will be decided according to the submissions of proposals.
References:
https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/oth/0a/06/R0A060000C80001PDFE.pdf
https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-M.2150/en
ITU-R WP5D IMT 2030 Submission & Evaluation Guidelines vs 6G specs in 3GPP Release 20 & 21
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
Verizon’s 6G Innovation Forum joins a crowded list of 6G efforts that may conflict with 3GPP and ITU-R IMT-2030 work
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions
NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization
IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements (TPR) from ITU-R WP5D
Should Peak Data Rates be specified for 5G (IMT 2020) and 6G (IMT 2030) networks?
NGMN: 6G Key Messages from a network operator point of view
As 3GPP prepares for its Release 20 [1.], the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) has issued a 6G Key Messages statement saying that 6G can’t be just “another generational shift” and that lessons must be learned from “the mistakes of 5G.” NGMN says that 6G must demonstrate clear, tangible benefits within a realistic techno-economic framework. Network Architecture needs to meet MNOs criteria for modularity, simplicity, openness, operational simplification, compatibility and interoperability, and trustworthiness while delivering economic and social sustainability. These factors are crucial to enable fast deployment and to support the development of market-aligned services that meet user demands.
“6G standards must be globally harmonized. It 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. 6G standards must learn from the mistakes of 5G, including multiple architecture options, features that are never used and use cases that have no market pull.”
NGMN insists that the introduction of 6G should not cost network operators more than necessary:
“The introduction of 6G should not necessitate a forced hardware refresh. 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.”
Note 1. According to 3GPP’s current planning, Release 20 will include a study phase, gathering technical input on potential 6G features, use cases, and architectural shifts. These discussions are intended to inform later specification work, likely in Release 21, aligned with the IMT-2030 submission process. See Editor’s Note below for relationship between 3GPP’s 6G work and ITU-R IMT 2030.
THE NGMN 6G KEY MESSAGES PUBLICATION HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE NGMN BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN JUNE 2025:
Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and Orange Group CTO and EVP Networks, explained “6G should be viewed as a seamless evolution — fully compatible with 5G and propelled by continuous software innovation. The industry must move beyond synchronised hardware/software ‘G’ cycles and embrace decoupled roadmaps: one for hardware infrastructure, guided by value-driven and sustainable investments, and another — faster and demand-led — for software-defined business capabilities addressing real needs from society.”
“Along with presenting this consolidated view to 3GPP, this publication serves as a foundation for engaging with the broader industry, driving collaboration, innovation, and strategic direction in the evolving 6G landscape,” said Anita Döhler, CEO of NGMN . “A core tenet of our message is that 6G is not treated as another generational shift for mobile technology – it must be evolutionary.”
“Network evolution is essential for addressing ever-changing societal needs. To achieve this, we need to work collectively as an industry to ensure all future networks are secure, environmentally sound, and economically sustainable,” said Luke Ibbetson, Head of Group R&D at Vodafone and NGMN Board Director.
Key Categories:
• Enhanced Human Communications includes use cases of enriched communications, such as immersive experience, telepresence and multimodal interaction. Voice services must evolve in a business sustainable manner.
• Enhanced Machine Communications reflects the growth of collaborative robotics, requiring reliable communication among robots, their environment and humans.
• Enabling Services gather use cases that require additional features such as high accuracy location, mapping, or sensing.
• Network Evolution describes aspects related to the evolution of core technologies including AI as a service, energy efficiency, and delivering ubiquitous coverage.
Requirements and Design Considerations:
• Sustainability: Minimising environmental impact, securing economic viability, and ensuring social sustainability is the key goal of 6G design.
• Trustworthiness: Ensure that security and privacy are intrinsically embedded in the 6G system to protect against threats and provide solutions that measurably demonstrate this attribute.
• Innovation: A new radio interface should demonstrate significant benefits over and above IMT-2020, as mentioned in the Radio Performance Assessment Framework publication, while considering the practical issues related to deployments in a realistic techno-economical context. It is also critical for innovation that the entirety of the upper 6 GHz band would be available to mobile networks.
