Cross-Layer Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Joint Industrial and Academic Perspective

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) enables radio systems to simultaneously sense and communicate with their environment. This paper, developed within the Hexa-X-II project funded by the European Union, presents a comprehensive cross-layer vision for ISAC in 6G networks, integrating insights from physical-layer design, hardware architectures, AI-driven intelligence, and protocol-level innovations. We begin by revisiting the foundational principles of ISAC, highlighting synergies and trade-offs between sensing and communication across different integration levels. Enabling technologies (such as multiband operation, massive and distributed MIMO, non-terrestrial networks, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and machine learning) are analyzed in conjunction with hardware considerations including waveform design, synchronization, and full-duplex operation. To bridge implementation and system-level evaluation, we introduce a quantitative cross-layer framework linking design parameters to key performance and value indicators. By synthesizing perspectives from both academia and industry, this paper outlines how deeply integrated ISAC can transform 6G into a programmable and context-aware platform supporting applications from reliable wireless access to autonomous mobility and digital twinning.

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Publication Details

Journal
IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/ojcoms.2025.3595459
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.19

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article

Cross-Layer Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Joint Industrial and Academic Perspective

Vasileios Tsekenis, Antonio de la Oliva, Nabeel Nisar Bhat, Athanasios Stavridis et al.
3 citations
IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society
Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices
2.19
article

Cross-Layer Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Joint Industrial and Academic Perspective

Vasileios Tsekenis, Antonio de la Oliva, Nabeel Nisar Bhat, Athanasios Stavridis, Rreze Halili, Bilal Khan, Sokratis Barmpounakis, Rafael Berkvens, Katsuyuki Haneda, Gerhard Fettweis, Akshay Jain, Prajnamaya Dass, Hamed Farhadi, Ahmad Nimr, Henk Wymeersch, Claude Desset, Nuutti Tervo, Pekka Kyösti, Özgür Umut Akgül, Simon Lindberg, Jeroen Famaey, Musa Furkan Keskin, Aarno Pärssinen, Απόστολος Κουσαρίδας, Emad Ibrahim, Sylvaine Kerboeuf, Liping Bai, Stefan Wänstedt, Stefan Köpsell, Hao Guo, Sharief Saleh, Tommy Svensson, Shrayan Das, Sonika Ujjwal, Basuki Priyanto, Hui Chen, Yu Ge, Siddhartha Kumar, Mohammad Hossein Moghaddam, Martin Beale, Abdur Rahman Mohamed Ismail, Victor Pettersson, Joerg Ahlendorf
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) enables radio systems to simultaneously sense and communicate with their environment. This paper, developed within the Hexa-X-II project funded by the European Union, presents a comprehensive cross-layer vision for ISAC in 6G networks, integrating insights from physical-layer design, hardware architectures, AI-driven intelligence, and protocol-level innovations. We begin by revisiting the foundational principles of ISAC, highlighting synergies and trade-offs between sensing and communication across different integration levels. Enabling technologies (such as multiband operation, massive and distributed MIMO, non-terrestrial networks, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and machine learning) are analyzed in conjunction with hardware considerations including waveform design, synchronization, and full-duplex operation. To bridge implementation and system-level evaluation, we introduce a quantitative cross-layer framework linking design parameters to key performance and value indicators. By synthesizing perspectives from both academia and industry, this paper outlines how deeply integrated ISAC can transform 6G into a programmable and context-aware platform supporting applications from reliable wireless access to autonomous mobility and digital twinning.

IEEE Open Journal of the Communications SocietyVol. 6
Ericsson (Sweden) (SE), University of Antwerp (BE), Vodafone (Germany) (DE), Nokia (Finland) (FI), Qamcom Research and Technology (Sweden) (SE), WINGS ICT Solutions (Greece) (GR), Barkhausen Institut (DE), IMEC (BE), Province of Antwerp (BE), NXP (Germany) (DE), Sony (Sweden) (SE), Nokia (France) (FR), Nokia (Germany) (DE), Ericsson (Finland) (FI), Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (ES), Chalmers University of Technology (SE), Technische Universität Dresden (DE), University of Oulu (FI), Aalto University (FI)
HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices
2.19
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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