ETSI report maps 6G sensing architecture issues now entering network planning cycles
SHERIDAN, WYOMING - March 31, 2026 - Telecom architecture teams heading into 2026 face a broader design brief as future 6G planning now has to account for sensing functions alongside communications, affecting RAN design, privacy controls, mobility handling and exposure of sensing results. ETSI's Industry Specification Group on Integrated Sensing and Communications has published ETSI GR ISC 003, a report focused on 6G ISAC system and RAN architectures. The document defines architectural foundations for integrating advanced sensing capabilities into future 6G systems and builds on earlier ISAC work. It examines 17 key challenges across system architecture, RAN architecture and lower-layer RAN, then sets out potential approaches to address them.