Towards 6G: Evolution of Key Performance Indicators and Technology Trends

This paper presents a study on the evolution of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and technology trends towards 6G. Three timescales are considered, namely short-term (2022‘ish), medium-term (2025'ish), and long-term (2030‘ish). The evolution of these KPIs is analyzed by accounting for forecasts on the emerging use cases and their requirements together with assumptions on the pace of wireless technology advancements. Being intrinsically predictive, we cannot assert with certainty the values of the target KPIs and the shortlisting of the Top-10 wireless technology trends. It is, however, aimed at driving discussions and collecting feedback over the next decade. Future refinement is therefore expected as the 5G NR evolution journey progresses towards 6G.