6G mobile communication networks: vision, challenges, and key technologies

Abstract

With the open of the scale-up commercial deployment of 5G network, more and more researchers and related organizations began to consider the next generation of mobile communication system. This article will explore the 6G concept for 2030s. Firstly, this article summarizes the future 6G vision with four keywords: "Intelligent Connectivity", "Deep Connectivity", "Holographic Connectivity" and "Ubiquitous Connectivity", and these four keywords together constitute the 6G overall vision of "Wherever you think, everything follows your heart ". Then, the technical requirements and challenges to realize the 6G vision are analyzed, including peak throughput, higher energy efficiency, connection every where and anytime, new theories and technologies, self-aggregating communications fabric, and some non-technical challenges. Then the potential key technologies of 6G are classified and presented: communication technologies on new spectrum, including terahertz communication and visible light communication; fundamental technologies, including sparse theory (compressed sensing), new channel coding technology, large-scale antenna and flexible spectrum usage; special technical features, including Space-Air-Ground-Sea integrated communication and wireless tactile network. By exploring the 6G vision, requirements and challenges, as well as potential key technologies, this article attempts to outline the overall framework of 6G, and to provide directional guidance for the subsequent 6G research. Keywords 6G, vision, terahertz, VLC, compressed sensing, free duplex, wireless tactile network