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5G vs 6G: Key Differences in Wireless Technology

wireless technology 5g 6g mobile communication network architecture

This article compares 5G and 6G, highlighting the key differences between these two generations of wireless technology. We’ll cover their definitions, working principles, and feature comparisons.

Introduction

The widespread adoption of mobile handsets has fueled the rapid development of wireless telecommunication networks globally. This growth has driven the evolution of wireless standards from 1G to the upcoming 6G.

The 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), formed by a consortium of companies, plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining protocols for mobile telecom technologies. Their success began with GSM standardization and continued with UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE, LTE-Advanced, 5G NR, and now, 6G.

Each of these standards supports different wireless technologies, offering varying data rates, coverage areas, subscriber densities, and unique advanced features (services) for users.

5G Wireless

The term “5G” refers to the fifth generation of wireless technology. After years of research and testing, 5G NR was introduced in April 2019. It builds upon 4G LTE technology, following the established 3GPP roadmap. Specifications were introduced starting with 3GPP Release 15 and beyond.

5G NR (New Radio) deployments occur in phases, according to 3GPP specifications published in December 2017. There are two main modes of operation:

  • Non-Standalone (NSA): Operates in conjunction with LTE.
  • Standalone (SA): Operates independently of LTE.

In standalone mode, the user equipment (UE) relies solely on the 5G radio access technology (RAT), while LTE RAT is not required. In non-standalone mode, LTE handles control plane (C-Plane) functions such as call origination, call termination, and location registration, while 5G NR focuses on the user plane (U-Plane) exclusively.

Figure 1: 5G NR Overall Architecture

5G NR Overall architecture

Key features of 5G wireless technology:

  • Bandwidth: Supports 1 Gbps or higher.
  • Frequency Bands: Sub-1 GHz, 1 to 6 GHz, > 6 GHz in mmWave bands (28 GHz, 40 GHz).
  • Peak Data Rate: Approximately 1 to 10 Gbps.
  • Cell Edge Data Rate: 100 Mbps.
  • End-to-End Delay: 1 to 5 ms.

6G Wireless

The term “6G” refers to the sixth generation of wireless technology. It’s envisioned to integrate advanced features into the existing 5G framework, aiming to fulfill objectives at both individual and group levels.

Some proposed 6G services include holographic communications, artificial intelligence integration, high-precision manufacturing support, and the adoption of new technologies such as sub-THz or VLC (Visible Light Communications). It will likely feature a 3D coverage framework utilizing terrestrial and aerial radio access points (APs) to provide cloud functionalities.

As of June 2019, 5G has been installed and tested in major US cities by Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile, while 6G wireless is still in the research phase. Companies like Samsung and SK Telecom have already initiated research efforts in the 6G wireless technology domain. SK Telecom has partnered with Ericsson and Nokia to further research in 6G technology.

6G employs a cell-less architecture where UEs connect directly to the RAN (Radio Access Network) instead of a single cell.

Figure 2: 6G Network Architecture

6G Network Architecture

Key technical features introduced in 6G wireless:

  • New Spectrum: Due to increased traffic demand and spectrum scarcity, THz (Terahertz) and Visible light bands are being explored for communication in 6G mobile communication systems.
  • New Channel Coding: Based on Turbo, LDPC, Polar, etc.
  • Sparse Theory (Compressed Sensing)
  • Very Large Scale Antenna Processing for THz
  • Advanced Signal Processing
  • Flexible Spectrum: Full (free) spectrum, Spectrum sharing.
  • AI-based Wireless Communication
  • Space-Air-Ground-Sea Integrated Communication
  • Wireless Tactile Network

5G vs 6G: A Detailed Comparison

The following table compares 5G and 6G with respect to various parameters, highlighting the tabular differences between the two wireless technologies. The information is compiled from various research efforts in the 5G and 6G fields worldwide.

Features5G6G
Frequency Bands• Sub 6 GHz, • mmWave for fixed access• Sub 6 GHz, • mmWave for mobile access, exploration of THz bands (above 140 GHz), • Non-RF bands (e.g., optical, VLC) etc.
Data Rate1 Gbps to 20 Gbps (Downlink: 20 Gbps, Uplink: 10 Gbps)1 Tbps
Latency (End-to-End)5 ms (Radio: 1 ms)< 1 ms (Radio: 0.1 ms)
Architecture• Dense sub 6 GHz smaller BSs with umbrella macro BSs • MmWave small cells of about 100 meters (for fixed access)• Cell-free smart surfaces at high frequencies (mmWave tiny cells are used for fixed and mobile access) • Temporary hotspots served by drone-mounted BSs or tethered Balloons. • Trials of tiny THz cells (under progress)
Application Types• eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband) • URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications) • mMTC (Massive Machine Type Communications)• MBRLLC • mURLLC • HCS • MPS
Device Types• Smartphones • Sensors • Drones• Sensors & DLT devices • CRAS • XR and BCI equipment • Smart implants
Spectral/Energy Efficiency10x in bps/Hz/m²1000x in bps/Hz/m³
Traffic Capacity10 Mbps/m²1 to 10 Gbps/m²
Reliability10�?��?�10�?��?�
Localization Precision10 cm on 2D1 cm on 3D
User Experience50 Mbps 2D everywhere10 Gbps 3D everywhere

Conclusion

The goal of 6G technology is to fulfill the vision of 5G technology and, in addition, meet Wisdom connection, Deep connectivity, Holographic connectivity, and Ubiquitous connectivity requirements.

While 5G accommodates different types of networks, 6G aggregates them dynamically.