- Ahead of ITU's
"6G Vision" by the end of this year, global technology trends were
shared and cooperative measures were explored.
- MSIT presented a
6G commercialization and standardization R&D strategy worth 440.7 billion
won.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, hereinafter
referred to as 'MSIT') announced the commencement of "6G Global 2023"
for two days, from November 1st (Wed.) to 2nd (Thu.).
This event is part of "Mobile Korea 2023," a five-day conference on
next-generation communication network held at LG Science Park, Gangseo-gu, in Seoul,
from October 30th (Mon.) to November 3rd (Fri.).
On the first day of "6G Global 2023," November 1st
(Wed.), the opening ceremony of "Mobile Korea 2023" took place. The
opening ceremony included an inaugural address by Chairman Lee Sang Yeob of the
6G Forum Board of Directors, a welcoming speech by Chief Officer Chang Kyunghi
of the 6G Forum Executive Committee, and a congratulatory remark by Deputy
Minister Hong Jin Bae from MSIT Office of Network Policy. Following this, the
Minister of Science and ICT's Commendations were presented to individuals who
have made significant contributions to next-generation network research and
development (R&D).
Notably, among the recipients of the Minister's Commendation, there was
Kim Kyung Shin, Manager of the Institute of Information & Communications
Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP), who had contributed to the
coordination of 6G projects that passed the preliminary feasibility study this
year. Oh In Seon, Chief Executive Officer of Soomvi, should also be noted for
his achievement on the development of Korea's first baited drone and drone
control center.
"6G Global 2023" will feature 3 sessions on "6G
international trends," "6G international cooperation," and
"Large-scale international projects," consisted of 16 lectures and a
panel discussion.
In the first "6G international trends" session, Samsung Electronics
will present its '6G vision and standardization," followed by the
presentations on priorities, technologies, and services in the 6G era and its
preparation, delivered by global communications equipment manufacturers such as
Nokia and Ericsson.
The second "6G international cooperation" session will begin
with an introduction on 6G R&D by the Japanese organization for 6G, B5GPC.
Next, Keysight and NI's lecture on key 6G solutions, "AI-Native RAN"
for example, LG Electronics’ introduction on its "6G technology vision and
international joint research activities," and a perspective from academia
and research on "Recent trends in 6G R&D" presented by University
of Oulu, Finland, will be delivered. The session will conclude with a panel
discussion on the "Role of the public sector in 6G R&D."
In the third "Large-scale international projects" session,
research organizations including Korea Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology (KAIST), CEA-Leti, a French research institute of electronics and
ICT, and Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) will present the current
status in 6G and 5G-Advanced technology development through large-scale R&D
projects in each country.
Meanwhile, MSIT will announce its "6G R&D Execution Plan" in
the same event. In August, an R&D budget total of 440.7 billion won passed
the preliminary feasibility study for 6G commercialization and standardization.
Technological development will be aligned around 5 major fields, namely
wireless communication, mobile-core, 6G wired network, 6G systems, and 6G
standardization.

First, in the field of "wireless communication," development of
the upper-mid frequency band (7~24GHz) technology will aim to overcome the
capacity limitations of 5G in the 3.5GHz range and the coverage limitations in
the 28GHz range. This includes the development of "Extreme Massive
Multiple-input and Multiple-output (E-MIMO)" antenna and IC chip for
controlling its components, which improves performance by over four times
compared to "massive MIMO," a core component utilized inside 5G
technology.
Second, in the field of "mobile-core," the focus is on
developing software-centric network technologies to adapt to the transition
from hardware-centric to cloud and software-driven communication networks.
While 5G mobile-core functionalities are partially converted to address such
change, these will be evolved into cloud-native mobile-core software network
technologies, characterized by high plasticity, usability, and performance.
Additionally, AI-based mobile network technology for autonomous network
management and service quality control will also be studied.
Third, in the field of "6G wired network," research will focus
around high-speed and high-capacity optical transmission systems and component
technologies for the segment spanning from 6G front-haul to the backhaul and
transport network. It is necessary to make improvements not only in the
wireless network (mobile communication) segment but also in the wired network
segment in order to enhance overall network performance. This is because the
front-haul segment, which connects antennas and base stations, the backhaul
segment, which connects base stations and mobile-core networks, and finally the
transport network are all based on wired network technology. Reducing
communication latency in these segments is crucial for enabling ultra-realistic
and ultra-resolution services.
Fourth, in the field of "6G systems," the goal is to secure
technology for quality control to realize seamless interoperation between the
segments connecting the end-user device to 6G-integrated services. These
segments encompass wireless communication, mobile-core networks, and wired
network technologies that need to be interlinked to enable smooth operation of
such services. With the expected commercialization of 6G, various 6G-integrated
services, such as urban air mobility (UAM) and virtual reality, will emerge. A
system utilizing AI to efficiently distribute and interconnect communication
resources based on specific requirements of each service, ensuring
service-specific performance, will be established through these efforts.
Fifth, in the field of "6G standardization," the government will
support advancements in the development of core 6G technologies in both
wireless and wired domains so to ensure their compatibility with international
standards. Beginning with the establishment of International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) 6G Vision at the end of this year, international industrial
standardization is on way to take place from 2024 to 2025. To facilitate
effective standardization activities, an assistant system dedicated to
standards research will be established and operated separately from
developmental organizations. This system will provide specialized support for diverse
activities related to international standards and nurturing experts by the
industry, academia, and research institutes.
The government will put safety and trustworthiness first throughout all of
R&D areas, from wireless communication, to mobile-core, wired network, and
systems. Simultaneously, to respond to the global demand for carbon neutrality,
investments will also be made on developing energy efficient solutions, which
provide higher performance with low-power input.
Research output from these initiatives will be systematically validated to
ensure practical application at the time of 6G commercialization. In 2026, a
"Pre-6G Demonstration" event will be held to showcase intermediate
achievements targeting telecommunications businesses, manufacturers,
standardization experts, and government officials from major countries. By the
end of these initiatives, planned in 2028, a systematic integration
demonstration of R&D results will be carried out with the collaboration
from large and small/medium-sized enterprises in Korea. Through this
demonstration, the vision and possibilities for 6G ecosystem will be presented,
while procuring a competitive edge in the early 6G market.
Deputy Minister Hong Jin Bae from MSIT Office of Network Policy stated
that, "I believe that this event, which discusses the present and future
of network infrastructure as a critical element for creating new digital
services in the era of deepening digitalization, is very timely and meaningful.
In the context of 6G, openness and interoperability among communication
equipment are receiving significant attention, which makes global cooperation
more important than ever." He further stated, "MSIT will dedicate
itself in supporting the industry and academia, for enhancing international
joint research and cooperation in international standards."
For further information, please contact the Public
Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr)
of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
please refer to the attached PDF.