Nokia has confirmed that it will spearhead the European Union’s ‘Hexa-X’ 6G initiative, the first official research initiative across the industry to accelerate and encourage 6G research in Europe.
The project aims to include creating 6G use cases and scenarios, as well as developing 6G technologies and defining a new architecture for a fabric that integrates 6G technology enablers.
The Finnish telecommunications company is leading the 6G joint research and pre-standardisation process, with Nokia Bell Labs researching the fundamental technologies that will comprise 6G technology.
Nokia expects 6G systems to launch commercially by 2030, with the Hexa-X projected expected to begin on 1 January 2021 with a projected project duration of 2.5 years.
Peter Vetter, head of access and devices research, Nokia Bell Labs, commented: “Even though there is still a lot of innovation in 5G with the release of new standards, we are already exploring 6G in our research lab. In the 6G era we will see applications that will not only connect humans with machines but also connect humans with the digital world.
"Such a secure and private connection can be used for preventive healthcare or even to create a 6G network with a sixth sense that intuitively understands our intentions, making our interactions with the physical world more effective and anticipating our needs, thereby improving our productivity.”