Radio Performance Assessment Framework (RPAF) includes guidance for new 6G Radio Access Technologies (RAT). It emphasises that any proposed solutions must be assessed against a reasonable baseline to demonstrate meaningful performance gains.
Editor’s Note: ITU-R WP5D is the official standards body for 6G, which is known as IMT 2030. Like for 5G (IMT 2020), WP 5D sets the requirements while 3GPP develops the Radio Interface Technology (RIT and SRIT) specs which are then contributed to WP 5D by ATIS.
About the MGMN Alliance:
Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance – is a global, operator-driven leadership network established in 2006 by leading international mobile network operators (MNOs). Its mission is to ensure that next-generation mobile network infrastructure, service platforms and devices meet operators’ requirements while addressing the demands and expectations of end users.
NGMN’s vision is to provide impactful industry guidance to enable innovative, sustainable and affordable mobile telecommunication services. Key focus areas include Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Green Future Networks and 6G, while continuing to support the full implementation of 5G.
As a global alliance of nearly 70 companies and organisations—including operators, vendors, and academia—NGMN actively incorporates the perspectives of all stakeholders. It drives global alignment and convergence of technology standards and industry initiatives to avoid fragmentation and support industry scalability.
References:
https://www.ngmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2506_NGMN_6G-Key-Messages_An-Operator-View_V1.0.pdf
NGMN calls for harmonised 6G standards to drive seamless mobile evolution on behalf of global MNOs
NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
https://unidir.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/241211_ITU-R-Update-on-WRC-and-IMT-2030.pdf
https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/m/R-REC-M.2160-0-202311-I%21%21PDF-E.pdf
Draft new ITU-R recommendation (not yet approved): M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]
ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology
Introduction:
Recommendation ITU R M.2160 ‒ “Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and Beyond” identifies IMT-2030 capabilities which aim to make IMT-2030 (6G) more capable, flexible, reliable and secure than previous IMT systems when providing diverse and novel services in the intended six usage scenarios, including immersive communication, hyper reliable and low latency communication (HRLLC), massive communication, ubiquitous connectivity, artificial intelligence and communication, and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC).
IMT-2030 can be considered from multiple perspectives, including users, manufacturers, application developers, network operators, verticals, and service and content providers. Therefore, it is recognized that technologies for IMT-2030 can be applied in a variety of deployment scenarios and can support a range of environments, service capabilities, and technology options.
IMT-2030 is also expected to be built on overarching aspects which act as design principles commonly applicable to all usage scenarios. These distinguishing design principles of the IMT‑2030 are including, but are not limited to sustainability, security and resilience, connecting the unconnected for providing universal and affordable access to all users independent of the location, and ubiquitous intelligence for improving overall system performance.
ITU-R WP 5D February 2025 Meeting Highlights:
1. At its ITU-R WP5D February 2025 meeting, a large number of ITU-R WP 5D contributions were discussed on the development of a draft report titled, “Minimum technical performance requirements (TPRs) for IMT‑2030 (“6G”) radio interface(s) [IMT-2030.TECH PERF REQ].” That work is being done in the Technology Aspects WG along with all other IMT-2030 projects.
This Report describes key requirements related to the minimum technical performance of IMT-2030 candidate radio interface technologies. It also provides the necessary background information about the individual requirements and the justification for the items and values chosen. Provision of such background information is needed for a broader understanding of the requirements. After discussion of the contributions, a preliminary list of minimum TPRs is created, and the working document is updated. In total eleven sessions were used including three Drafting Groups to address requirements related to artificial intelligence, energy efficiency and joint requirements. This Report is based on the ongoing development activities of external research and technology organizations.
IMT 2030 performance requirements are to be evaluated according to the criteria defined in Report ITU-R M.[IMT‑2030.EVAL] and Report ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.SUBMISSION] for the development of IMT-2030 recommendations.
