ETSI has taken a critical step in the direction of defining the future of mobile communication technologies by establishing a new Industry Specification Group (ISG) specifically focused on Multiple Access Techniques (MAT) for the forthcoming 6G networks. The complexity and expected capabilities of 6G demand advanced methodologies, and hence, ETSI’s initiative is well-timed. ETSI aims to ensure that the next generation of mobile networks can meet the growing demands for faster, more reliable, and mass-immersive connectivity solutions. This effort seeks to bring industry consensus on various state-of-the-art multiple access methods, ensuring they align with 3GPP specifications. Among the techniques under investigation are Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA), Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA), and Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA), each holding promise to boost the efficiency and robustness of 6G.
Exploring Advanced Techniques
The 6G multiple access techniques task will focus on enhancing the transmission efficiency across several critical parameters that include spectrum utilization, power efficiency, latency, and user fairness. These parameters are crucial for realizing the high-throughput, low-latency, and ultra-reliable communication systems envisioned for 6G. Techniques like OMA and SDMA are already well-understood in the industry, but newer ones like NOMA and RSMA require thorough examination and validation. The ISG will lead explorations into these methods, evaluating their potentials and trade-offs.
On the one hand, Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) is a technique where multiple users are allocated orthogonal resources, effectively eliminating interference between them. It’s an already established model in 4G and 5G networks. On the other hand, Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) leverages spatial separation of users by using advanced antenna arrays. Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) challenges the orthogonality constraint, allowing for simultaneous transmission over shared resources by using power domain multiplexing. Lastly, Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA) splits the user signals into multiple streams, balancing between interference cancellation and successive decoding. These methods, when refined, could provide significant improvements in terms of network performance.
Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases
Deployment scenarios represent a major investigative area for the ISG MAT, considering the variances in environmental conditions where 6G will be deployed. Whether indoor hotspots, dense urban macro environments, or widespread rural settings, each presents unique challenges and opportunities. Assessing the applicability of multiple access techniques across these scenarios will provide essential insights into their feasibility and adaptation. One notable focus is on downlink multiple access techniques for the physical layer of the 3GPP radio interface, crucial for the efficiency and reliability of data transmission.
Performance Metrics and Evaluation
As part of its key activities, the ISG MAT will undertake detailed tasks involving defining pivotal performance metrics, establishing evaluation methodologies, and assessing transmitter and receiver processing structures. These parameters are essential in ensuring that the multiple access techniques can meet the stringent requirements that 6G will impose. Additionally, the group’s investigations will include a thorough study of physical layer procedures and a performance analysis at both link-level and system-level.
The ultimate objective here is not merely to validate the theoretical potential of these techniques but to translate them into practical, deployable solutions. Proof-of-concepts, prototypes, and field trials stand as fundamental methods by which the ISG MAT will accomplish this. Such practical implementations will provide concrete evidence of the techniques’ capabilities and areas for further improvement. The development of prototypes and subsequent field trials will also aid in identifying any unforeseen issues that could arise during real-world application, allowing for preemptive mitigation strategies.
Contributing to Standardization
The ISG MAT is deeply involved in studying various deployment scenarios for 6G, acknowledging the differences in environments where it will be implemented, such as indoor hotspots, dense urban areas, and rural regions. Each setting poses distinct challenges and opportunities. Evaluating the suitability of multiple access techniques for these scenarios is crucial to understanding their feasibility and adaptability. A key interest lies in downlink multiple access techniques for the 3GPP radio interface’s physical layer, which is vital for efficient and reliable data transmission.