The Hardware Foundation of 6G: The NEW-6G Approach
Emilio Calvanese Strinati, Michaël Peeters, César Roda Neve, Manil Dev Gomony, Andreia Cathelin, Mauro Boldi, Mark Ingels, A. Banerjee, P. Chevalier, Bartek Kozicki, Didier Belot
Abstract
The design of future 6th Generation (6G) wireless connect-compute-control networks requires new approaches for the design of hardware, new materials and hybridization processes new technological solutions, to create a sustainable foundation for the effective operation of innovative services and use cases. In this context, the New-6G initiative focuses on solutions that capitalize on the latest advances in high-performance semiconductor technologies, integrated circuits, digital components, and wide bandwidth radio frequencies. Based on the applications and use cases, we propose two main loci that will have the largest impact: the challenges and opportunities of baseband processing on the one hand and material enablers and related device and circuit challenges on the other hand. For this second part, BiCMOS, FD-SOI, GaN and InP are highlighted as especially of interest. BiCMOS and FD-SOI have already demonstrated their possible application up to 200GHz. While BiCMOS could be potentially used at higher frequencies, III-V (GaN, InP) alternatives when integrated with CMOS could propose cost-effective solution to address higher-power and higher-efficiency sub-THz 6G applications.