Open Access

REVIEW

Milestones of Wireless Communication Networks and Technology Prospect of Next Generation (6G)

Mohammed H. Alsharif¹, Md. Sanwar Hossain², Abu Jahid³, Muhammad Asghar Khan⁴, Bong Jun Choi^5,*, Samih M. Mostafa^6,7
1 Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05006, Korea
2 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh
3 Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
4 Department of Electrical Engineering, Hamdard University Karachi, Islamabad Campus, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
5 School of Computer Science and Engineering & School of Electronic Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea
6 Faculty of Computers and Information, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt
7 Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Cairo, 11516, Egypt
* Corresponding Author: Bong Jun Choi. Email:

Computers, Materials & Continua 2022, 71(3), 4803-4818. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2022.023500

Received 10 September 2021; Accepted 08 November 2021; Issue published 14 January 2022

Abstract

Since around 1980, a new generation of wireless technology has arisen approximately every 10 years. First-generation (1G) and second-generation (2G) began with voice and eventually introduced more and more data in third-generation (3G) and became highly popular in the fourth-generation (4G). To increase the data rate along with low latency and mass connectivity the fifth-generation (5G) networks are being installed from 2020. However, the 5G technology will not be able to fulfill the data demand at the end of this decade. Therefore, it is expected that 6G communication networks will rise, providing better services through the implementation of new enabling technologies and allowing users to connect everywhere. 6G technology would not be confined to cellular communications networks, but would also comply with non-terrestrial communication system requirements, such as satellite communication. The ultimate objectives of this work are to address the major challenges of the evolution of cellular communication networks and to discourse the recent growth of the industry based on the key scopes of application and challenges. The main areas of research topics are summarized into (i) major 6G wireless network milestones; (ii) key performance indicators; (iii) future new applications; and (iv) potential fields of research, challenges, and open issues.

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Keywords

Wireless networks; beyond 5G; 6G communications; terahertz frequency; terahertz communications; holographic calls

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