6G communications networks strategy underway in Portugal

07th June 2021

Imagine a business meeting where each participant is represented by a hologram, or a situation where you can smell a meal prepared somewhere else in the world. These situations can become a reality in 2030, thanks to the implementation of the next generation of mobile communications networks (6G). Close to two thousand experts will meet at the international conference 2021 Joint EuCNC (European Conference on Networks and Communications) & 6G Summit, in order to define the requirements and discuss 6G research programmes. The event will take place online between June 8 and 11, Porto being the host city.

Under the motto “On the Road to 6G”, conference participants will discuss the advanced implementation of 5G and define the vision of 6G, expected to materialise over the next decade. “Researchers are already exploring 6G solutions, which will start being used in 2030. This conference will launch the European Union's financing strategy for 6G research and define the vision of the next generation of mobile networks", says Manuel Ricardo, coordinator of the Networked Intelligent Systems cluster at the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC).

What can we then expect from 6G? “More flexible, smart and ubiquitous communication networks. The communication systems will incorporate machine learning techniques, learn the users’ needs, and combine advanced techniques on communications, computing, sensing, and positioning”, explains the professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP).

6G networks will be important to support new types of communication, such as holographic and haptic communications (which allow us to use other senses, such as touch or smell), Internet for industry 5.0, Internet of Things, and communications between autonomous vehicles. The 6th generation will also explore new radio spectrum in the TeraHertz which will enable user experiences of 100 Gbit/s, with latencies 10 times lower than those of 5G.

The joint event brings together leading experts and creates a unique discussion forum. “6G has become the main research theme globally in wireless systems area,” says academy professor Matti Latva-aho, Director of 6G Flagship, the Finnish research program that launched the series of 6G Wireless Summits in 2019. “We are very happy to join forces between 6G Summit and EuCNC to reflect the importance of 6G at the European level.”

The conference will welcome close to two thousand experts from around the world making it one of the largest international events offering free access. The event includes workshops, plenary and technical sessions and a virtual exhibition with over 20 booths. The four keynote speakers are Michael Peeters, researcher at imec and professor at the University of Antwerp (Belgium); Manuel Ramalho Eanes, executive director of NOS; Roberto Verdone, professor at the University of Bologna and director of WiLab (Italy); and Peter Vetter, Head of the A-Lab at Nokia Bell Labs in the US. Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education will launch the event on June 9 at 9 A.M. (CEST). The full conference programme is available here.

INESC TEC is the entity in charge of organising the 2021 Joint EuCNC & 6G Summit, supported by the Finnish 6G Flagship programme of the University of Oulu, the European Commission via EuConNects 4 project coordinated by INOV-INESC, the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council 2021, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - the largest association of electronic and electrical engineers in the world. The event is sponsored by NOS, Huawei, Nokia, Virginia Diodes and Ericsson.

More information: https://www.eucnc.eu/

Inquiries:
Joana Desport Coelho
Serviço de Comunicação
INESC TEC
Campus da FEUP
Rua Dr Roberto Frias
4200-465 Porto
Portugal
M +351 924 444 321
joana.d.coelho@inesctec.pt
www.inesctec.pt
Porto – June 7, 2021