6G Market 2023-2043: Technology, Trend, Forecast, Powerful Enterprise: IDTechEx

Asia TravelerDecember 9, 2022

0 2 6 minutes read

IDTechEx has been studying telecommunication technologies for many years and released the latest edition of the 6G Market Research Report “6G Market 2023-2043: Technologies, Trends, Forecasts, Players”. Based on the expertise of IDTechEx, this report covers the latest 6G Technology Development Trends, Trends, Key Applications, Player Activities and Market Outlook. The main contents of this report are terahertz technology trends, semiconductors for terahertz communications, terahertz phased array antenna modules, 6G radio analysis, low dielectric loss materials, 6G packaging trends, reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS), metamaterials, Non-terrestrial networks, sensing and communication integration, 6G market, future prospects, etc.

The main content of “6G Market 2023-2043”

(see catalog for details)

● General overview

● Introduction to 6G

● 6G development roadmap for five major regions (China, the US, Europe, Japan, and South Korea)

● Major events/announcements in the 6G industry (Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, Apple, NTT DoCoMo)

● 6G terminal technology trends

● 6G radio system analysis

● 6G wireless power consumption analysis

● 6G semiconductor

□Silicon semiconductor: CMOS, SOI, SiGe

□ GaAs and GaN

□ InP

□Summary of semiconductors for terahertz communication

● 6G phased array module

● Example of a state-of-the-art D-band (110 to 175 GHz) phased array module

● 6G packaging trend

● Low dielectric loss materials for mmWave and THz

● 6G Self-Free Massive MIMO

● 6G non-terrestrial network (NTN): HAPS, LEO, GEO

● Heterogeneous smart electromagnetic (EM) environment

● Reconfigurable Smart Surfaces (RIS)

● Metamaterials

● 6G use cases beyond mobile communications

● Market Forecast

● Company profile

“6G Market 2023-2043” provides the following information:

● 6G development and trends in five regions (US, EU, China, Japan, Korea) and leading companies (Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, Apple, NTT DoCoMo)

□ A detailed overview of 6G development trends and future roadmaps in major regions (including policies, funding and business partnerships)

□ A detailed overview of 6G trends, including business partnerships of major leading companies, related projects, roadmaps, technologies, etc.

● 6G technology trend

□ 6G Radio System Analysis – Comprehensive overview of 6G radio development, including short-term and long-term technical goals, key technical requirements, key challenges and potential solutions

□ 6G Power Consumption Analysis——The main challenges and quantitative analysis of 6G radio power consumption

□ Semiconductor technology for terahertz communication – silicon-based semiconductor (CMOS, SOI, SiGe), GaAs and GaN, InP.Technical benchmark comparison, latest development trend, latest equipment, legacy issues, leading enterprise ecology

□ 6G phased array module design

□ Examples of state-of-the-art D-band (110-175 GHz) phased array modules – state-of-the-art D-band phased array modules from major companies like Nokia, Samsung, and academic institutions like UCSB (University, Santa Barbara, CA) ,Stanford University

□ Packaging Trends for 6G – A comprehensive overview of 6G heterogeneous packaging and antenna packaging trends

□ Millimeter wave and terahertz low dielectric loss materials, including technology benchmark comparison, research technology outlook, comprehensive validation of target materials, comprehensive overview and examples

□ Self-free Massive MIMO (technical benchmark comparison, including comprehensive overview)

□ Metamaterials (including comprehensive overview, multiple application examples, benchmark comparison of manufacturing methods, SWOT analysis, prospects of leading companies)

● Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) (includes comprehensive overview, hardware benchmark comparisons, RIS metamaterials, application case validation, and more)

● Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) (includes comprehensive overview, technical benchmark comparison of different types of NTN technologies, use cases, key announcements and roadmaps)

● 6G use cases beyond mobile communications (considering a comprehensive overview of sensing and imaging applications)

● Market Forecast:

□ 20-year market forecast for 6G base stations

□ 10-year market forecast for 5G base stations (including microcells and small cells) by frequency (sub-6 and mmWave)

□ 20-year Reconfigurable Smart Surface (RIS) forecast (by 3 types of RIS (active RIS, semi-passive RIS and passive RIS))

5G millimeter wave has not yet taken off, but 6G research has already begun. But what exactly is 6G?

