Contours of Future Directions for Geographic Study of 6G Wireless Communications

Abstract: According to current forecasts, after 2030, intelligent, 3D, ultradense, integrated, terabit, terahertz, haptic, and sensor-scanning sixth generation (6G) wireless communication systems will be rolled out. Spatial features will be very significant for it, which necessitates geographical research. Therefore, an attempt has been made to determine future directions for the geographical study of 6G networks by comparing network parameters with existing experience in understanding the spatiotemporal features of the deployment of information and communication networks. The main focus is on infrastructure and the telecommunications services it generates. The infrastructure includes cloud data centers, stationary and mobile base stations, subscriber and robotic devices, radiating surfaces, sensors and other network elements. Future services will include ubiquitously connected artificial intelligence, environmental sensing, holographic telepresence, augmented reality, haptic communication, 3D positioning, and other services. It is proposed to develop geographical research in the following areas: deployment of a spatially distributed network, information–communication and network development of space, identification of smart urban agglomerations and regions, spatial diffusion of telecommunications services, center–periphery digital divide, and artificially intelligent specialization of regions. Applied studies have been proposed for geographical examination of network projects, optimization of line-node structure, and recommendation of 7G network parameters. For each of the nine areas, general characteristics and possible division into specific areas are given. Within the identified areas, the author demonstrates the proposed periodization of the main research problems from the development of a methodology for geographical knowledge of 6G networks in the 2020s towards obtaining empirical results in the 2030s and their subsequent discussion for the transition to 7G in the 2040s. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. 2024. ISSN 2079-9705, Regional Research of Russia, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 98–107. Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2024. Russian Text The Author(s), 2023, published in Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Seriya Geograficheskaya, 2023, Vol. 87. No. 8, pp. 1131–1142.