Role of New Wireless Technologies in Achieving UN SDGs

Introduction

Implementation of wireless communication technologies represent one of the most important segments of the overall digital transformation, contributing towards building an efficient, human-friendly, sustainable society through intelligent communications. Dynamic evolution and development of various segments within the wireless communication networks have already proven its huge potential in that sense. The way individuals, organizations and whole societies have been living and doing business during the ongoing pandemic is just one of a such examples.

Currently, from the point of deployment, 5^th Generation Mobile Communication Networks (5G) are in focus, while at the same time the industry and research community are advancing towards solutions for beyond 5G, 6G and even beyond 6G. The overall goal of such activities is a paradigm shift towards human-centric Next Generation (Next G) wireless networks of the year 2030 and beyond, which will provide support for a variety of devices and integration of different network technologies. While discussions and research still have a significant number of open issues related with the true nature of 2030 wireless networks, it is realistic to expect general coverage, further data rates increase, reduced latency, advancments in softwarization, virtualization, network computing. To that end, development steps will not be just evolutionary, as the envisaged performance targets and requirements need a significant level of disruption and the expectations set an ambitious target to create hyper-connected society, with the option to adjust service levels to the needs of particular end users in different vertical industry segments (smart cities, smart agriculture, telemedicine, virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, smart homes, automated industrial processes, etc.), applying of new innovative business models. At the same time, moving towards hyper-connected society would not be efficient unless conditions are created for providing and supporting services in a safe and controlled manner, what could be considered as an important aspect from the point of general acceptance and the willingness to be a part of the 2030 ecosystem based on the Next G wireless network platform.

The importance of Next G wireless networks for the economy and society has been recognized by all developed countries, so that the coordinated implementation of 5G mobile networks in many countries has become part of the strategy of their social and economic development. However, unlike previous generations of wireless communications networks, already 5G, and even more those Gs beyond, will not be determined by any single technology. As a “network of all networks”, new wireless network is intended to connect existing and future standards. At the same time, it cannot be considered just as a step forward as it was the case with 3G and 4G networks, but a complex network that combines Wi-Fi, previous cellular technologies, wireless access technologies, millimeter and THz waves. In addition various advanced technological aspects that are not typical for previous generations of wireless communications networks will be used at the radio level as well as at the network architecture level, such as cloud infrastructure, network core virtualization, intelligent edge services, artificial intelligence.

In such circumstances, Next G wireless networks create conditions for many new opportunities, through improved performance, flexibility and individualization, what could be considered as a radical advantage over previous generations of wireless communications networks. To serve as the platform for a significant number of new and evolving services, the capabilities of future wireless networks need to be enhanced and extended in various dimensions, while including “classic” capabilities (data rates, latency, energy efficiency, system capacity) as well as new ones. In that manner, it will be ensured that these new networks provide a platform for innovation, supporting even the services which not yet could be envisioned.