Architecture Enablers for 6G

The design of 6G architecture encompasses multifaceted challenges that extend beyond accommodating existing mobile services (MS) such as mobile broadband (MBB), machine-type communication (MTC), and ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC). It must facilitate new 6G services and use cases, while considering social, economic, and environmental sustainability. A key aim is to bridge the digital divide, providing equitable access to technology. 6G architecture seeks to build a data-driven system supporting applications (Apps) like artificial intelligence (AI), sensing, and compute offloading, necessitating modularity, simplicity, and cloud nativeness. Traditional mobile communication, typically user-to-user, is evolving to include complex services like sensing and compute offloading, requiring architectural re-evaluation. 6G architecture must be highly flexible, modular, and cloud-native, integrating existing and novel services while maintaining predictability for use cases like industrial automation. Improvements in radio interface and protocols address 5G shortcomings, aiming for efficiency and performance. Ultimately, 6G promises flexible, agile, and responsive network infrastructure through cloud-native architectures.