Japanese telecom giant NTT Docomo, in collaboration with NTT Corporation, Nokia, and South Korean carrier SK Telecom, has successfully completed a test integrating AI with future 6G wireless systems. This trial showcased for the first time in Japan the enhancement of communications, achieving up to 18% improvement over conventional methods by employing radio waves in the 4.8GHz band.
The test utilized AI to refine transmission and reception processing across various propagation environments, optimizing modulation schemes in response to specific radio wave conditions. NTT Docomo stated that they achieved higher transmission efficiency and better communication speeds by using AI rather than traditional known signals for propagation channel estimation. The integration of AI-based processing sequences allowed for single-step channel estimation to signal detection.
The benefits of AI in 6G systems extend to enhancing modulation and demodulation for diverse environments, thus improving communication quality for various wireless use cases. NTT Docomo plans to continue partnerships with both domestic and international companies to further bolster 6G research and standardization.
In line with its ambition to establish 6G as a global standard, NTT Docomo has launched the ‘6G Harmonized Intelligence’ project to drive the development of next-generation communication technologies. This initiative focuses on building a ‘network for AI,’ distinct from traditional communication systems. Rather than serving the needs of human users with smartphones, the next-gen network aims to facilitate AI and robotics by handling large-scale data processing and instant feedback.
The company outlines five core values for 6G: Sustainability, Efficiency, Customer Experience, Network for AI, and Connectivity Everywhere. With its 6G Harmonized Intelligence Project, NTT Docomo seeks to collaborate with AI and robotics experts to explore new use cases and services, as well as innovate in network and device design to ultimately benefit society.
By aligning with international collaborators, including the R&D Center for Digital Nature at the University of Tsukuba, NTT Docomo aims to develop a practical vision for 6G. The company is also dedicated to supporting 5G evolution, focusing on advancements in connectivity such as ultra-high speed and low latency.
