According to a report by Juniper Research, the total number of global 6G connections will reach 290 million by 2030, which is the year after its initial expected launch in 2029.
To achieve this early growth, the report noted that operators must solve various technological challenges, including the issue of network interference arising from the use of high-frequency spectrum. This use of high-frequency spectrum in 6G will be the key enabling technology to provide throughput speeds 100 times greater than current 5G networks. However, as cellular technologies have never used spectrum bands in this range before, the most pressing concern for operators is minimising this network interference, or risk creating an unreliable 6G network.
The report added that to achieve this, operators must invest in reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), a technology that will mitigate the impact of interference from large obstacles, including buildings, on network services. This is accomplished by purposefully reflecting and refracting 6G mobile signals to enable data packets to move around physical obstacles.
As per the report, as 6G standards become clearer in 2025, RIS technology must become an immediate priority for development. However, the report warns that given the wide geographical areas of some 6G networks, operators must implement artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and adjust RIS configuration in real-time to maximise the technology’s benefits.
Commenting on the report, Alex Webb, research author, Juniper Research, said, “Initial 6G coverage will occur in the most densely populated geographical areas to serve as many users as possible. Therefore, RIS technology will be key to providing a valuable 6G service to both consumer and enterprise customers in the first few years of network operation.”
