6G ISAC: Extending Mobile Network Value Beyond Connectivity

Mobile networks have so far focused on 'connectivity,' such as improving data transmission speed and reducing latency. However, in 6G, networks are expected to evolve beyond simply delivering information to a stage of Awareness, understanding the physical environment in which communication takes place.

The core technology behind this shift is ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication). It uses the wireless signals employed for communication to detect surrounding objects or track movement, obtaining environmental information by analyzing the reflection and propagation characteristics of wireless signals.

The true value of ISAC lies in reusing existing communication infrastructure and resources instead of building separate sensing infrastructure.

• Infrastructure Reuse: Utilizing existing communication nodes such as base stations, vehicles, and fixed wireless access devices as a sensing layer
• Efficient Deployment: Achieving wide-ranging sensing coverage without building a separate radar system
• Business Expansion: Creating new services such as environmental awareness, traffic monitoring, industrial site surveillance, and public safety

ISAC does not aim to replace high-performance radar in all situations; rather, its goal is to provide 'good-enough and widely available' sensing capability wherever communication infrastructure already exists.