Summary of 3GPP's 6G Workshop (March 2025)

The 3GPP 6G Workshop, held on 10-11 March 2025 in Incheon, Korea, brought together industry experts, vendors, operators, and academics to share their visions for the next generation of mobile networks. With 603 in-person attendees, 1,676 registrations, and 243 documents submitted, it was a significant step towards shaping the early foundations of 6G.

All the information related to this workshop is available on 3GPP's FTP server here.

Workshop Structure and Format

The event followed a structured agenda (6GWS-250002), divided into five main parts:

  • SA1 6G Study Status Update (AI 2): Kicking off on Monday morning with a status review of the 6G study.
  • Overall Vision & Priorities (AI 3): Also on Monday morning, covering the broader next-generation network objectives.
  • Parallel RAN Session (AI 4): Focused on next-gen radio technology, running Monday afternoon through to Tuesday afternoon coffee break, chaired by the RAN Vice-Chair.
  • Parallel SA/CT Session (AI 5): Covering system architecture, core networks, and protocols in parallel with the RAN session, chaired by the SA Chair.
  • Summary Session (AI 6): Held after the Tuesday afternoon coffee break, where the three Chairs presented a collective summary of the discussions.

The summary was compiled in 6GWS-250243 (revision of 6GWS-250238), but it came with several disclaimers. It was based on the input papers submitted by participants rather than being a consensus-driven or exhaustive record. It also did not imply any prioritisation or guarantee that all technical areas discussed would be pursued in Release 20.

Why 6G? The Motivations Behind the Next Generation

The workshop highlighted several compelling motivations for 6G, all aimed at pushing networks beyond traditional communication services.

  • New services and use cases: 6G aims to enable advanced capabilities like integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), immersive XR experiences, and AI-based services. The focus is on merging communication with advanced computing.
  • Revenue growth and monetisation: The industry hopes to unlock new revenue streams by offering network capabilities tailored to specific applications across industries.
  • AI-native networks: AI will be embedded at the core of 6G networks, enabling automated operations, optimised resource allocation, and intelligent decision-making.
  • Energy efficiency and sustainability: Reducing energy consumption will be a key priority, with AI-driven power management and energy-saving network designs.
  • Spectrum efficiency: 6G will aim to make better use of existing and new spectrum bands, including dynamic spectrum sharing.
  • Ubiquitous coverage: Seamless integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) will ensure broad and resilient coverage.
  • Cost reduction: By simplifying network operations and improving efficiency, 6G targets reduced capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) expenditures.
  • Enhanced reliability and customer experience: Improved service reliability, faster response times, and better insights will elevate the overall user experience.
  • Simplified architecture: Streamlining network design will reduce complexity and boost operational efficiency.

Ambitious Goals for 6G

To achieve the ambitious vision laid out for 6G, the workshop defined several core goals:

  • Sustainability: Prioritising environmentally friendly network design, including energy efficiency and reduced resource consumption.
  • Resilience: Building robust networks capable of withstanding disasters, heavy traffic, and operational challenges.
  • Security: A focus on security from the start, incorporating zero-trust principles and post-quantum security measures.
  • Customer experience: Ensuring consistent, high-quality service across diverse devices and conditions with optimised quality of experience (QoE).
  • Efficiency and simplicity: AI-driven automation and streamlined operations will reduce costs and complexity.
  • Interoperability: Open and interoperable interfaces will promote innovation and prevent market fragmentation.

Lessons Learned from 5G

The transition from 5G to 6G will be shaped by the industry's experience with 5G deployments. The workshop identified several lessons to apply moving forward:

  • Complex migration from NSA to SA: The shift from 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) to Standalone (SA) proved challenging, highlighting the need for streamlined migration strategies in 6G.
  • Architectural complexity: The excessive number of architectural options, configurations, and features in 5G increased complexity, impacting deployment efficiency. Simplifying 6G architecture will be a priority.
  • Slow adoption of key capabilities: Some 5G features, like network slicing, faced slow adoption, prompting the need for simplified and more practical implementation strategies in 6G.
  • Deployment inefficiencies: Issues with 5G rollouts, such as inefficiencies in network function registration (NRF) and suboptimal protocols, should be addressed in 6G.
  • Optimised network functions: Reducing redundant functionalities and focusing on a well-defined, lean feature set will improve efficiency in 6G.

