A single technology stack will catalyze a wave of 6G devices and innovations

The next decade will see an explosion of new wireless devices, driven by continued advancement in technology. This device renaissance could be boosted by a new Nokia approach that aims to streamline the 6G landscape by reducing the number of chipsets to just three. 

This means that the chipset used in a low-end IoT device could be derived from the same technology used in a high-end smartphone. By allowing chipset vendors to focus on just a few chipsets, this new approach will lead to massive economies of scale, driving down costs and enhancing efficiency. 

Therefore, numerous niche devices that chipset vendors couldn’t support in the 5G era will become viable in the 6G era. In this future, every gadget would not only be seamlessly connected but would also work together.  

It has the potential to be the next big leap in mobile technology. 

How we got here 

3GPP is a global organization that sets the standards for our mobile networks. Over the years, 3GPP has guided the development of technologies from 3G to the current 5G. These standards ensure that our smartphones, tablets and other devices can work together smoothly, no matter where they are or who made them. 

But as technology evolves, so do our needs. We’re seeing a growing demand for new types of connected devices beyond just smartphones—things like smartwatches, health monitors, and even cars that communicate with each other. 3GPP has been working to keep up with these demands, expanding their standards to include these new types of devices and even satellite connectivity for when you're out of range.  

Some of these envisioned expansions have not enjoyed market success, sparking an industry rethinking of cellular devices. The 6G era, however, offers an opportunity for the industry to support device proliferation and innovation that includes disruptive and yet to be invented devices. 

What have we learned from the 4G and 5G experience? 

The experiences with 4G and 5G have been enlightening. As we have seen with 4G and 5G, mobile technology succeeds when it reaches a large audience or when new devices build on popular existing ones. Unfortunately, some innovations struggled because they weren’t designed to fit into the broader technology ecosystem effectively, leading to complex solutions that didn’t always meet market needs and had limited potential for return on investment. 

What's on the horizon with 6G?  

With the lessons from 4G and 5G, we’re now preparing for 6G. Several key developments are set to transform our technology landscape: 

• Advanced and more reliable connectivity: 6G promises not just faster internet but also improved support in challenging environments like remote areas or during emergencies. This might include satellite connections for when you’re out of the usual network range.  
• IoT and sustainability: The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to become a major part of 6G. Devices with low-power wide-area (LPWA) connectivity will play a crucial role in making industries more efficient and sustainable. 6G must support LPWA features to anticipate 4G sunset and operators' commitment to support LPWA services for 10+ years.  
• Universal Connectivity: 6G will aim to unify different types of connections—like terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks—so that all devices can connect through a common air interface to achieve economy of scale and competitiveness.  
• Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): This technology, which provides high-speed internet to homes and businesses, is expected to grow rapidly. 6G will need to support this expansion while also catering to emerging needs such as high-performance gaming, immersive virtual reality experiences and possible spectrum constraints. 
• Energy Efficiency: Reducing energy consumption will be crucial. 6G will focus on making devices more efficient, especially for tasks like notifications and messaging, which will help address energy consumption goals.  

A single Technology Stack for 6G  

A single Technology Stack will open the door for a bevy of new 6G devices that address the requirements above. 

To ensure a successful commercialization of 6G, the industry must take the 4G/5G learnings into consideration and specify a scalable Technology Stack that maximizes commonalities between the needs of different devices so that each device segment has the volume potential to become commercially successful. Such a stack would be composed of three layers:  

• Basic Layer: This foundational layer will be common to all devices, supporting essential functions like low-power operation, small data transmission, notifications and emergency services that are compatible with both traditional and satellite networks.  
• Broadband Layer: For devices that need high-speed data, such as wearables, traffic cameras and connected cars, this layer will ensure fast, reliable connectivity and minimal latency.  
• Extreme Broadband Layer: This top layer will cater to advanced devices like smartphones and virtual reality systems, offering ultra-fast data rates, sophisticated physical world sensing and integration with artificial intelligence.  
   

In this approach a chipset implementing a given layer must also implement all the layers below.  

Advantages of a single Technology Stack 

The aim of this scalable, modular technology approach is to streamline device compatibility and development. Initially, the focus will likely be on mobile broadband devices. However, a single Technology Stack introduces a scalable air interface, meaning that essential technology components for LPWA devices will already be developed, as they share features with mobile broadband devices.  

This approach will likely lead to the emergence of three main chipset types: LPWA chipsets (covering the basic layer), broadband chipsets (covering both basic and broadband layers), and extreme broadband chipsets (covering all layers).  

The greatest potential of a single Technology Stack lies in its ability to support a wide range of devices without requiring major network overhauls. This gradual and adaptable deployment ensures that as new devices come online, the existing network can handle them without significant upgrades.  

Why it matters?  

Economies of scale have been crucial for the success of past mobile technologies. To ensure a healthy device ecosystem in the 6G era, there is an opportunity to have a more modular design of 3GPP devices, one that maximizes commonalities among devices and moves away from the incremental approach that resulted in multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs) and complex optimizations.  

6G specifications should target having a scalable solution resulting in fewer chipset options. This objective can be achieved through a single and modular Technology Stack that cuts across three major chipset types. This approach will not only streamline device development but also encourage a healthier ecosystem of both current and future devices, including those that are still on the drawing board. 

Read more

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.

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.

Media inquiries

Nokia Press Office

Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
 

Follow us on social media

LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube