How Governments can Shape 6G Technology Infrastructure
ISTOCK.COM/AnuchaCheechang
Connecting state and local government leaders
An engineering organization’s new guide provides recommendations to help governments foster the evolution of wireless technology to benefit them and their residents.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s 6G for policy makers guide highlights the areas where government and regulatory officials can play a constructive role in fostering technology innovation and providing services and upgraded infrastructures to meet “societal challenges” over the next 20 years.
Guide editor Stephen Temple wrote that “The common thread amongst generations has been the relationship between a handful of key vendors and their principle customers; the mobile operators. What has varied considerably has been the engagement ofpolicy officials.”
The IET, an international nonprofit organization representing over 167,000 members in 150 countries, said it developed the guide to equip policymakers with an understanding of how to shape wireless infrastructure and inform research priorities on 6G, which is the next generation standard under development for wireless communications technologies supporting cellular data networks.
The organization provided a number of recommendations for effective 6G implementation: It said that:
- The current approach to next generation mobile technology, which seeks higher data speed, is not sustainable and that 6G breaks the traditional model.
- 6G needs an “adequate” prestandardization phase (although it doesn’t specify what is an adequate time frame).
- 6G needs to be implemented through coordinated common standards so it will be sustainable and have global economies of scale.
- 6G research should keep “the door open to left field breakthroughs.”
- Technology improvements should be rolled out into the late 2030s.
The ITE guide said governments can play an important role in scaling 6G. They can:
- Embrace digital and communications infrastructures in which mobility is always an important component.
- Work with industry to sustain long-term 6G research and investments.
- Implement policy for an effective 6G mobile infrastructure.
- Implement regulations at the same time as the technology improves.
- Prepare industries and residents to take up and benefit from the 6G technology when it eventually arrives.
For more information about the report click here.
Brent Woodie as an associate editor at Route Fifty.
NEXT STORY: Do researchers have the data to take networking to the next level?