frequency is important

Let’s start at the most basic level – frequency bands. In 5G, we know that sub-6 GHz (3.5-6 GHz) and millimeter wave (mmWave, 24-100 GHz) bands are the two new bands in the covered spectrum. In 6G, frequency ranges under consideration include the 7 to 20 GHz band, the W band (75-110 GHz and above), the D band (110 GHz to 175 GHz), the frequency band between 275 GHz and 300 GHz, and the terahertz range (0.3-10 THz). Frequency bands between 7 and 20 GHz are considered as coverage is required to enable mobile and “on-the-go” applications for numerous 6G use cases. Both W and D bands are important for 6G access and Xhaul (eg fronthaul, backhaul) networks. Solutions that meet both service objectives need to be considered. As of September 2022, the global spectrum allocation does not exceed 275 GHz; nevertheless, frequency bands in the range 275-450 GHz have been identified for the implementation of land mobile and fixed service applications, as well as radio astronomy and Earth exploration satellite services, and 275-1,000 GHz Space research services in the GHz range.

An overview of the 6G spectrum deployment strategy is shown in the figure below. Note that even though the terahertz band operates from 300 GHz to 10 terahertz by definition, telecom professionals find it simpler to classify applications above 100 GHz as terahertz communications.

Source: “6G Market 2023 – 2043: Technologies, Trends, Forecasts, Players” by IDTechEx

What are the promises of 6G and what are the challenges?

By utilizing the large bandwidth of the terahertz frequency band, 6G is expected to achieve a data rate of 1 Tbps. However, achieving this rate is very challenging due to the large contiguous bandwidth required, and in practice, the available bandwidth is limited and split across different frequency bands. Another aspect is the direct trade-off between spectral efficiency and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required for detection. The higher the required SNR, the shorter the range becomes due to transmit power limitations at high frequencies and increased noise. For example, Samsung’s state-of-the-art D-band phased-array transmitter prototype currently demonstrates a transmission distance of up to 120 meters, but only reaches 2.3 Gbps. Other groups showed higher data rates, but only centimeters over the air.

To further increase link range and increase data rates, there are several requirements to consider when designing 6G radios. For example, choosing the right semiconductor to extend the range of a link is critical; like choosing a low-loss material with a low dielectric constant and loss to prevent large transmission losses. To further reduce transmission loss, a new packaging strategy that tightly integrates the RF components with the antenna is required. However, it must be remembered that as devices become more compact, power and thermal management become more important.

In addition to device design, network deployment strategies are key areas of research to address NLOS and power consumption challenges. For example, a wide range of technologies such as reconfigurable smart surfaces (RIS) or repeaters are being investigated to create heterogeneous smart electromagnetic (EM) environments.

6G application

A major change in 6G compared to previous generations of communications is that it will now include non-terrestrial networks, a key development that enables traditional 2D network architectures to operate in 3D spaces. Low-altitude platforms (LAPs), high-altitude platforms (HAPs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and satellites are examples of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). We saw China launch the world’s first 6G satellite in November 2020. In 2022, Huawei tested the NTN 6G network using LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites. More and more activities in this area indicate that the NTN network will be a key development trend.

In addition to communications, 6G is expected to enter the fields of sensing, imaging, wireless cognition and precise positioning. In 2021, Apple filed for a patent for its THz sensor technology for gas sensing and imaging in iDevice. Huawei also tested several Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) prototypes. More research and trials are underway to fully exploit the potential of the 6G THz band.

To learn more about 6G technologies, applications, markets, read IDTechEx’s 6G Market Research Report. “6G Market 2023-2043: Technologies, Trends, Forecasts, Players”. Based on our professional knowledge, this 6G report covers the latest 6G technology development trends, key applications, player activities and market outlook, aiming to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of 6G technology and market.

Key aspects of the report:

The report includes a comprehensive review of 6G technologies, players, use case studies, and markets.

1. 6G development and activities,

a. By Five Key Regions (US, EU, China, Japan, Korea)

b. Major players (Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, Huawei, Apple, NTT DOCOMO)

2. 6G technology trends

a. 6G Radio System Analysis

b. 6G power consumption analysis

c. Semiconductor technologies for terahertz communications:

I. Silicon-based semiconductors (CMOS, SOI, SiGe),

2. Gallium arsenide and gallium nitride,

3. Indium phosphide