“The transition from 5G to 6G will not only be a leap in speed, but also in intelligence. With 6G Sensing, we are giving networks a true 'sixth sense',” explains Dr. Rolf Werner, Senior Vice President Europe at Nokia.
From Transporting Data to Perceiving the Physical World:
Until now, telecommunications networks have focused on voice and data transmission. With 6G, that function expands radically: radio signals, in addition to connecting devices, will be used to detect objects, people, or environmental conditions, processing the information using artificial intelligence and machine learning models.
Through a system known as JCAS (Joint Communication and Sensing), Nokia is working to make sensing a core feature of the future 6G standard. Successful tests have already been conducted in industrial environments as part of the German consortium KOMSENS-6G, in collaboration with companies such as Bosch.
High-impact industrial use cases:
6G Sensing technology will enable the creation of revolutionary applications in various sectors. In smart mobility, for example, it could detect pedestrians or vehicles even in low-visibility conditions, contributing to road safety and the advancement of autonomous vehicles.
In the healthcare sector, systems capable of monitoring vital signs without physical sensors are already being tested, as in the joint project with the Fraunhofer Institute and the Charité University Hospital in Berlin.
The technology can also improve safety at mass events, enable safer industrial automation, and generate real-time environmental alerts.
A new source of services and commercial value,
6G Sensing opens not only technical doors, but also commercial ones. Network sensing can become a new revenue stream for communications service providers by offering value-added solutions for sectors such as transportation, logistics, urban planning, and sustainability, without the need to install additional sensors.
“This new generation of networks will not only connect devices, but will also help us understand and model the world in real time. We are laying the foundation for a smarter, more responsive, and more useful infrastructure for society,” Werner concludes.