2. This WP5D meeting also discussed contributions on “Evaluation criteria and methodology for IMT-2030″ [IMT-2030.EVAL] and updated the working document. The discussion focused on a number of subjects including test environments, mapping between TPR and test environments, and a high-level view of TPR evaluation methodologies.
3. WP5D SWG Coordination started the work of revision of the Document IMT-2030/2 – Submission, evaluation process and consensus building, in order to incorporate decisions to be made on criterial related to test environments and other subjects.
4. At its next meeting (July 2025 in Japan), WP5D Technology Aspects WG will:
- continue working on revision of IMT-2030/2 “Process” – submission, evaluation process and consensus building process for IMT-2030;
- start to work on candidate technology submission template for IMT-2030;
- continue working on ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.TECH PERF REQ] – minimum requirements related to technical performance for IMT-2030 radio interface(s);
- continue working on M.[IMT-2030.EVAL] – Guidelines for evaluation of radio interface technologies for IMT-2030;
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During 3GPP Technical Specification Group RAN’s meeting RAN#106, in Madrid on December 12th, an important 6G study item was approved. The study represents a significant milestone in 3GPP’s interactions with ITU on 6G technical performance requirements (TPRs) as future, deployment scenarios, requirements and potential directions of 6G radio access technologies are further identified and investigated in 3GPP. The 3GPP study item (Details in RP-243327) aims to investigate a candidate set of items for minimum TPRs based on the Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 and, where applicable, the associated target values and key assumptions for the identified minimum TPRs.
The outcome is expected to be shared by Liaison Statement with ITU-R WP5D and used as a baseline for the subsequent 6G study in RAN.
Expected Output and Time scale: A 38 series Technical Report ‘Study on 6G Scenarios and requirements’ scheduled for RAN#112 in June, 2026.
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References:
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions
NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization
IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements (TPR) from ITU-R WP5D
https://www.3gpp.org/news-events/3gpp-news/ran-6g-study1
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
Ericsson and e& (UAE) sign MoU for 6G collaboration vs ITU-R IMT-2030 framework
Ericsson and United Arab Emirates (UAE) network operator e& have signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), for the collaborative exploration of 6G technology, its use cases and future network evolution. It will also include a series of technical discussions and engagements aimed at jointly exploring key 6G technology concepts.
The purpose of this MoU is unclear, as the definition work for 6G RANs will be done in ITU-R WP5D with the specs likely to come from 3GPP. So any 6G MoU would have to be based on the ITU-R IMT-2030 framework (see figures below and References).
Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology and Information Officer, e& UAE, says: “e& UAE has pioneered new technologies since 1976 powering people and societies. This collaboration is a testament to our dedication for driving the digital future and pushing the boundaries of a more connected and technologically advanced future. We are thrilled to partner with Ericsson on exploring 6G and its future network evolution.”
Ekow Nelson, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit for e& at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “We have barely scratched the surface with 5G which will overtake 4G and become the dominant mobile technology after 2027 and, with 5G Standalone and 5G Advanced, realize its transformative potential over the next several years. At the same time, we have started the proactive approach to 6G research with our partners to shape the next generation of mobile networks. Collaborating closely with e& UAE, we aim to leverage our shared expertise to drive progress in the development of 6G for the United Arab Emirates, and the wider region.”
Photo credit: Ericsson
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From the ITU-R IMT-2030 framework:
References:
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization
ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities
ITU-R vs 3GPP – 5G and 6G Standards and Specifications:
For new IEEE Techblog readers, ITU-R is responsible for radio interfaces with WP 5D making the ITU-R recommendations (standards) for IMT Radio Interface Technologies (RITs) and Set of Radio Interface Technologies (SRITs).
For 5G, it was called IMT 2020 (M.2150 recommendation) and for 6G, it’s called IMT-2030. 3GPP contributions towards those standards have been presented to WP5D by ATIS – one of the organizational partners of 3GPP.