Potential Technical Areas for 6G

The workshop explored several technical areas that could shape 6G:

  • Cloud-native architecture: Networks will be designed from the ground up to be cloud-native, ensuring flexibility, agility, and faster innovation cycles.
  • AI-native design: AI and machine learning (ML) will be integrated natively for real-time optimisation and intelligent automation.
  • Scalability and modularity: The 6G architecture will be modular, allowing flexible integration of new features, device types, and spectrum bands as needed.
  • Software-driven deployment: Continuous innovation through software-centric deployments will enable faster feature releases and more agile network updates.
  • Interoperability: Ensuring seamless interworking between different technologies, such as Wi-Fi and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), will be a key focus.
  • Enhanced security: Privacy, resilience, and security will be baked into the system from day one.
  • IoT support: 6G will support a broad range of IoT devices and applications with a focus on multi-generational compatibility.
  • Service awareness: Networks will be service-aware, enabling intelligent traffic management and resource prioritisation.
  • Ubiquitous connectivity: By combining terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, 6G will ensure consistent, global coverage.

Design Considerations: RAN and Core Network

Radio Access Network (RAN):

  • 6G RAN will not be backward-compatible with current UEs, allowing the full potential of new radio capabilities.
  • While building on 5G NR principles, 6G radio will introduce new waveforms, modulation schemes, and channel coding.
  • Superior coverage and support for diverse device types will be a priority from day one.
  • AI/ML frameworks will play a key role in optimising RAN performance, with seamless transitions between AI-powered and conventional algorithms.

Core Network:

  • A standalone (SA) 6G architecture is preferred, avoiding NSA deployment complexities.
  • The core network will incorporate AI, improved connectivity, and enhanced security, reusing the 5G Service-Based Architecture (SBA) framework with necessary enhancements.
  • Simplified architecture with streamlined network functions (NFs) will reduce complexity and improve efficiency.
  • Integration with FWA, Wi-Fi, and other access technologies will ensure consistent and flexible connectivity.

Spectrum Considerations

Spectrum was another key topic at the workshop. Key areas of focus included:

  • Existing spectrum support: 6G will enhance performance and efficiency in FR1 and FR2 bands.
  • New upper mid-band spectrum: Deployments will prioritise the mid-band spectrum grid used for 5G, while evolving MIMO technology with more ports and antenna elements.
  • Efficient use of spectrum assets: Reducing overhead, improving data access speeds, and streamlining standardisation processes will be essential for efficient spectrum usage.

3GPP Workplan and Timeline

The workshop also laid out a clear workplan for 6G:

  • Release 20: Early 6G studies will begin in June 2025, focusing on both ITU-oriented and general RAN studies.
  • Release 21: The first official 6G specifications are expected in Release 21, targeted for submission to IMT-2030. This release will define the technical requirements and form the foundation of 6G.
  • Timeline: The first technical specifications are expected by 2030, with a single code freeze planned for March 2029.

Looking Ahead: The Road to 6G

The 3GPP 6G Workshop made it clear that 6G will go far beyond the previous Gs. With sustainability, AI-native design, and ubiquitous connectivity at its core, the next generation aims to focus on simplicity, efficiency, and resilience. However, as 3GPP embarks on this standardisation journey, it faces a challenging reality—there isn't much appetite in the industry for yet another set of standards. Many operators are still grappling with the transition to 5G, and the lessons learned, such as the difficulty of moving from 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) to Standalone (SA) core, remain fresh. If 6G introduces an entirely new core network, operators are likely to be hesitant, making widespread adoption far from guaranteed.

Small technical decisions made now could have a huge impact on the future viability of 6G. To ensure the technology gains traction, 3GPP members will need to be extremely cautious and pragmatic. The specifications must carefully consider the concerns and realities of operators, vendors, and the wider ecosystem before the first set of 6G technical standards are released. Balancing innovation with practicality will be critical if 6G is to achieve meaningful industry adoption.

A PDF copy of 6GWS-250243 (revised from 6GWS-250238) is available here for convenience.

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