The Road to 6G: Powering the Next Leap in Digital Connectivity

By Eng (dr.). Samiru Gayan

A New Era Beyond 5G

As the world welcomes the transformative impact of 5G, researchers and engineers across the globe are already building the foundation for 6G, the sixth generation of mobile communication. Unlike its predecessors, 6G is not just about faster internet. It’s about creating a smart, immersive, and sustainable network that integrates communication, computing, and sensing into a single platform.

Expected to roll out commercially around 2030, 6G aims to provide speeds exceeding 1 terabit per second, ultra-low latency of less than 0.1 milliseconds, and ubiquitous connectivity even in remote corners of the world. 6G is being designed to meet the needs of a hyper-connected digital society.

Why the World Needs 6G

Today’s mobile networks are strained by skyrocketing demand. Global mobile subscriptions are expected to exceed 9 billion by 2025, driven by smartphones, smart sensors, autonomous vehicles, medical wearables, and industrial robotics. From real-time holographic calls to digital twins of smart cities, the applications of the future will require far greater network capabilities than what 5G can deliver.

Emerging sectors such as metaverse gaming, remote healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI)-based manufacturing, and real-time finance need not only bandwidth but also intelligent, adaptive, and resilient connectivity. 6G promises to support these needs while ensuring that the benefits of digital access are equitably distributed across society.

Breakthrough Technologies Shaping 6G

Terahertz Spectrum: 6G will exploit the sub-terahertz (100–300 GHz) and optical frequency bands to deliver extreme data rates. These high-frequency bands will support advanced applications like holography and immersive AR/VR, though they require breakthroughs in antenna design and energy-efficient transmission.

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS): To overcome coverage limitations, 6G will employ RIS, the smart surfaces embedded in infrastructure that can control how wireless signals reflect and propagate. This will enhance signal strength, extend coverage, and reduce energy consumption.

AI-Native Networking: AI will be embedded into the core of 6G networks. Unlike 5G, where AI is an external tool, 6G will use AI for real-time optimization, predictive resource allocation, and self-healing capabilities.

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC): One of 6G’s defining features is its ability to sense the environment. It will support applications such as autonomous driving, remote patient monitoring, smart agriculture, and industrial automation by providing real-time data about physical surroundings.

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs): 6G will combine terrestrial systems with low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, UAVs, and High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) to offer global coverage, especially in rural, remote, and disaster-affected areas. This represents a major step toward eliminating the global digital divide.

Standardization and Global Timeline

The development of 6G is being led by global bodies such as 3GPP and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 3GPP’s Release 18 (2024–2025) is enhancing 5G features, while Releases 19 and 20 (2026–2030) will incorporate the first full set of 6G standards. Meanwhile, the ITU’s IMT-2030 framework outlines 6G’s vision, building on existing use cases while adding AI-native design, sustainable deployment, and global inclusivity. Countries like the United States, China, South Korea, and members of the European Union have already initiated national-level 6G research and development programs.

Applications That Will Transform Society

• Healthcare: remote surgery, real-time diagnostics, telepresence
• Agriculture: smart irrigation, AI-driven crop analytics, UAV seeding
• Transport: connected vehicles, traffic optimization, autonomous navigation
• Education: immersive classrooms using AR/VR, real-time language translation
• Emergency response: disaster recovery networks via UAVs and satellites

These innovations will not only boost productivity but also enhance public services, governance, and social equity.

Challenges Along the Way

Despite its exciting prospects, 6G faces several technical and ethical challenges. The use of terahertz bands requires new hardware ecosystems. The integration of AI and sensing raises privacy and cybersecurity concerns. And the sheer energy demand of 6G infrastructure demands innovative, green solutions to avoid excessive environmental impact.
Global cooperation in spectrum allocation, security frameworks, and infrastructure standards will be essential. Governments, academia, and industry must collaborate to ensure that 6G remains open, secure, and accessible to all.

Opportunities for Developing Nations

For countries like Sri Lanka, 6G offers a transformative opportunity. With its blend of urban centers and rural communities, Sri Lanka can benefit from non-terrestrial coverage, open network architectures, and low-cost smart infrastructure. By investing in 6G research, pilot projects, and policy readiness, the country can position itself as an early beneficiary and even contributor to global 6G development.

Conclusion: More Than Just Speed

6G is not just about faster downloads. It’s about creating networks that think, sense, and adapt. It’s about building a digital world that is inclusive, intelligent, and resilient.

As the world moves toward 6G, the choices made today in research, policy, and infrastructure, will shape the digital societies of tomorrow. The road to 6G is already under construction. The question is: are we ready to travel it?

 

Eng. (Dr.) Samiru Gayan received his B.Sc. and M.Phil. degrees in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, in 2011 and 2015, respectively. He received his PhD degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia in 2021. He received the Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) in 2017. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. His research interests include wireless communications, integrated sensing and communications, and signal processing for wireless communications.