A survey on 6G and O-RAN intelligence: Semantic protocols, protocol learning, and AI-enabled semantic protocols

This paper presents a comprehensive survey of semantic protocols, protocol learning, and AI-enabled semantic protocols within the context of Open RAN and 6G networks. We systematically review the significant progress achieved in these domains, highlighting key methods such as transformer-based semantic encoders, reinforcement learning–driven protocol adaptation, and federated learning frameworks for distributed training. Across surveyed studies, notable achievements include bandwidth savings of 35-70%, improved robustness under noisy conditions, and enhanced interoperability in multi-vendor environments. By consolidating findings, we identify major challenges such as the lack of standardized semantic KPIs, computational overhead at the edge, interoperability issues, and emerging security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, we categorize open research opportunities into theoretical, methodological, technical, and implementation directions, providing a clear roadmap for future development. This survey ultimately positions semantic communication and AI-enabled protocols as pivotal enablers for meaning-centric, adaptive, and efficient next-generation O-RAN/6G networks.