European Initiative Advances 6G MIMO Multi-Antenna Technologies

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) in Spain is leading a groundbreaking project focused on ultra-MIMO antenna technologies for the upcoming 6G era. Known as MiFuture (ultra-massive MIMO for future cell-free heterogeneous networks), this initiative brings together industry giants like Ericsson, Nokia, and Vodafone, alongside top universities specializing in mobile communications research.

The primary objective of MiFuture is to advance MIMO multi-antenna technologies to cater to the demands of 6G communications. The ultimate goal is to create networks with significantly reduced latency and enhanced data transmission speeds. These advancements will pave the way for revolutionary applications such as telesurgery, holographic virtual meetings, and the utilization of digital twins.

Over the next decade, MiFuture plans to fund fifteen research contracts to explore the evolution from current MIMO systems in 5G to ultra-massive MIMO (UmMIMO) systems for 6G. According to Ana García Armada, the project coordinator and a professor at UC3M, MiFuture aims to establish heterogeneous cell-free networks equipped with a vast number of antennas to meet the evolving requirements of mobile communications towards 6G.

Armada emphasizes, "We are focused on tackling the key challenges in mobile communications that our society will face in the next decade. This includes achieving ultra-low latency, high data rates, and energy-efficient solutions." To address these challenges, the project will explore innovative architectures and technologies such as Open RAN and the integration of AI throughout the network design.

The consortium behind MiFuture comprises a diverse range of partners, including the Instituto de Telecommunicaçoes (Portugal), the University of Tampere (Finland), and Ericsson Research (in Finland and Sweden). Associate partners like Keysight Technologies UK and various universities from Portugal are also contributing to the project's success.