From the emergence of 2G to the trailblazing advancements of 5G, the evolution of wireless communication has been nothing short of extraordinary. As the world awaits the dawn of 6G, the Next G Alliance (NGA) steps onto the stage. Established in November 2020, with Nokia as a founding member, the NGA embarks on a mission to propel North American leadership in 6G, while fostering growth across diverse sectors. This collaborative initiative has set its sights on harnessing the transformative power of 6G to address the unique needs of various industries.

Role of industry verticals in shaping 6G's future

While 5G emphasizes Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), its impact goes beyond Communication Service Providers (CSPs) through involvement of industry verticals that drive value within Information and Communications Technology (ICT). NGA aims to reshape the economy by addressing the needs of eight key verticals: agriculture, automotive, education, gaming, entertainment, eHealth and IoT. These sectors shape North America's economic landscape, and 6G can align with NGA's overarching goals, which are-

Distributed Cloud and Communication System: Facilitating seamless communication and computation without boundaries.

AI native wireless solutions: Integrating AI for intelligent and adaptive wireless networks.

Digital World Experience (DWE): Unifying physical, digital and human experiences for interaction.

Cost-efficient solutions: Ensuring affordability and accessibility for broad 6G adoption.

Sustainability: Deploying technology with environmentally conscious approaches.

Trust, security and resilience: Prioritizing secure systems and robust communication.

Anticipating the impact: 6G and industry verticals 

The agricultural industry's $1.264 trillion (5.4 percent) contribution to the US GDP in 2021 underscores its significance. Adapting 4G/5G/6G technology can enhance sustainability, efficiency and logistics through practices like remote crop monitoring. This aligns with NGA's goals for Sustainability, Cost Efficiency and Trust, Security and Resilience, aiming to reduce emissions, optimize energy usage and enhance access. Integrating Distributed Cloud and Communication Systems can optimize data use while ensuring security and offering a comprehensive Digital World Experience (DWE).

The automotive sector's journey towards autonomous driving and real-time awareness relies on reliable connectivity and advanced computing. The Automotive sector's needs are aligned with NGA's goals, as utilizing vehicle communication (V2X) and sensing tools enhances user experiences. Enhancing user experiences is aligned with DWE, improving communication systems is aligned with Distributed Cloud and Communications Systems and ensuring security is aligned with Trust, Security, and Resilience.  

The EGE (Education, Gaming, and Entertainment) sectors are embracing technological progress. Projected values of $80 billion for mobile gaming and $38.3 billion for educational apps signify their importance. 6G promises to revolutionize these sectors, improving interactions and aligning with NGA goals of Digital World Experiences (DWE), Cost Efficiency and Trust, Security and Resilience.

eHealth significantly contributes to the GDPs of the USA (18.8 percent) and Canada (12.9 percent). 6G technology's potential in remote patient monitoring, virtual reality-assisted home care and surgeries aligns with NGA's AI-Native Wireless Networks goal. Trustworthy AI ensures secure communication, aligning with Trust, Security and Resilience goals. The eHealth sector's focus on enhancing patient-provider communications aligns with the Digital World Experiences (DWE) goal.

In mining, advancements like autonomy, digital twin replicas and advanced 3D imaging can revolutionize operations. This aligns with NGA's Trust, Security and Resilience, Sustainability and Cost Efficiency goals, as the sector embraces data insights, digitalization, and robotics.

6G's transformative potential for public safety is crucial due to rising urbanization. Majority of North America's population residing in densely populated areas could benefit from 6G-enhanced emergency services and AR navigation. This aligns with NGA's DWE, Cost Efficiency and Trust, Security and Resilience goals.

Looking forward: The power of 6G 

As the world moves towards embracing 6G, the NGA stands as a pivotal force in unleashing its potential. The collaborative efforts of NGA and its partners including Nokia are set to propel North America to the forefront of this paradigm shift. Beyond faster data speeds, 6G is set to catalyze economic growth, enrich services and enhance global quality of life across diverse sectors. By embracing the revolutionary power of 6G, we open doors to boundless possibilities, propelling us into an electrifying future. Visit the Next G Alliance 6G Roadmap for Vertical Industries report to learn more.

Visit Nokia Bell Labs to learn more about 6G: What is 6G? - Nokia Bell Labs (bell-labs.com)