Beginning of the Journey towards 6G: Vision and Framework

The sixth generation (6G) mobile telecommunication will become a reality around 2030. Several research initiatives have started preliminary and conceptual work worldwide. Similarly to previous mobile communication generations, the Radiocommunication sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) has a fundamental leadership role of defining framework and overall objectives of the new mobile communication generation, named IMT-2030, as well as developing global specifications of its radio interface. ITU-R Working Party 5D (WP 5D), the expert group on International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems, started in March 2021 the work on IMT systems for 2030 and beyond. This work includes a critical milestone for the development of 6G: an ITU-R Recommendation describing framework and overall objectives for the development of the terrestrial component of IMT-2030. As a result of numerous technical inputs from ITU-R Member States (national administrations) and Sector Members (industry and academia) and extensive discussions, WP 5D completed this work in its 44th meeting in June 2023, as planned, resulting the IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation [1]. The Recommendation was elevated for approval and adoption by ITU-R Study Group 5 in September 2023 and subsequent publication. Supported by broad consensus, the IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation will serve as a roadmap and provide guidelines for 6G research and development. In this paper, we introduce key takeaways of the IMT-2030 Framework Recommendation including next steps of the development of 6G.