Advent of 6G Technology

Ultra-high frequency support: 6G SoCs will likely need to support even higher frequency bands, potentially up to terahertz (THz) ranges

AI-native architecture: 6G is expected to be "AI-native," so SoCs will support advanced and pervasive AI and machine learning capabilities, possibly with dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) or AI-centric designs

Quantum computing elements: 6G may possibly leverage quantum communication principles, which could lead to the integration of quantum computing elements in SoCs.

Advanced process nodes: 6G SoCs will likely be manufactured using cutting-edge process nodes (potentially 2nm and below) to achieve the necessary performance and energy efficiency.

Holographic and volumetric processing: To support projected 6G applications like holographic communications, SoCs will required specialized processing units for real-time holographic and volumetric data handling

Enhanced security features: With the increased connectivity and data rates of 6G, SoCs will need even more robust security features, possibly including post-quantum cryptography hardware

Ultra-low power design: To support the massive deployment of IoT devices envisioned for 6G, SoCs will need to be exceptionally energy-efficient, possibly incorporating energy harvesting technologies

Integrated sensing capabilities: 6G is expected to blur the lines between communication and sensing, so SoCs will integrate advanced sensing capabilities (e.g., radar, lidar) alongside communication functions

Extreme edge computing: 6G SoCs will have enhanced edge computing capabilities to support distributed intelligence and reduce latency for critical applications.

Flexible and reconfigurable hardware: To adapt to diverse 6G use cases, SoCs might incorporate more flexible and reconfigurable hardware architectures and leverage software-defined radio (SDR) principles on a greater way

Advanced thermal management: With increased processing power and potentially higher frequency operations, 6G SoCs will require sophisticated thermal management solutions at the chip level

Neuromorphic computing elements: Some 6G applications might benefit from neuromorphic computing approaches leading to the integration of brain-inspired compute elements

3D chip stacking: To achieve the necessary integration of diverse technologies, 6G SoCs might leverage advanced 3D chip stacking and packaging technologies

Support for advanced modulation and coding: 6G SoCs will need hardware support for advanced modulation and coding schemes to achieve the projected ultra-high data rates

Integrated optical communication elements: Some researchers propose integrating optical communication alongside RF in 6G, which could lead to the integration of photonic elements in SoCs