While ITU-T was supposed to standardize non-radio aspects of 5G, 5G Advanced and 6G, that did not happen. Instead, those specifications, including the 5G and 6G core networks, are being developed by 3GPP. Those 3GPP 5G and 6G non-radio specs have to be transposed and adopted by official standards bodies, such as ETSI.
Please see References and Comments below for more information.
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Backgrounder:
In February 2021, the ITU started the development of ITU-R Framework Recommendation for IMT-2030 (6G) which was approved by the Radio Assembly 2023 and published as Recommendation ITU‑R M.2160 – Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond. Based on this Recommendation, the ITU has started the process of the development of IMT-2030. The IMT-2030 terrestrial radio interface specification is expected to be completed in 2030. M.2160 describes these motivation and societal considerations, potential user and application trends, technology trends, spectrum harmonization and envisaged frequency bands. Also ITU-R Report M.2156 “Future technology trends of terrestrial IMT systems towards 2030 and beyond” and Report ITU-R M.2541 “Technical feasibility of IMT in bands above 100 GHz” details these expected trends and phenomena for IMT-2030.
The framework and objectives including overall timeframes for the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond are described in some detail in Recommendation ITU-R M.2160.
In order to fulfil these varied demands, Usage scenarios of IMT-2030 are envisioned to expand on those of IMT-2020 (i.e., eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC introduced in Recommendation ITU-R M.2083) into broader use requiring evolved and new capabilities. In addition to expanded IMT‑2020 usage scenarios, IMT-2030 is envisaged to enable new usage scenarios arising from capabilities, such as artificial intelligence and sensing, which previous generations of IMT were not designed to support. Figure 1. below illustrates the usage scenarios for IMT-2030.
Figure 1. Usage scenarios and overarching aspects of IMT-2030:
Capabilities of IMT-2030:
IMT-2030 is expected to provide enhanced capabilities compared to those described for IMT-2020 in Recommendation ITU-R M.2083, as well as new capabilities to support the expanded usage scenarios of IMT-2030. In addition, each capability could have different relevance and applicability in the different usage scenarios.
The range of values given for capabilities are estimated targets for research and investigation of IMT-2030. All values in the range have equal priority in research and investigation. For each usage scenario, a single or multiple values within the range would be developed in future in other ITU-R Recommendations/Reports. These values may further depend on certain parameters and assumptions including, but not limited to, frequency range, bandwidth, and deployment scenario. Further these values for the capabilities apply only to some of the usage scenarios and may not be reached simultaneously in a specific usage scenario.
The capabilities of IMT-2030 include:
1) Peak data rate
Maximum achievable data rate under ideal conditions per device. The research target of peak data rate would be greater than that of IMT-2020. Values of 50, 100, 200 Gbit/s are given as possible examples applicable for specific scenarios, while other values may also be considered.
2) User experienced data rate
Achievable data rate that is available ubiquitously[1] across the coverage area to a mobile device. The research target of user experienced data rate would be greater than that of IMT-2020. Values of 300 Mbit/s and 500 Mbit/s are given as possible examples, while other values greater than these examples may also be explored and considered accordingly.
3) Spectrum efficiency
Spectrum efficiency refers to average data throughput per unit of spectrum resource and per cell[2]. The research target of spectrum efficiency would be greater than that of IMT-2020. Values of 1.5 and 3 times greater than that of IMT-2020 could be a possible example, while other values greater than these examples may also be explored and considered accordingly.
4) Area traffic capacity
Total traffic throughput served per geographic area. The research target of area traffic capacity would be greater than that of IMT-2020. Values of 30 Mbit/s/m2 and 50 Mbit/s/m2 are given as possible examples, while other values greater than these examples may also be explored and considered accordingly.
5) Connection Density
Total number of connected and/or accessible devices per unit area. The research target of connection density could be 106 – 108 devices/km2.
6) Mobility
Maximum speed, at which a defined QoS and seamless transfer between radio nodes which may belong to different layers and/or radio access technologies (multi-layer/multi-RAT) can be achieved. The research target of mobility could be 500 – 1 000 km/h.
