With the start of standardization of 6G being imminent, the shape that future mobile networks will take is becoming increasingly clearer. We begin with an overview of the current industry trends and future human needs that are driving the contours of the next generation of mobile networks. We will then describe the technologies that will be at the foundation of the three main themes, namely extreme connectivity, AI-native, and integrated sensing and communications that are likely to characterize future mobile networks. Extreme connectivity in new spectrum bands will rely on advances in massive MIMO enabling its evolution to extreme MIMO. Pervasive use of AI techniques across the layers of the protocol stack with a solid management framework will pave the way for AI-native networks. Integrating sensing into communications coupled with an API exposure framework will offer new opportunities for monetization. We will discuss the various opportunities and challenges across these novel technologies.
Dr. Harish Viswanathan is Head of Radio Systems Research Lab at Nokia Bell Labs. He received the B. Tech. degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Since joining Bell Labs in October 1997, he has worked extensively on wireless research ranging from physical layer to network architecture and protocols including multiple antenna technology for cellular wireless networks, multi-hop relays, network optimization, network architecture, and IoT communications. He has published extensively with over 150 publications. From 2007 to 2015, Harish was in the Corp CTO organization, where as a CTO Partner he advised the Corporate CTO on Technology Strategy through in-depth analysis of emerging technology and market needs. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and a Bell Labs Fellow. He received the 2023 Edison Patent Award from the R&D Council of New Jersey.