It’s not here yet, but hot in the wake of 5G the conversation around 6G has already started. So, what might the next network generation bring? Read on.
Now that 5G is well and truly here, indeed before the dust has even settled (as is the manner of all things telecoms related) it’s time to start talking about what comes next. Wait for it…6G. Exactly what that will look like, we don’t yet know with any degree of certainty (it’s still early days in the debate) but operator priorities are nevertheless beginning to become clearer.
For one, there’s a reluctance to spend on new hardware so any investment will likely be strictly needs-based. For another, scalable designs that support multiple devices, including LPWA (low-power, wide-area) appear to be a prerequisite. Demand for integrated AI/Machine Learning frameworks will surprise no one (no one who’s been paying attention, anyway). And then, there’s Sensing as a Service. That’s a new, and interesting one. So, what is it?
Re-purposing the network
In a nutshell, Sensing as a Service (in telecoms) means turning the communication network into a massive, distributed “sensor” that can then deliver environmental and situational intelligence as a sellable digital service. Who’d be the buyer? Think governments, transportation agencies, enterprises and the like.
The idea is to turn the communications network, which as we know is already dense with sensing equipment of various kinds, into a situational sensing tool and then monetize the data (insights) that follows. Perhaps it’s best explained by a use case.
For example, today we’re all becoming more environmentally aware. Telecoms networks have extensive infrastructure that interacts with the environment (cell towers, antennas, fibre links, base stations, etc.). With modern network technology like 5G (and soon, 6G) combined with AI-driven analytics, network elements can be repurposed for environmental sensing tasks.
There are many other equally obvious use cases. In the smart cities domain traffic monitoring is an obvious candidate, detecting traffic flow or congestion using radio signal reflections. In transportation, there’s identifying road hazards and vehicle speeds without cameras. In the realm of security, there’s intrusion detection based on using 5G radar-like sense for motion or object detection.
In a nutshell, telcos will provide (and monetize) their infrastructures, data collection, and analytics with buyers getting processed sensing data leading them to actionable insights. Payment models could be subscription (i.e. monthly access to specific data sets), API usage (per request), or based on integration with other services (i.e. IoT platforms, smart city systems).
Likely, Sensing as a Service may well become a core telecom offering, not just a VAS. 6G networks are being designed to integrate communication, computation, and sensing natively. For telcos, it’ll also open the door to new ecosystem partnerships (e.g., with automotive, logistics, or public safety sectors).
It’s early days yet in the 6G debate, but interesting times appear ahead with telcos poised to take markedly new directions.
E-Contact Services are the leader in Telco Lead Generation. To find out more about how we work and what we can do for you get in touch.
Sensing as a Service? Get used to it. 6G is coming.
It’s not here yet, but hot in the wake of 5G the conversation around 6G has already started. So, what might the next network generation bring? Read on.
Now that 5G is well and truly here, indeed before the dust has even settled (as is the manner of all things telecoms related) it’s time to start talking about what comes next. Wait for it…6G. Exactly what that will look like, we don’t yet know with any degree of certainty (it’s still early days in the debate) but operator priorities are nevertheless beginning to become clearer.
For one, there’s a reluctance to spend on new hardware so any investment will likely be strictly needs-based. For another, scalable designs that support multiple devices, including LPWA (low-power, wide-area) appear to be a prerequisite. Demand for integrated AI/Machine Learning frameworks will surprise no one (no one who’s been paying attention, anyway). And then, there’s Sensing as a Service. That’s a new, and interesting one. So, what is it?
Re-purposing the network
In a nutshell, Sensing as a Service (in telecoms) means turning the communication network into a massive, distributed “sensor” that can then deliver environmental and situational intelligence as a sellable digital service. Who’d be the buyer? Think governments, transportation agencies, enterprises and the like.
The idea is to turn the communications network, which as we know is already dense with sensing equipment of various kinds, into a situational sensing tool and then monetize the data (insights) that follows. Perhaps it’s best explained by a use case.
For example, today we’re all becoming more environmentally aware. Telecoms networks have extensive infrastructure that interacts with the environment (cell towers, antennas, fibre links, base stations, etc.). With modern network technology like 5G (and soon, 6G) combined with AI-driven analytics, network elements can be repurposed for environmental sensing tasks.
There are many other equally obvious use cases. In the smart cities domain traffic monitoring is an obvious candidate, detecting traffic flow or congestion using radio signal reflections. In transportation, there’s identifying road hazards and vehicle speeds without cameras. In the realm of security, there’s intrusion detection based on using 5G radar-like sense for motion or object detection.
In a nutshell, telcos will provide (and monetize) their infrastructures, data collection, and analytics with buyers getting processed sensing data leading them to actionable insights. Payment models could be subscription (i.e. monthly access to specific data sets), API usage (per request), or based on integration with other services (i.e. IoT platforms, smart city systems).
Likely, Sensing as a Service may well become a core telecom offering, not just a VAS. 6G networks are being designed to integrate communication, computation, and sensing natively. For telcos, it’ll also open the door to new ecosystem partnerships (e.g., with automotive, logistics, or public safety sectors).
It’s early days yet in the 6G debate, but interesting times appear ahead with telcos poised to take markedly new directions.
E-Contact Services are the leader in Telco Lead Generation. To find out more about how we work and what we can do for you get in touch.
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