Ericsson

The telecommunications industry is working hard to make the transition from 5G to 6G a reality. The General Services Administration reported last year that the target for establishing 6G as the commercial standard is 2030, because it will require research, innovation, and international agreement on new interoperability standards.

Over the course of three sessions, thought leaders in government and industry will discuss the opportunities and technical advancements being explored, including a closer look at two of the most significant projects now underway to prepare for a 6G-enabled world.

Session 1: OCUDU – The Search for Open Source Hardware

OCUDU (Open Centralized Unit/Distributed Unit) is a collaborative initiative and open-source project, hosted by the Linux Foundation, aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of 5G and 6G Open Radio Access Networks (Open RAN). It provides a common, carrier-grade, open-source software foundation for the CU and DU layers, which are critical components of radio access networks. The intent of OCUDU is to break vendor lock-in and accelerate the transition from proprietary, hardware-locked RAN systems to software-defined, open ecosystems.

• Amanda Toman, Director, Public Wireless Chain Supply Innovation Fund, NTIA
• Dr. David Kirkwood, Program Manager, OCUDU, OUSW R&E FutureG

Session 2: Turning Mobile Devices into Radar

Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) is a 6G technology that enables wireless networks to simultaneously transmit data and detect objects, essentially turning mobile networks into radars. It uses shared radio signals, infrastructure, and hardware to track, locate, and image objects in real-time, improving network efficiency and enabling new, high-precision services. ISAC reduces hardware costs and saves spectrum resources by consolidating functions. It is considered a cornerstone of 6G, enabling faster, more reliable communication.

• Tyrell Junis, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Tiami Networks

Session 3: Maximizing 5G While Waiting for 6G – the Role of AI

Today’s advanced 5G networks are the essential first step to create an intelligent digital fabric. They provide higher upload speeds and open network interfaces for developers to use. They also make networks more programmable and easier to automate. So while the future may be 6G, investments made today into building out 5G and 5G standalone (5G SA) networks will not be stranded; they enable AI apps today and will be incorporated into the rollout of 6G tomorrow.

• Brian Vu, Cybersecurity & Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Architect, GSA (Pending Approval)
• Anthony Lawson, Field Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson
• Victor Spahic, Executive Leader, T-Moble Secure Federal Operations

Learning Objectives

• Understand the components and processes that comprise Open RAN systems
• Evaluate your agency’s systems and the groundwork that can be done now to prepare for open source hardware
• Identify the system requirements to incorporate ISAC into your agency’s edge devices
• Delineate steps to maximize AI use in ISAC-enabled networks, including assessment of available databases and their cleanliness
• Determine what additional information needs to be gathered to utilize ISAC capabilities
• Delineate the investments your agency has planned and how they can adapt to 6G in future use
• Begin building a plan to harness 6G capabilities to enhance your agency’s performance and achievement of mission