Artificial intelligence is creating new challenges in the development of international standards for 6G. While the telecom industry is striving for a single global standard, the integration of AI into mobile networks raises questions about interoperability, network architecture, and operational control. These topics were discussed during the ninth Techritory conference in Riga.
The transition from 5G to 6G is currently taking shape in the international standardization process. Unlike previous generations of mobile technology, 6G will integrate AI directly into the network. In other words, artificial intelligence is not viewed as an additional software layer.
This poses challenges for equipment suppliers. There are also certainly challenges for mobile operators and organizations responsible for standardization. AI systems from different providers do not work the same way, even if the underlying network equipment meets the same technical standards.
Concerns about interoperability
Sanna Brandt, Market Segment Manager Infrastructure at Rohde & Schwarz, addressed the issue of interoperability. She gave an example using network equipment from Nokia and Ericsson. That hardware must be able to work together, even if the two manufacturers use different AI algorithms. The same applies to smartphones that use Qualcomm chipsets and network equipment from other vendors.
It will soon be crucial to conduct extensive testing to ensure these systems can communicate with one another. It is also important to verify that they can operate reliably. According to Brandt, the industry must determine which data can be used to train AI algorithms. The industry must also establish how that information can be shared between different systems.
A global standard
The discussion comes at a time when geopolitical tensions are raising concerns about fragmentation within international telecommunications standards. During the panel discussion, moderator Ian Morris, International Editor at Light Reading, spoke about the risk that different 6G implementations will emerge in China and Western markets.
Luis Miguel Contreras Murillo, IP Networks Innovation Manager and CDO at Telefónica, argued that a global standard is essential. “Yes, different regions have different requirements, but they should fit within a common international framework.” From a European perspective, he said, it is important to ensure that the functionalities European operators need are included in the standards.
In his remarks, Contreras also cautioned against including too many new features in the 6G standard as long as it is not yet clear that operators actually need them. “The industry must learn from 5G. When 5G was introduced, many features were added to the standard without immediately leading to new commercially viable applications.”
Telefónica therefore advocates a more evolutionary approach to 6G. “We should reuse existing network architectures wherever possible, rather than simply replacing them just because new technology is being rolled out.”
How far should AI integration go?
Another, as-yet-unresolved challenge concerns the question of how deeply AI should be integrated into the 6G architecture. One option is to embed AI functionality directly at the heart of the network. Another solution could be to build a separate layer for AI. The distinction between these two options is important, because AI will be used to analyze network conditions and possibly also to make operational decisions.
Contreras emphasized that operators must retain control over the actions carried out within their infrastructure. “We can give AI a great deal of freedom to analyze telemetry and to monitor information and sensor data. However, when it comes to changing network configurations or activating services, the actions of AI systems must remain predictable.” That remark is important because mobile networks are playing an increasingly significant role in industrial processes and critical infrastructure.
The complexity of 6G also has implications for regulation. Susanne Ding, representing the German Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization, explained that the government’s role in previous generations of mobile communications was largely focused on spectrum allocation and coverage obligations.
Resilience is of utmost importance
When rolling out 6G, governments must also address cybersecurity. In addition, they must focus on data protection and network resilience. Potential customers in industry, including the defense sector, must be involved early on in defining network requirements.
Ding acknowledged that 5G has been insufficiently successful in realizing the expected applications in industrial processes. With 6G, therefore, the industry must involve potential customers in setting the standards. In other words, the industry should not first develop technology and then look for applications for it later.
Europe must therefore not only participate in establishing the next generation of mobile networks; it must also ensure that international standards meet European requirements. At the same time, these standards must enable equipment from competing suppliers, which is increasingly driven by AI, to interoperate seamlessly.