LG Electronics on 6G Vision, Core Technologies and Standardisation Approach

At the 6G Global Summit held as part of Mobile Korea 2024, Jaehoon Chung, Research Fellow at LG Electronics, shared his company’s view on the vision, technologies, and standardisation roadmap for 6G. His presentation highlighted how LG sees the next generation of mobile systems evolving from today’s 5G Advanced to future 6G networks, while balancing innovation with practical business realities.

According to Chung, LG’s long-term vision for 6G is shaped by a combination of emerging technologies and socio-economic needs. Artificial intelligence, immersive multimedia, robotics, and advanced mobility are seen as key drivers, while ESG considerations and enhanced security form the foundation of future applications. LG structures its 6G strategy around three main principles: Smart, Green, and Convergent.

The Smart element focuses on AI-native and AI-assisted air interfaces as critical enablers of 6G. AI is expected to play a much larger role across the network, from the air interface to core functions, enhancing efficiency and adaptability. The Green dimension involves both energy efficiency and operational sustainability. Networks will need to consume less power while maintaining equivalent coverage, which could help reduce both operational and capital expenses. In addition, LG sees secure communications as part of the broader Green agenda, reflecting the importance of trust and resilience in future networks. The Convergent aspect points to the integration of sensing, communication, and AI, supporting the fusion of digital and physical worlds. This includes areas such as integrated sensing and communications, AI-supported user equipment, and terrestrial and non-terrestrial network (TN-NTN) integration.

Chung explained that the industry must also confront the economic reality that many operators have not yet achieved a satisfactory return on their 5G investments. This calls for a gradual, pragmatic evolution rather than a disruptive leap. LG envisions the development of 6G in two stages, referred to as Day 1 and Day 2. Day 1 focuses on smooth migration from 5G Advanced, with continued feature evolution, energy efficiency improvements, coverage enhancements, and the introduction of AI-native frameworks. Day 2 will then pursue the more ambitious 6G capabilities, including high-performance radio systems and support for applications such as immersive multimedia, digital twins, and advanced mobility scenarios.

From a technical standpoint, LG sees AI as integral to 6G system design. In the near term, AI-assisted functions will evolve within specific areas such as channel estimation and beam management, but in later phases, real-time online learning and broader AI-native operation could become possible. This transition will require careful standardisation work, especially in defining what truly qualifies as “AI-native”.

Chung also touched on other important elements of 6G standardisation, including support for automated driving, integrated terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks, and new spectrum usage models. He noted that spectrum availability remains a critical challenge. While candidate bands around 7 GHz are under discussion, coexistence with military and satellite systems will require significant coordination. At the same time, existing 5G spectrum remains underutilised in many markets, opening the door for more dynamic and flexible spectrum sharing approaches. However, realising multi-radio spectrum sharing will also depend on regulatory reform, not just technical feasibility.

On the architectural side, LG emphasises the need for strong orchestration between 5G and 6G systems, including radio reuse where possible. Massive MIMO will continue to play a major role in delivering additional beam gain, especially as higher frequency bands are deployed. LG also supports early development of standalone 6G architecture, rather than relying on non-standalone operation tied to legacy systems. Dynamic multi-radio spectrum sharing, when combined with regulatory support, could form an important part of this architecture.

Standardisation remains central to LG’s 6G approach. The company expects the ongoing IMT-2030 and 3GPP discussions to define the technical performance requirements and KPIs by early 2026. While some aspects such as latency and reliability may not require further enhancement, new metrics will likely be introduced to capture AI-related and sensing capabilities. LG also advocates for a new 6G protocol design, simplifying layers L2 and L3 to remove legacy inefficiencies inherited from previous generations.

Overall, LG’s 6G vision balances ambition with realism. The company’s approach reflects a clear understanding that 6G development will not only be about achieving higher data rates or lower latency but also about creating sustainable, intelligent, and convergent networks. These networks will bridge the digital and physical worlds, support new forms of immersive communication, and integrate AI deeply into their architecture. As standardisation progresses, LG expects its 6G strategy to continue evolving through close collaboration with industry partners and research communities worldwide.

The full presentation from Jaehoon Chung can be watched below.

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