e& UAE and Khalifa University Publish Industry 6G ISAC Roadmap in IEEE Journal
ABU DHABI — e& UAE and Khalifa University have published a joint industry-focused study in the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, establishing a deployment and commercial framework for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) in 6G networks.
Titled "Integrated Sensing and Communication in 6G: A Comprehensive Survey of Use Cases, Enabling Technologies, Standardization Roadmap, and Monetization Frameworks," the peer-reviewed research transitions the industry focus from conceptual network design to practical deployment, standardization pathways, and monetization models for telecom operators, government entities, and enterprise verticals.
ISAC is positioned as a defining capability of sixth-generation (6G) wireless systems, enabling mobile networks to run high-speed communications and environmental radar-like sensing simultaneously using shared radio infrastructure, spectrum, and signal-processing capabilities. By reusing existing base stations and cellular spectrum, operators can deliver wide-area spatial sensing at a significantly lower incremental cost than deploying standalone radar, camera, or IoT sensor networks.
The publication evaluates over 30 ISAC use cases across eight industry domains, applying a multi-criteria prioritization framework based on technical feasibility, market scale, monetization potential, time-to-market, and strategic value. The research identifies industrial automation, connected transportation, and low-altitude airspace/drone management as the strongest immediate commercial opportunities.
"The value of 6G will depend on the industry's ability to translate advanced technologies into deployable services and sustainable business models," Marwan Bin Shakar, Chief Technology Officer at e& UAE, said in a statement. "This joint applied research provides a practical framework for identifying where integrated sensing can create value and how investment, network evolution, and standardization can be aligned."
Prof. Bayan Sharif, Provost of Khalifa University, noted that the initiative highlights the impact of bringing together academic excellence and industry expertise. "Beyond advancing scientific knowledge, this work contributes to the development of international 6G standards while supporting Abu Dhabi's vision of building a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy," Sharif said in a statement.
The paper also outlines concrete monetization frameworks for carriers—including Sensing-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms, secure sensing APIs, vertical enterprise solutions, sensing-enabled network slices, and context-aware location services—while benchmarking progress across international standard bodies such as 3GPP, ITU-R IMT-2030, ETSI ISG ISAC, and IEEE 802.11bf.
