Cross-Layer Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Joint Industrial and Academic Perspective
Journal article, 2025
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.
integrated sensing and communication
joint sensing and communication
cross-layer
6G
Author
Henk Wymeersch
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Nuutti Tervo
University of Oulu
Stefan Wanstedt
Ericsson
Sharief Saleh
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Joerg Ahlendorf
NXP
Ozgur Akgul
Nokia
Vasileios Tsekenis
WINGS ICT Solutions
S. Barmpounakis
WINGS ICT Solutions
Liping Bai
Martin Beale
Sony Corporation
Rafael Berkvens
University of Antwerp
IMEC
Nabeel Nisar Bhat
IMEC
University of Antwerp
Hui Chen
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Shrayan Das
University of Oulu
Claude Desset
IMEC
Antonio De La Oliva
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Prajnamaya Dass
BARKHAUSEN INSTITUT
Jeroen Famaey
University of Antwerp
IMEC
Hamed Farhadi
Ericsson
G. Fettweis
Technische Universität Dresden
Yu Ge
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Hao Guo
New York University
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Rreze Halili
University of Antwerp
IMEC
Katsuyuki Haneda
Aalto University
Abdur Rahman Mohamed Ismail
Ghent university
IMEC
Akshay Jain
Nokia
Sylvaine Kerboeuf
Nokia
Musa Furkan Keskin
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Emad Ibrahim
Ericsson
Bilal Khan
University of Oulu
Siddhartha Kumar
Qamcom Research & Technology
Stefan Kopsell
BARKHAUSEN INSTITUT
A. Kousaridas
Nokia
Pekka Kyosti
Keysight Technologies
University of Oulu
Simon Lindberg
Qamcom Research & Technology
Mohammad H. Moghaddam
Qamcom Research & Technology
Ahmad Nimr
Technische Universität Dresden
Victor Pettersson
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Aarno Parssinen
University of Oulu
Basuki Priyanto
Sony Corporation
Athanasios Stavridis
Ericsson
Tommy Svensson
Chalmers, Electrical Engineering, Communication, Antennas and Optical Networks
Sonika Ujjwal
Ericsson
IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society
2644125X (eISSN)
Vol. 6 6966-7015Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Communication Systems
Telecommunications
Signal Processing
DOI
10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3595459