7) Latency
Latency over the air interface refers to the contribution by the radio network to the time from when the source sends a packet of a certain size to when the destination receives it. The research target of latency (over the air interface) could be 0.1 – 1 ms.
8) Reliability
Reliability over the air interface relates to the capability of transmitting successfully a predefined amount of data within a predetermined time duration with a given probability.
The research target of reliability (over the air interface) could range from 1-10−5 to 1-10−7.
9) Coverage
Coverage refers to the ability to provide access to communication services for users in a desired service area. In the context of this capability, coverage is defined as the cell edge distance of a single cell through link budget analysis.
10) Positioning
Positioning is the ability to calculate the approximate position of connected devices. Positioning accuracy is defined as the difference between the calculated horizontal/vertical position and the actual horizontal/vertical position of a device.
The research target of the positioning accuracy could be 1 – 10 cm.
11) Sensing-related capabilities
Sensing-related capabilities refer to the ability to provide functionalities in the radio interface including range/velocity/angle estimation, object detection, localization, imaging, mapping, etc. These capabilities could be measured in terms of accuracy, resolution, detection rate, false alarm rate, etc.
12) Applicable AI-related capabilities
Applicable AI-related capabilities refer to the ability to provide certain functionalities throughout IMT-2030 to support AI enabled applications. These functionalities include, distributed data processing, distributed learning, AI computing, AI model execution, and AI model inference, etc.
13) Security and resilience
In the context of IMT-2030:
− Security refers to preservation of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, such as user data and signalling, and protection of networks, devices and systems against cyberattacks such as hacking, distributed denial of service, man in the middle attacks, etc.
− Resilience refers to capabilities of the networks and systems to continue operating correctly during and after a natural or man-made disturbance, such as the loss of primary source of power, etc.
14) Sustainability
Sustainability, or more specifically environmental sustainability, refers to the ability of both the network and devices to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. Important factors include improving energy efficiency, minimizing energy consumption and the use of resources, for example by optimizing for equipment longevity, repair, reuse and recycling.
Energy efficiency is a quantifiable metric of sustainability. It refers to the quantity of information bits transmitted or received, per unit of energy consumption (in bit/Joule). Energy efficiency is expected to be improved appropriately with the capacity increase in order to minimize overall power consumption.
15) Interoperability
Interoperability refers to the radio interface being based on member-inclusivity and transparency, so as to enable functionality(ies) between different entities of the system. The capabilities of IMT-2030 are shown in Figure 2. below.
FIGURE 2. Capabilities of IMT-2030:
NOTES:
[1] The term “ubiquitous” is related to the considered target coverage area and is not intended to relate to an entire region or country.
[2] The coverage area over which a mobile terminal can maintain a connection with one or more units of radio equipment located within that area. For an individual base station, this is the coverage area of the base station or of a subsystem (e.g., sector antenna).
Relationship between existing IMT and IMT-2030:
In order to support emerging usage scenarios and applications for 2030 and beyond, it is foreseen that development of IMT-2030 would be required to offer enhanced capabilities as described in § 3. The values of these capabilities go beyond those described in Recommendation ITU-R M.2083. The minimum technical requirements (and corresponding evaluation criteria) are to be defined by ITU‑R based on these capabilities for IMT-2030. They could potentially be met by adding enhancements to existing IMT, incorporating new technology components and functionalities, and/or the development of new radio interface technologies. Furthermore, IMT-2030 is envisaged to interwork with existing IMT.
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Separately, ATIS’ Next G Alliance (NGA) recently announced publication of Spectrum Needs for 6G, which assesses 6G spectrum needs based on scenario-specific key performance indicators and application-specific technical performance requirements.
The methodology used for estimating spectrum needs is based on the data rate requirements of 6G applications, with an emphasis on North American context and needs. The applications considered reflect the NGA’s collective efforts in establishing a comprehensive 6G roadmap.
