From 5G to 6G: Empowering vertical industries with next-gen technologies and trial facilities

Abstract

In the fifth-generation (5G) era, there are opportunities for innovation in various vertical industries, including Transport and Logistics (T&L) and automotive, among others. For instance, the automotive sector can advance with edge computing nodes connected through network slices, providing more reliable teleoperation of vehicles, and enhancing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) use cases. However, widespread adoption of these technologies (e.g., edge computing, teleoperation of vehicles, V2X) has been limited, partly due to a lack of resources to test and explore among verticals to experience the potential improvements that 5G and Beyond (B5G) networks can offer to them. Thus, establishing B5G trial facilities is crucial. These facilities enable real-life B5G deployments across various verticals and serve as collaborative ecosystems where industries, telecom providers, and academia can co-create tailored services to meet specific operational needs.

As the sixth-generation (6G) era approaches, it is important to equip trial facilities with cutting-edge B5G technologies to support advanced vertical services. This article examines key 5G and B5G technologies for vertical industries, analyzing 40 major trial facilities to assess their capabilities. In addition, offering insights and recommendations to enhance trial facilities for testing and validating innovative vertical use cases in the 6G era.