The main 3GPP document for 6G use cases is TR 22.870, titled Study on 6G Use Cases and Service Requirements. This is a Stage 1 study from SA1, and it provides the service-level starting point for later 6G work in RAN, system architecture, security, management, charging, and core-network protocols.
At a high level, the 6G use cases identified by 3GPP are not limited to faster mobile broadband. They cover a broader system vision, including immersive communication, AI-related services, integrated sensing and communication, ubiquitous connectivity, massive device communication, industrial and vertical-domain services, critical communication, and sustainable network operation. In this sense, 6G is being studied not only as a higher-capacity radio system, but also as a more intelligent, sensing-capable, distributed, and service-aware communication platform.
No. |
Use Case Area |
High-Level Description |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Immersive Communication |
One major 6G use-case direction is enhanced human communication and immersive experience. This includes advanced XR, holographic-type communication, multi-sensory communication, and real-time interactive media. The goal is to support applications where users do not only exchange voice, video, or data, but experience a more realistic digital environment with very low latency, high capacity, and high reliability. |
|
2 |
AI-Related Communication |
Another important direction is AI-related communication. In 6G, AI is not viewed only as an internal network optimization tool. 3GPP also studies use cases where AI services, AI agents, and distributed intelligence may communicate through the 6G system. This may include AI-assisted service delivery, communication between AI agents, AI model distribution, and network support for intelligent applications. |
|
3 |
Integrated Sensing and Communication |
Integrated sensing and communication is another key 6G use-case area. In this concept, the radio system is not used only for data transmission. It may also support sensing of objects, movement, location, distance, velocity, or environmental conditions. This can be useful for smart transportation, industrial automation, public safety, robotics, and digital twin applications. |
|
4 |
Ubiquitous Connectivity |
Ubiquitous connectivity means that 6G should provide connectivity more broadly and continuously than previous generations. This includes terrestrial and non-terrestrial network integration, such as satellite or airborne platforms, and support for remote, rural, maritime, aerial, and disaster-recovery scenarios. The target is not only higher speed in dense urban areas, but also more consistent service availability across many environments. |
|
5 |
Massive Communication |
Massive communication and low-power connectivity remain important for 6G. The system is expected to support a very large number of devices, sensors, machines, and embedded systems. These devices may have very different requirements from smartphones. Some may need very low power consumption, low cost, long battery lifetime, or small data transmission, while others may need high reliability or precise timing. |
|
6 |
Industrial and Vertical Services |
Industrial and vertical use cases include smart factories, smart logistics, healthcare, energy systems, transportation, agriculture, public safety, and other domain-specific applications. The common point is that 6G should support specialized service requirements such as deterministic communication, high reliability, precise positioning, sensing support, strong security, and integration with local or private networks. |
|
7 |
Critical Communication |
6G is also expected to support services that require very high reliability, availability, and resilience. These may include public safety, emergency response, remote operation, industrial control, and other services where communication failure can have serious consequences. For these use cases, latency, reliability, coverage, security, and recovery from failure are all important service-level requirements. |
|
8 |
Network Automation and Service Flexibility |
3GPP also considers operational and system-level aspects as part of the 6G use-case study. This includes network automation, service flexibility, dynamic resource control, and support for different service types over the same network platform. These are not always end-user applications, but they are important because 6G is expected to operate as a highly automated and adaptable system. |
|
9 |
Sustainability and Energy Efficiency |
Sustainability is another important 6G direction. 6G is expected to support energy-efficient network operation, reduced power consumption, and more sustainable service delivery. This applies not only to the UE side, but also to the radio network, core network, data centers, and overall service operation. |
In simple terms, the 3GPP 6G use cases can be summarized as follows: 6G should support richer human experiences, AI-native services, sensing-assisted services, connectivity everywhere, massive device communication, industrial automation, critical services, and sustainable network operation. Compared with 5G, the scope is broader. 5G was strongly driven by mobile broadband, URLLC, and massive IoT, while 6G is being studied as a more intelligent, sensing-capable, and globally connected service platform.