Abstract

Research on technologies and services for 6G is accelerating worldwide. From 2025, 6G standardization activities have been started in 3GPP. NTT DOCOMO is actively engaged in the study and development of technologies for 6G, including RIS, NTN, sub-Tera Hz, AI-native networks, and ISAC. This presentation will explain our vision and the latest technical activities for 6G.

Biography

Mr. Takehiro Nakamura joined NTT Laboratories in 1990 and currently serves as Chief Standardization Officer at NTT DOCOMO, Inc. With extensive experience in R&D and standardization, he has played a pivotal role in advancing radio and network technologies—including W-CDMA, HSPA, LTE/LTE-Advanced, 5G, and 6G—while fostering inter-industry collaboration.

Since 1997, Mr. Nakamura has actively contributed to standardization activities in ARIB, ITU, and 3GPP, serving as Vice Chair and Chair of 3GPP TSG-RAN from 2005 to 2013. He has been instrumental in promoting and accelerating 5G and 6G both in Japan and globally, as a leading member of the 5G Mobile Promotion Forum, Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium, and ITS Info-communications Forum in Japan.

Currently, he leads several projects on Local 5G, millimeter-wave, and 6G within the XG Mobile Promotion Forum (XGMF). He also serves as a board member of 5G-ACIA and as a sub-leader of the Human Augmentation Consortium.

Abstract

MediaTek believes 6G is not simply about higher data rate but aims to create new business values to mobile industry. This presentation will introduce the latest research and experiment observations by MediaTek on how 6G infrastructure could help mobile operators to natively deliver AI services, well integrate with non-terrestrial network (NTN) while operate the network in more sustainable manner.

Biography

Dr. I-Kang Fu is the Senior Director of Technology in MediaTek Advanced Communication Technology Division. He leads the R&D teams for research, prototype, and standardization projects of next-generation mobile communication technologies. He also contributes to new technology strategy, partnership and product planning.

He has spearheaded MediaTek research and development efforts in NTN satellite communication technology, leading the projects from concept to PoC prototype, and system engineering for commercial evaluation. This work culminated to MediaTek’s leadership and contributions to 3GPP Release-17/18/19/20 standardization of NTN technology, where MediaTek also demonstrated several world’s 1st NTN field experiment success over in-orbit GEO and LEO constellations with partners.

Dr. Fu’s expertise spans wireless technologies such as 4G WiMAX, 4G LTE, and 5G NR. He is currently contributing MediaTek’s commitment to 6G technology research, prototype and standardization, with commercialization expected in the 2030s.

Dr. Fu joined MediaTek in 2008 after earning his doctorate from National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan. He has served as Chairman position of TAICS (Taiwan Association of Information and Communication Standards) Advanced Mobile Communication Technical Committee since 2018. He received MediaTek Innovation Award in 2023. He also represents MediaTek to receive Nation Industrial Innovation Award in 2025.

Abstract

Due to the explosive growth in the number of wireless devices and diverse wireless services, next-generation wireless networks face unprecedented challenges caused by heterogeneous data traffic, massive connectivity, ultra-high bandwidth efficiency and ultra-low latency requirements. To address these challenges, flexible-antenna systems have been recognized as key enabling technologies of the sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, as they can intelligently reconfigure users’ effective channel gains and hence significantly enhance their data transmission capabilities. However, the existing flexible-antenna systems have been developed to combat small-scale fading in non-line-of-sight (NLoS) conditions. As a result, they are lack of the capability to reconstruct strong line-of-sight (LoS) links which are typically 100 times stronger than NLoS links. Furthermore, the existing flexible-antenna systems exhibit restricted flexibility, where adding/removing an antenna is not straightforward. This talk focuses on an innovative flexible-antenna system, termed generalised pinching-antenna systems, and how such a new physical technology can reshape the future network architecture. The principles of generalized pinching-antenna systems are described first together with specific examples of generalized pinching-antenna systems, including Docomo’s dielectric waveguide based pinching antennas,  leaky coaxial cable (LCX), etc. In addition, promising 6G related applications of generalized pinching antennas, including environment division multiple access (EDMA), integrated sensing and communication, multi-cell interference management, etc, are also illustrated. Finally, important directions for future research, such as antenna/waveguide deployment, channel estimation, etc, are highlighted.

Biography

Zhiguo Ding is currently a Professor in Communications at Nanyang Technological University and an Academic Visitor at Princeton University. His research interests are 6G networks, communications and signal processing. His h-index is over 100 and his work receives 70,000+ Google citations. He is serving as the EiC of IEEE JSAC, an Area Editor for the IEEE TWC and OJSP, an Editor for IEEE TVT, and OJ-SP, and was an Area Editor for IEEE TCOM and OJCOMS, an Editor for IEEE TCOM, TWC, COMST, WCL, CL and WCMC. He received the best paper award of IET ICWMC-2009 and IEEE WCSP-2014, the EU Marie Curie Fellowship 2012-2014, the Top IEEE TVT Editor 2017, IEEE Heinrich Hertz Award 2018, IEEE Jack Neubauer Memorial Award 2018, IEEE Best Signal Processing Letter Award 2018, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award 2020, IEEE SPCC Technical Recognition Award 2021, IEEE VTS Best Magazine Paper Award 2023, and the Best Paper Award in IEEE GLOBCOM 2024. He is a Web of Science Highly Cited Researcher in two disciplines (2019-2025), and a Fellow of the IEEE.