6G standardisation is moving into a more technical stage. These include uplink channel coding, constellation shaping, higher-order modulation and the design of the 6G Synchronisation Signal Block.
The work is part of the 3GPP Release 20 study on 6G Radio, often referred to as 6GR. Release 20 is mainly studying the technical options. The first set of normative 6G specifications is expected under Release 21 as part of the industry’s path towards IMT-2030. So, now let us see how spain’s 3GPP Release 20 Moves 6G Radio Design into Detailed Physical-Layer Work along with Accurate LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & RF drive test software in telecom and Accurate Mobile Network Monitoring Tools, Mobile Network Drive Test Tools, Mobile Network Testing Tools in detail.
Uplink Channel Coding and BG3
Channel coding has a direct effect on radio-link reliability. Data transmitted over a mobile network can be affected by interference, fading and noise. Coding adds controlled redundancy so that the receiver can recover the original information even when some transmitted bits are received incorrectly.
5G NR already uses LDPC coding for user data. For 6G Radio, RAN1 is studying an additional LDPC base graph known as BG3 for uplink operation. The Madrid RAN report confirmed that progress had been made on BG3 as part of the Release 20 6G study.
The goal is to determine how future coding can support higher data rates and new radio requirements while keeping decoding complexity and device power consumption within practical limits.
For network testing, coding changes will eventually affect measurements such as BLER, throughput, retransmission behaviour and radio-link performance under different signal conditions.
Constellation Shaping
Another area under study is constellation shaping.
Standard QAM modulation places signal points according to a defined constellation. Constellation shaping changes either the position of these points or the probability with which they are transmitted. The objective is to use radio power and spectrum more efficiently under suitable channel conditions.
Both geometric and probabilistic shaping approaches have been evaluated during 6G Radio discussions. The work has included comparison of performance gain, receiver complexity, power-amplifier impact and Peak-to-Average Power Ratio.
These studies do not mean a particular shaping method has already been selected for 6G. The Release 20 process is being used to compare the technical benefits against implementation cost and RF performance.
Higher-Order Modulation
Higher-order modulation is also receiving close attention.
Increasing the modulation order allows more bits to be carried by each transmitted symbol. This can increase spectral efficiency when radio conditions are very good.
6G studies have examined options beyond the modulation levels commonly used today, including 4096-QAM for downlink and 1024-QAM for uplink in selected scenarios. These modulation levels require high SINR and very accurate RF transmission. Error Vector Magnitude, amplifier linearity, phase noise and receiver quality become increasingly sensitive as the constellation becomes denser.
For this reason, higher-order modulation may be more suitable for controlled conditions such as fixed wireless access or short-range high-quality radio links than for every mobile connection.
6G Synchronisation Signal Block
RAN1 also reported progress on the 6G Synchronisation Signal Block, or SSB.
In 5G NR, SSB helps a device detect a cell, obtain radio timing, identify the network and begin the initial-access procedure. A similar function will be required in 6G, but the radio design must support future frequency ranges, antenna configurations, beam-based operation and new deployment models.
How the 6G SSB is structured will therefore affect cell search, initial access, coverage detection and measurement procedures.
What the Madrid Meeting Means for 6G
The Madrid meeting shows that 6G work is becoming increasingly focused on real radio-interface design.
Release 20 now has draft technical studies covering RAN1, RAN2, RAN3 and RAN4 aspects of 6G Radio.
For network engineers, this means future testing will extend beyond basic signal strength and throughput. 6G validation will need to examine synchronisation, modulation accuracy, channel coding, BLER, latency, RF quality, mobility, beam behaviour and performance across different spectrum bands.
The work taking place in Spain is therefore an early engineering step towards defining how the 6G air interface will actually transmit, receive and measure radio signals.
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