Page 84 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Going beyond 5G networks requires a has been standardized as part of 3GPP layers while elastically adding capacity.
sharp transition from the traditional (3rd Generation Partnership Project), we Along with that, network functions will
service model along with continuous are also influencing our leading position be fully automated, cloud-driven, quickly
transformations including software- towards the 6G future roadmap. scalable, and operational, while also being
centric, high-capacity network supports monitored on a single dashboard. Our rapid
and enrichment of tighter coordination Envisioning the 6G Architecture Blueprint investments in AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence
across multi-mode technologies. We think 6G will evolve into multiple & Machine Learning) and our true potential
dimensions and will embrace the are beginning to be utilized in 6G, along
Vision Beyond 5G infrastructure, software, application, and with an omnichannel coordination
The current 5G connectivity market security layers - capability to provide a hyper-personalized
continues to be dominated by mobile experience at multiple touchpoints. This
network operators (MNOs). The business 1. Infrastructure Layer will help customize and strategize billing
model of a communication service Every new mobile generation requires some for industrial and consumer use cases,
provider (CSP) is structured around mass new pioneering spectrum to make the i.e., collaborated robots, human-centric
provisioning with advanced investments best of the latest technology. An essential experiences, sensory networking, gesture
in infrastructure and exclusive regulator- prerequisite for 6G is reframing the existing functionalities, etc.
granted long-term spectrums and mobile communication spectrum from
licenses. However, due to the advancement legacy technology to the new generation. We are building AI-enabled
of 5G-powered services, there is a shift in The new pioneer spectrum blocks for 6G
the responsibility of delivering resources are expected to be at mid-bands 7 – 20 offerings which will be
from an MNO-centric system to a dynamic GHz (Gigahertz) for urban outdoor cells, relevant for 6G. Proactive
mode of operation, which is becoming which would enable higher capacity and predictive customer
a necessary catalyst for deploying and through extreme MIMO (Multiple input,
operating networks of the future. multiple output), low bands for extreme experience management
coverage, and sub-THz (Terahertz) for (CEM) models for business-
Tech Mahindra has observed these trends peak data rates over 100 Gbps (Giga
and therefore envisioned the overlay of the Bytes per second). In addition, new radio to-business (B2B) and
network of the future, which is a cloud- channels from satellite communications business-to-customer
native, software-centric, fully automated, will be integrated with cellular bands to
elastic, and multi-vendor ecosystem. As a offer ultra-high access capacities in the (B2C) will evolve, requiring
result, we have further invested in software, radio and transport layers. a new set of network
automation tools, and frameworks for the analytics tools, real-
future of networks. This unique framework 6G offers an advantage in terms of future
of the ‘5G and beyond’ infrastructure sensing. It provides an enhanced level of time service assurance
not only addresses the elastic nature of coverage and the interconnection between techniques, and ultra-fast
capacity requirements, but also automates nodes, which facilitates a multi-static
multiple network functions in deployment sensory mesh. Furthermore, our AI-based big data processing.
life cycles while bringing down costs optimization algorithms for beamforming
drastically. in the radio layer can be scheduled at We are building AI-enabled offerings
the cell site with efficient self-optimizing which will be relevant for 6G. Proactive
Similarly, our 6G network architecture vision networks. and predictive customer experience
envisages the lowest evolution expenditure management (CEM) models for business-
that fits the network economics for carriers 2. Open Software and Automation Layer to-business (B2B) and business-to-
in their efforts to increase average revenue The software will become a cornerstone customer (B2C) will evolve, requiring a new
per subscriber. Though the architecture for enabling multiple access and transport set of network analytics tools, real-time

84 MARCH-APRIL 2022