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Integrated Sensing and Communications

Qualcomm sees 6G ISAC as both a network efficiency tool and a new service platform

Integrated sensing and communications, or ISAC, is shaping up as one of the clearest examples of how 6G could expand the role of mobile networks. The idea is to use the same infrastructure to make the network better at transporting data, and make the network more aware of the physical environment around it.

That dual value proposition came through in comments from Tao Luo, VP of Engineering at Qualcomm. “So a traditional network can do data communication…Because you already have a base station, the question is can you do a non-data service.” In Luo’s explanation, sensing is an important way to extend a cellular system beyond connectivity into environmental perception that can be used for other purposes with drone detection an emerging example. 

Understanding 6G use cases — inference, ISAC, digital twins and physical AI

For Qualcomm, the case for 6G is about building a network platform that can sense the environment, support distributed AI inference and model the real world in software. Together, those capabilities begin to define how 6G could support physical AI, a broad vision that connects robots, sensors, networks and edge compute into a coordinated system.

One of the clearest examples is ISAC, or integrated sensing and communications. Qualcomm Engineer Sam Kotla explained: “ISAC can be used for a variety of applications.” One of those is drone sensing, “where the base station is transmitting reference beams and then studying the receive signals, and from these signals you can actually extract information.” That can include identifying characteristics such as the size of an object or even a specific drone. As Kotla put it, “It’s really great for tracking aerial activity.”

Enabling 6G efficiency with digital twin network and sensing-enhanced communications​

With integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), 6G can leverage shared hardware and processing to streamline end‑to‑end operations. When sensing powers high‑fidelity radio digital twins — virtual replicas of the radio environment — operators can continuously fine‑tune network performance, reduce energy consumption, and unlock entirely new classes of services. This demo shows how network‑integrated RF sensing combined with AI enables the creation of scalable and continuously updated radio digital twins in 6G.

6G sensing and intelligent classification​

ISAC are poised to make 6G networks far more capable than today’s mobile networks, turning wireless infrastructure into an intelligent platform that can perceive and interpret activity in the physical world. This demo highlights how real‑time detection, tracking, and classification can extend mobile networks beyond connectivity to enable new applications for safety, security, and smart‑city intelligence. Through two live demonstrations — one focused on identifying and distinguishing drones in flight, and another on detecting vehicles within defined zones — we show how 6G sensing can build a dynamic understanding of the environment using the same networks that deliver mobile broadband. These advancements open the door to powerful new services for mobile operators and new possibilities for digital‑twin platforms.

Enabling parking lot vehicle detection with sensing

6G networks are evolving to not only connect devices, but also sense and perceive the environment. This demo highlights how integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) enables wireless networks to use RF signals for real‑time environmental awareness while maintaining reliable connectivity. We showcase wireless sensing applied to interpreting the physical world, with examples such as moving vehicle detection and tracking for large parking areas, pushing wireless service capabilities to new levels.

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