Paradigm-Shifting Radio Access Technologies for 6G-and-Beyond Wireless Networks and the Internet of Everything Applications

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The dawn of the Internet of Everything (IoE), with the continuous growth of wireless capacity, requires revolutionary paradigm shifts from enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) to ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) services. Fifth generation (5G) new radio (5G NR) system was branded as a key IoE launcher. Nevertheless, this remains to be realized. In the meantime, new IoE services such as eXtended reality (XR), telemedicine, connected autonomous systems, etc., are in massive expansion. These applications not only require high data rates, reliability, and low latency both on uplink (UL) and downlink (DL), but also an end-to-end co-design of computing functionalities, communication, and control. To meet these stringent requirements, sixth generation (6G) and beyond (6GB) wireless networks come to play to answer the challenges arising with the new IoE applications. To meet the new requirements outlined above, new radio access technologies (RATs) must be integrated into 6GB networks that are expected to rely not only on conventional spectrum (i.e., sub-6 GHz and mmW), but also on new frequency bands unchartered yet, namely the THz band and visible light communications (VLC) which promise to meet the demands for a fully connected and intelligent digital world offering massive-scale communications. Besides the new spectrum, future 6GB RATs will include eventually a set of new technologies and network architectures that have been recently enabled by research advancements in the PHY layer but are not yet part of 5G such as intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) and cell-free ultra-massive multiple input multiple output (CF-UM-MIMO).  The objective of this proposal is to produce innovative solutions at multiple fronts including transceiver designs, new relaying solutions, and network architecture to keep up with future 6GB stringent requirements. This includes new channel parameter estimation techniques and novel robust distributed collaborative beamforming (RDCB) designs for UM-MIMO THz transceivers. Besides, we plan to investigate new synchronization and channel estimation techniques and RDCB designs over IRS-aided communication links. On another front, we plan develop innovative CF-UM-MIMO architectures for future 6GB networks. Under the umbrella of this program and relying on its timely scope and on the applicant's record, major technological transfers are expected through potential patent applications, assistance in strategic product & business development choices, and standardization effort. Tremendous scientific, economic, and social benefits for Canada are expected from this program by: i) advancing know-how in crucial technical areas that enable 6GB networks & IoE apps, ii) facilitating the advent of the next wireless networks revolution in the 21st-century digital economy, iii) assisting technology transfers to Canadian industry, and iv) providing top-quality HQP training in a vibrant ICT sector.