Catalonia is already planning for 6G

The regional government want to step up and lead the research in this area

At the start of this week, the Catalonian regional government gave signs that it wants to take charge in making the region one of the global leaders in the development of the future 6G technology. For this purpose, a strategic plan will be devised and presented to the authorities for approval by 30 June 2022.

Wait, what is 6G?

Humanity is still getting adapted to the idea and spread of 5G technology. Yet, forward-thinking scientists and policymakers are already setting the path for the emergence of the next wave of communications, digital services and technological consolidations that are expected to swoop the world.

In simplest terms, 6G technology will be all about the convergence between mobile communication and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Thanks to the leap in performance of telecommunications networks (from Gigabits to Terabits) that 6G systems are expected to deliver and improve the response time in the order of milliseconds. 6G will enable new critical applications, such as real-time automation and extended reality.

We will also be able to bring all physical objects into the digital world by creating digital twins (like avatars) that allow them to be monitored and tracked in real-time. In this way, it will be the first technology that will efficiently integrate the physical and digital worlds with the ability to interact with human beings.

What’s more, 6G technology is aligned with the global goals of sustainable development (SDGs) and has a clear human-centred approach. This positions it as the vehicle for the so-called Internet of Senses, as it enables the fusion between the communication environment and the human senses. It is meant to enhance scalable immersive virtual reality environments and holographic communication in order to make them ever more lifelike.

In this context, the Catalonian Government’s Plan (led by the Department of the Vice-Presidency and Digital and Territorial Policies) will have to make a survey of the available R&D capacities in 5G and 6G in the region.

It will also define strategic areas of research to be prioritized, public policies to support 6G R&D, and a governance model for the coordination of the 6G research ecosystem. Likewise, it will pinpoint international collaborations with initiatives to promote 6G research at the European level.