Flipping the 6G switch: Turning 6G risks into opportunities

STEP aside 5G, and make way for 6G – the next generation of connectivity. Connectivity will be a defining element of the resiliency of any organisation, providing uninterrupted digital engagements across the board.

With the promise of ultra-speed, lower latency, and increased capacity to handle a vast number of connected devices and systems, it is no wonder that investments in 6G are ramping up. This future of connectedness is expected to provide businesses with the unfathomable ability to do more – create seamless digital experiences, harness cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, Internet of Things, and much more.

Asia Pacific is already gearing up for the new 6G era. Vietnam, for instance, is one of the world’s first ten countries to set up a 6G research development committee with the goal of licensing 6G frequencies by 2028. Most recently, the Singapore government announced that it will be investing in 6G as part of its efforts to enhance the nation’s digital capabilities.

The promises of 6G may sound like every business leader’s dream, but as smooth as 6G connectivity is said to be, will its rollout be smooth sailing? 

Teasing our senses, while ensuring safety

The business use cases for 6G’s hyperconnectivity are still nascent, but nonetheless exciting. 

For instance, one emerging area we can look forward to is the Internet of Senses (IoS). The capabilities of existing connectivity have delivered experiences that appeal to sight and sound, such as immersive augmented reality or virtual reality entertainment experiences. 6G-powered IoS will expand the spectrum of digital sensory experiences that will be almost inseparable from reality, including taste, smell, and touch.

Imagine being able to taste the flavour of a meal – digitally – before ordering it. This could revolutionise the food industry by providing taste experiences while avoiding any health drawbacks. The possibility of multisensory experiences will undoubtedly expand the realms of innovation for all industries. 

Beyond sensing, 6G is expected to facilitate major improvements in areas such as high-resolution imaging, presence, and location determination. This could have massive implications in areas such as public safety and critical infrastructure protection, including threat detection, health monitoring, and more. 

Take the example of water facilities. The level of connectivity delivered by 6G has the potential to quickly report water levels and minimise issues of flash flooding, which could impact the safety of citizens. By alerting relevant systems and parties, excess water levels could be released to designated repositories at an instant. 

Such critical infrastructure facilities can also be better protected from a cybersecurity perspective – the speed of data movement could provide real-time insight into malicious behaviour before they make a dent on targeted systems or individuals. Considering that cybercrimes in Southeast Asia are on a meteoric rise, this is a possibility that the region could greatly benefit from. 

Treading the 6G ground

Despite the compelling use cases, hyperconnectivity does not come without risks – and organisations must take these into account when preparing for the 6G era. 

First and foremost is trust – starting with trust in the network itself. Currently, all that is said about 6G is anticipatory, but in reality we do not know how the network will behave. As nations invest in the technology, they must ensure that security and trust are embedded right from the start.

For example, the hyper-availability of data will likely place privacy issues in the spotlight. Relevant safeguards, controls, and regulation must be established on the data that is collected, especially on individuals, early on. Businesses need to orchestrate and govern data privacy at a higher level, achieving complete visibility and efficiencies that minimise gaps in controls and integrates enterprise policy consistently. This ensures that key stakeholders have a holistic view of data privacy and security across its lifecycle. 

Another key area is modernisation. It entails the modernisation of applications, processes, and infrastructure, to prepare for a digital future where organisations can better reap the benefits of technologies such as the cloud, contemporary computing, and 6G.

Businesses in Asia Pacific are already investing in cloud and edge infrastructure as part of their digital transformation journeys. However, 6G warrants high-performance computing to ensure low latency for reliable communications solutions. Overall, there is said to be a strong relationship between 6G and high-performance computing. This, therefore, raises the question of whether businesses will be able to keep up with the modernisation needs to embrace 6G. 

Turning risks into opportunities

While we cannot disregard the question marks and risks that come with 6G, business leaders and government stakeholders can view them from a different lens. 6G might just be the magic that sparks innovation to advance trust, privacy, and modernisation in our digital era.

One area where 6G can make a noteworthy impact is in predictive analytics and behavioural intelligence. Intelligent connectivity, powered by AI and machine learning (ML), will provide organisations with the ability to glean actionable insights from data sets at an unimaginable speed. 

For example, by collecting anonymised demographic, geographic, and purchase data from an individual’s online transaction, organisations can form an understanding of the individual’s behaviour and act accordingly. This builds positive customer experiences, while simultaneously safeguarding the privacy of their data. 

This process also entails understanding unusual patterns of behaviour to identify and mitigate risks quickly. Recent events, such as the banking and retail phishing scams in Singapore, have highlighted how such patterns can impact customer experiences and possibly even their trust in digital experiences. After all, an organisation’s ability to protect itself and its customers is based on its time to detect and respond to risks. Leveraging AI and ML to boost predictive intelligence in the 6G era will help organisations achieve this at lightning speed. 

These examples show that 6G can essentially be an enabler to drive innovation, improve trust, privacy and security – all while building agility and resilience. From the modernisation perspective, this might just be the push that organisations need to accelerate their cloud adoption and other digital transformation initiatives. 

As Asia Pacific welcomes breakthroughs in 6G technology, businesses must embrace it as an enabler of true agility and resiliency, and not adopt a fight-or-flight response to its risks.  The writer is President, Asia Pacific and Japan, of Micro Focus.