On June 10–13, 2025, UNITY-6G partners took part in the 21st IEEE International Conference on Factory Communication Systems (WFCS 2025), held in Rostock, Germany. As the premier IEEE event dedicated to communication for industrial automation systems, WFCS 2025 offered a focused platform to explore cutting-edge research and practical developments shaping the future of industrial connectivity.
This year’s edition was hosted by the Institute of Applied Microelectronics and Computer Engineering (IMD) at the University of Rostock, in collaboration with Italy’s CNR-IEIIT, and supported by IEEE, IES, and the IEEE Technical Committee on Factory Automation.
Two UNITY-6G partners—Nokia and imec—played prominent roles in the program:
- Special Session by Nokia: Unlicensed Spectrum Technologies – The Next Frontier for Reliable Industrial Wireless
Nokia organized and led a special session (SS4) dedicated to exploring the role of unlicensed spectrum technologies such as Wi-Fi, LiFi, mmWave, and sub-THz in industrial communication systems. The session highlighted how a multi-technology approach leveraging Wi-Fi 6/7/8 and LiFi (802.11bb) can deliver flexible, cost-effective, and secure communication solutions for demanding industrial environments. Topics ranged from enhanced mobility and reliability techniques—like multi-link operation and coordinated APs—to the integration of Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) with Wi-Fi and LiFi, offering insights into how unlicensed spectrum can support next-generation industrial applications.
- Tutorial by imec: Openwifi and its Wireless Time-Sensitive Networking Extension
imec’s tutorial provided an in-depth look at openwifi, the first Linux-compatible, open-source Wi-Fi chip design, and its extension for Wireless Time-Sensitive Networking (W-TSN). Delivered by experts from imec and Ghent University, the session guided participants from the fundamentals of Wi-Fi chip design through to real-world demonstrations of W-TSN capabilities. Attendees gained hands-on insights into openwifi’s unique support for high-precision time synchronization, deterministic bootstrapping, and fast handovers—paving the way for new industrial applications requiring deterministic wireless communication. The session concluded with demos and an open discussion, highlighting how openwifi can help bridge the gap between wired TSN and wireless innovation.
UNITY-6G is proud to contribute to the ongoing conversation around industrial communication systems and the technologies enabling the future of 6G. Participation in events such as WFCS 2025 reinforces the project’s commitment to engaging with the broader research and industrial community to foster innovation, standardization, and technology transfer.
