b'Partner News Summer 2023 11AcademicLondon Metropolitan University at Why 6G?needs to look at the phenomenal growthago. And the need for fast and reliable of video sharing platforms like TikTok. Sinceconnectivity is only rising. We know that 2018, the number of TikTok downloads hasthere are unique social and environmental exploded from 100 million to 1600 million,demands being placed on future telecoms this trend exemplifies the growth of datato accelerate innovation, technical and traffic from just one app. On average thebusiness growth across the telecoms annual data created, captured, copiedsupply chain. However, this does not and consumed per person is about 230happen in a vacuum.gigabytes and this is predicted to reach 1300 gigabytes by 2030. In a decadesDr Mike Short CBE said While 5G will time well need wireless mobile technologyenable society to control more devices that will need to cope in a smart andremotely in applications where real-time efficient way with a much larger volume ofnetwork performance is critical, 6G will data traffic while striving to meet the Parisbring much richer connectivity to the Agreement on net-zero by 2050. To do thisphysical world, using advancements in AI 5G tech is currently being deployed acrossthe 5G tech will need to evolve to the nextand computing to enhance the machine-the country and some of us may have evengeneration of wireless communicationshuman interface.had the opportunity to experience the truetech; 6G. power of this technology. What you may notThe first IET 6G conference brought together have realized is that research has alreadyBreaking new ground regulators, policy makers, government started on developing the next generationProf. Bal Virdee said This is the first 6Grepresentatives, lead industry representatives of wireless mobile technology.conference in the UK and we are embarkingand researchers worldwide to share their on an exciting journey that will convergevision and roadmap for the 6G tech.So, you may ask Why? Well, this wasvarious technologies such as edge the theme of the one-day conferencecomputing, virtual, augmented & mixed organised by Professor Bal Virdee, Chairrealities, integration of cloud, terrestrial & Executive Member of the Technical& satellite systems. It will use artificial Professional Network at the Institution ofintelligence to provide solutions for very Engineering Technology (IET). Prof. Virdeecomplex problems relevant to network is also the Director of the Communicationsoptimization. Im sure this technology will Technology Research Centre at the Schoolspur other innovations we havent thought of Computing and Digital Media. Theof yet. conference took place on 15 February 2023 at IET London: Savoy Place and was openedResearch has started on investigating by the IET President Professor Bob Cryannew technologies, such as THz, intelligent CBE FIET, the conference was also streamedsurfaces, and quantum communications. worldwide live on IET.tv to online delegates.Prof. Virdee also said that As with any new innovation or technology, it requires Data usage is growing exponentially,collaboration and professionals from fuelled by massive data-driven applicationsacross the industry and academia to come like TikTok and emerging technologytogether to ensure that 6G is a success. like driverless cars that need ultra-fastProfessor Bob Cryan CBE FIET said Were connections and be able to handle millionsliving in a connected society with many of them. To put into perspective the demandof us having connectivity at our fingertips on connectivity and data usage one onlyin a way that just wasnt possible yearsAttendees and speakers at the Why 6G conference'