“Proactively understanding next G spectrum needs and planning for them is essential to U.S. leadership in critical and emerging technologies,” said Next G Alliance Managing Director, David Young. “Decisions about the use of spectrum depend on multiple aspects and require time to be implemented. This paper achieves an understanding of 6G spectrum needs so that these needs are considered in the development of data-driven policies, regulatory decisions, and technical solutions.”
References:
https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/PR-2023-12-01-IMT-2030-for-6G-mobile-technologies.aspx
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2030/Pages/default.aspx
Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases
ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions
IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements (TPR) from ITU-R WP5D
ATIS’ Next G Alliance Maps the Spectrum Needs for the 6G Future
NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization
Draft new ITU-R recommendation (not yet approved): M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]
IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements (TPR) from ITU-R WP5D
As defined in Resolution ITU-R 56-3, International Mobile Telecommunications-2030 (IMT-2030) systems are mobile systems that include new radio interface(s) which support enhanced capabilities and new capabilities beyond IMT‑2020, IMT-Advanced and IMT-2000. In Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 ‒ Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond, the capabilities of IMT-2030 are identified, which aims to make IMT-2030 more capable, flexible, reliable and secure than previous IMT systems when providing diverse and novel services in the intended six usage scenarios (see figure below), including immersive communication, hyper reliable and low‑latency communication (HRLLC), massive communication, ubiquitous connectivity, artificial intelligence and communication, and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC).
IMT-2030 is expected to support enriched and potential immersive experience, enhanced ubiquitous coverage, and enable new forms of collaboration. Furthermore, IMT-2030 is envisaged to support expanded and new usage scenarios compared to those of IMT-2020, while providing enhanced and new capabilities. In accordance with the IMT-2030 (6G) timeline within ITU-R, development of IMT-2030 Technical Performance Requirements (TPR) is expected to start in ITU-R Working Party 5D (WP 5D) at the February 2024 meeting in Geneva.
- The IMT-2030 performance requirements are to be evaluated according to the criteria defined in Report ITU-R M.[IMT‑2030.EVAL] and Report ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.SUBMISSION] for the development of IMT-2030.
- Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 defines fifteen key “Capabilities of IMT-2030,” which form a basis for the [x] technical performance requirements to be specified in the forthcoming draft document.
In order to facilitate the work of this important phase of IMT-2030 development, Apple, China, and India separately proposed outlines or suggestions for a working document towards a preliminary draft new report on technical performance requirements of IMT-2030. Those contributions will be presented and discussed at the February 2024 ITU-R WP 5D meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
The proposed technical performance parameters include:
Peak data rate, Peak spectral efficiency, User experienced data rate, 5th percentile user spectral efficiency, Average spectral efficiency, Area traffic capacity, Latency, User plane latency, Control plane latency, Connection density, Energy efficiency, Reliability, Mobility, Mobility interruption time, Bandwidth, Coverage, Positioning, Sensing, AI, Security, Sustainability, and Interoperability.
This work will certainly refer to IMT-2030 set of expected capabilities are outlined in ITU-R M.2160 Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond, which was approved in November 2023. A broad variety of capabilities associated with envisaged usage scenarios, are described in that recommendation.
Huge caveat: It’s important to note that the IMT 2020 (5G) Technical Performance Parameters specified in ITU-R M.2410 for URLLC use case have STILL NOT BEEN achieved. Furthermore, the 3GPP spec for URLLC in the RAN has not been performance tested or submitted to ITU-R WP5D, even though it was “frozen” June 2020 in 3GPP Rel 16. Hence, one must wonder if this proposed IMT 2030 Performance Parameter spec will be yet another “paper tiger?”
References:
https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2030/Pages/default.aspx
Draft new ITU-R recommendation (not yet approved): M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]
IMT Vision – Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond
IMT 2020.SPECS approved by ITU-R but may not meet 5G performance requirements; no 5G frequencies (revision of M.1036); 5G non-radio aspects not included
