- 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 1^st (Wed.) to 2^nd (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 30^th (Mon.) to November 3^rd (Fri.).

On the first day of "6G Global 2023," November 1^st (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.

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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.