Dr. Wen Tong, the Chief Technology Officer of Huawei Wireless, delivered a keynote speech at the 6G Conference held in Istanbul on September 24, 2024. During his address, Dr. Tong emphasized the importance of 6G standardization and innovation, stating that it should bring new value to users and not simply be an upgrade of 5G.
According to Dr. Tong, 6G represents a true intergenerational technological disruption, requiring a redefinition of standards, key technologies, and network architecture based on application scenarios and requirements from 2030 to 2040. He stressed that 6G should not be seen as another way to implement 5G but should embrace the AI revolution and generate new values for consumers.
In terms of architecture design, Dr. Tong proposed that 6G should move beyond the Service-Based Architecture of 5G and transition towards an Application-Driven Network. He argued that without generational and fundamental innovations, reusing the 5G network architecture would limit the industry’s potential for innovation in the 6G era. Dr. Tong also highlighted the need to re-architect the 6G Core using Agentic-AI based technology to support foundational capabilities of AI, Sensing, and NTN (Network Time and Synchronization), enabling the evolution towards an Application-Driven Network.
Regarding terminal evolution, Dr. Tong emphasized the importance of breakthroughs in 6G user devices to drive the success of the entire industry chain. He noted that smartphones are evolving into AI terminals, and in the post-MBB (Mobile Broadband) era, terminal technologies will be key to the industry’s evolution. Dr. Tong called for a breakthrough towards “Full-AI” in 6G user devices to drive network upgrades and foster success in the industry ecosystem.
In terms of technology development, Dr. Tong highlighted the role of AI as a key enabler for 6G, with the potential to drive a paradigm shift in networks. He emphasized that 6G should embrace the AI revolution with a quantum leap, focusing on Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Embodiment-AI as the main directions for future AI development. Dr. Tong proposed that AGI should be integrated throughout the entire process of sensing, reasoning, decision-making, and action in 6G terminals, wireless networks, and core networks, ushering in a new network paradigm.
Dr. Tong concluded by emphasizing that 6G technologies should not overlap with 5G, as the global deployment of 5G is on the rise and evolving towards 5G-Advanced. He stated that the specifications, technologies, and architecture of 6G must be based on the scenarios and requirements from 2030 to 2040, focusing on true generational technology disruption and seizing the new opportunities brought by AI to expand the mobile industry in the next generation.