What is 6G?


6G is the next generation after 5G, aiming for much higher data rates (hundreds of Gbps, with Tbps feasible at very short range in THz research), sub-millisecond latency in specific scenarios, and massive capacity. It adds AI-native control and radio sensing, and will extend into frequencies above 100 GHz, including the THz range (~300 GHz–3 THz) for short-range ultra-high-throughput links. It also targets deeper fusion of terrestrial, aerial, and satellite systems for XR, digital twins, and autonomous machines. Digital Regulation+3ericsson.com+3dataTec+3

Why it matters

  • Latency: toward sub-ms E2E in controlled industrial settings; ~0.1 ms at the air interface is a goal. Keysight
  • Scale: connectivity beyond 5G’s 1 M devices/km² for massive IoT. Antenova Blog
  • AI-native ops: ML at every layer—spectrum use, beamforming, fault prediction—making networks more autonomous. ScienceDirect

Status & timeline
Still in R&D; 3GPP Release 21 is expected to deliver the first 6G specifications, aligning with commercial availability ~2030. Trials and pre-commercial devices may appear late-2020s. 3GPP+2ericsson.com+2

OTR is a decentralized, MAC-authenticated relay mesh. Today it rides over 5G-Advanced private cells and other radios; tomorrow it rides over 6G radios with the same topology, tokens, and policies. Validators earn OTA/WOTA for moving bytes, meeting QoS, and contributing RF intelligence—regardless of whether the backhaul is 5G-A or 6G.

The Stack (Simple View)

Radio Layer (now → 6G later)
Private 5G-Advanced today (CBRS/licensed, IAB, NTN). Drop-in upgrade to 6G radios when available.

OTR Overlay
MAC-address mesh + store-and-forward + L2/L3 tunnels. No IP/DNS required inside the mesh.

TAP / KYA (Control & Compliance)
On-chain policy & identity for agents/devices. Policies can shape slices, rate-limit UEs, or shift links—always with provenance.

Data Market (CTX / DDT)
Every decision & artifact (e.g., interference map, SINR heatmap) is logged as CTX (context) and DDT (derived data), mintable to our Data Access Market.

Why Pair OTR With 6G?

  • Coverage without fiber: 6G (and 5G-A) microcells + OTR relays give resilient backhaul in places fiber can’t reach.
  • Deterministic QoS: Policies can prioritize OTR traffic via slices and rate limits—validators get paid for keeping QoS.
  • AI-native control: As 6G bakes in AI at the RAN, TAP policies can steer beams/bands using real-time telemetry (operator/permitted networks).
  • Monetized RF intelligence: Validators can publish RF features (occupancy, interference) as DDTs and earn.

What Ships Today vs. What’s Next

Today (5G-Advanced “6G-ready”):

  • OTR relays run over private 5G-A cells (including CBRS in the U.S.), repeaters/IAB, and optional NTN.
  • Validators earn OTA/WOTA for: bytes relayed, QoS kept (latency/jitter/loss), coverage provided, uptime, and RF-intel bounties.
  • TAP/KYA policies can throttle/prioritize OTR traffic on networks you operate or have permission to control.

Next (when 6G radios are available):

  • Swap the radio layer; keep OTR validators, TAP/KYA, and payouts unchanged.
  • Add higher bands (incl. >100 GHz/THz where legal) for short-range ultra-throughput links; OTR auto-falls back to sub-6 GHz/mmWave/LoRa as needed.

Validator Earnings (Transparent & Game-Resistant)

Per epoch:reward = R * ( w_b * norm(bytes) # throughput moved
+ w_q * QoSscore # SLA kept: latency/jitter/loss
+ w_c * coverage # scarce areas / IAB hops
+ w_i * intel ) # CTX/DDT RF artifacts

payout = reward * policy_multipliers -> sent on-chain to validator wallet

Slashing to 0 for policy/KYA violations. Bonuses for uptime and scarce-coverage relays.

Reference Topologies

1) Private Cell + OTR Backhaul

  • Small cell (n77/n78/CBRS) → OTR validator provides tunnel/backhaul to the mesh.
  • Use slices to isolate OTR traffic.
  • Optional IAB to extend street-level coverage.

2) Sensing Relays

  • Jetson/SDR node runs spectrum jobs → publishes DDTs (interference maps, PRB heat) → earns intel bounties.

3) NTN Assist

  • Where terrestrial links are down, validators use satellite (LEO/GEO) for store-and-forward. OTR masks higher latency.

API Hooks (for Operator/Private Networks)

When allowed by the network you operate or integrate with, TAP exposes policy-driven actions:

  • setSliceQos(sliceId, {prio, mbr, gbr})
  • rateLimitUE(ueId|imsi, kbps)
  • setBeamWeights(ruId, sector, weights[])
  • setTxPower(ruId, dBm)
  • handoverUE(ueId, targetCellId)
  • toggleIABLink(linkId, state)

Every action emits CTX/DDT evidence for audit and revenue sharing.

Deploy in Days (Pilot Recipe)

  • Radio: One private 5G-A cell (CBRS/licensed) or lab SDR; add IAB if needed.
  • Edge: 1–2 OTR validators (x86 or Jetson), GPSDO if driving radios.
  • Control: TAP/KYA service + policy set (“OTR U-plane slice, priority 7, MBR 50 Mbps”).
  • Observability: Prometheus + Grafana (we ship dashboards).
  • Outcome: Validators relay traffic and/or publish RF DDTs → get paid in OTA/WOTA.

FAQ

Can validators earn over “6G”?
Yes—same payout loop. Today they earn over 5G-Advanced; as 6G radios arrive, they earn over 6G without changing roles.

Do you need an operator’s permission to shape traffic?
Only on networks you control or are authorized to manage. OTR always functions as an overlay; policy actions respect operator rules.

What about THz range limits?
High bands give huge throughput at short range. OTR handles fallback (mmWave/sub-6/LoRa) automatically to keep paths alive.