Our research agenda comprises a set of technology journeys towards 2030 and the 6G era. These technology journeys outline our view of technology evolution in the coming years and guide our research activities.
Four of these technology journeys emphasize use case needs, exploring the demanding requirements future use cases will place on the network platform, and suggesting new capabilities they will need. The other four capture the evolution of the intelligent network platform itself.
Between today and each of the end scenarios, there is an exciting technology journey consisting of multiple tracks.
The 2030 vision is also our 6G vision. 2030 is the timeframe when we see 6G emerging as the future intelligent network platform. Presently, we have a very broad definition of 6G including all aspects highlighted by the technology journeys.
Explore the technology journeys
Each technology area has its own transformative potential– but it is the combinatorial effects of the technology developments that will unleash disruptive transformations. In the past, as an example, smartphones combined technology development in processing, memory, cloud, connectivity, and battery to create a new disruptive offering. More recently, additional transformative technologies have emerged – AI, edge computing, IoT, extended reality, new computing paradigms, and smart materials.
Going forward, technology progress will make possible a fully digitalized, automated, and programmable world of connected humans, machines, things, and places. All experiences and sensations will be transparent across the boundaries of physical and virtual realities. It is a world where both humans and the machines that serve us are augmented by intelligent interactions with each other and with autonomous systems.
The network platform will serve as the spinal cord of the digital infrastructure, with the ability to carry vital messages, commands, intelligence, and all the required sensory information.
Technology forces driving our industry forward
We continuously monitor a wide variety of technological forces in areas such as AI, smart materials, new computing paradigms (towards quantum), sensor technology, robotization, smart materials, and many more, considering both their relevance and how they might fit together. Real impact comes from combinations of such trends enforcing each other.
