Innovation
How 40 Years of Wireless Turned Networks Into Sensing Platforms
From analog 1G voice calls to AI-powered 5G infrastructure, four decades of wireless standards have transformed mobile networks from communication channels into pervasive environmental sensing platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Four decades of wireless standards evolution has transformed networks from voice channels into pervasive sensing platforms using ISAC technology
- 5G's wide bandwidth and dense antenna arrays enable passive sensing of people, vehicles, and environments from existing cellular signals
- 6G specifications being developed globally include ISAC as a first-class capability, raising governance questions about network-generated surveillance data
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DT Editorial AI··via spectrum.ieee.org