Advancing Vertical Services for 6G: Future Directions and Innovations

The transition from 5G to 6G networks will catalyze the development of advanced 6G Applications (6G Apps) with enhanced network programmability and intelligence, providing vertical industries and Communication Service Providers (CSPs) with new opportunities to optimize their operations. This article explores the future of the 6G Apps tailored to verticals in the 6G era, highlighting their role as middleware that abstracts network complexities and exposes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable dynamic interaction and real-time adaptation. Key enablers such as network exposure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and edge computing are studied in the context of optimizing operations across verticals, and improving Quality of Service (QoS) and fostering innovation. A case study on teleoperated vehicles exemplifies the real-world applicability of these technological enablers for 6G Apps. Furthermore, this article offers insights and explores new research opportunities for 6G Apps tailored to verticals to evolve in the 6G era while addressing key challenges in deploying these applications in real-world commercial networks as a service.