Back in July 2020, Samsung Electronics published a 6G white paper entitled “The Next Hyper-Connected Experience for All,” presenting various aspects related to 6G – including technical and societal megatrends, new services, requirements, candidate technologies, and an expected timeline for standardization.

Since the beginning of 2021, discussions on the international 6G standards have been ongoing. The International Telecommunication Union – Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) created the Draft IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation, which offers a standard for 6G technology, in June 2023. With the achievement of this milestone, the first step towards ushering in a new era of communication has been completed.

Samsung’s researchers are now driving initiatives to standardize the following-generation communication technologies as a result of the white paper’s widespread acclaim. The researchers are HyoungJin Choi, Chair of ITU-R’s 6G Vision Group, from Samsung Research’s Advanced Communications Research Center (ACRC) Communications Standards Research Team, and Hyunjoong Lee from Samsung Research’s ACRC 6G Research Team who both participated in the development of the Draft 6G Framework Recommendation.

6G: The New Communication Technology

The Draft 6G Framework Recommendation provides important details on the use cases that 6G would pursue, as well as capabilities and timetables for 6G’s international standardization and commercialization. HyoungJin Choi oversaw the creation of the Draught 6G Framework Recommendation in his capacity as chair of the ITU-R’s 6G Vision Group. 

He described it as “the blueprint of a new communication technology,” and stressed its importance by saying: “Once it is completed, the detailed standardization activities from the definition of technical performance requirements to the finalization of technical specifications for radio interface technologies can be carried out.”

Making decisions about everything from the development of the site to the choice of construction techniques is necessary when building something. This is akin to the process of creating new communication technologies. Assuming that technology commercialization involves the construction of a building, a design must be drawn up to ensure that all construction techniques adhere to the same standards and guidelines. The Framework Recommendation serves as the roadmap for 6G technology in this scenario.

The location and size of the property for construction must also be determined; in our case, this would be the frequency band. As a result, it is crucial to establish a Framework Recommendation as the foundation for developing next-generation mobile communications.

Making a Difference in Communication Technology with 6G

Explaining how this new communication technology will make a difference, Hyunjoong Lee, a Samsung Research ACRC 6G Research Team member who actively participated in the development of the Draft 6G Framework Recommendation, said: “In the 6G era, the goal will be to provide diverse and expanded services in new areas such as ‘Integrated AI and Communication,’ ‘Integrated Sensing and Communication’ and ‘Ubiquitous Connectivity.”

Choi and Lee discussed their goals and strategies for the upcoming era of communications. Both researchers see a time when next-generation communication technology will be widely used to improve people’s lives.

“We will work hard to enable more abundant communication that transcends previous limitations through all kinds of connection types – including between people and people, people and machine, and even machine and machine,” said Choi. “We will do our best to achieve meaningful results in standardizing the spectrum and 6G requirements that can be carried out in the future.”

The completion of the Draft 6G Framework Recommendation is seen by Choi and Lee as a new beginning for 6G technology. Every day, the reality of 6G commercialization gets closer as Samsung and Samsung Research professionals work to usher in the next era of communication technology.

“I will continue to work so that 6G communication technology can be more impactful and relevant to people’s lives by providing more immersive experiences,” said Lee, regarding his own aspirations for the rest of his 6G journey. “While making the Framework Recommendation, my twin daughters were born, and I am proud to think that we are making the technology that they will use in the future.”