WILMINGTON, DE — InterDigital Inc. (Nasdaq: IDCC) and Türk Telekom said they have demonstrated what they describe as the first implementation of collaborative cellular and Wi-Fi sensing using a preliminary 6G architecture, during research conducted at Türk Telekom’s Innovation and Test Center in Ankara.
The companies said the project combined sensing data from cellular and Wi-Fi networks to improve sensing accuracy, maintain service continuity and reduce blind spots, particularly in indoor environments.
The demonstration is based on Integrated Sensing and Communication, or ISAC, a proposed component of 6G networks that enables wireless infrastructure to support both data communication and environmental sensing. The companies said the approach builds on architectural concepts outlined in the first release of the ETSI ISAC Industry Specification Group.
“Our achievement is not just a research milestone, but a preview of how future networks will sense, adapt, and intelligently serve people and industries,” Rajesh Pankaj, chief technology officer of InterDigital, said in a statement. He said one challenge for ISAC is maintaining reliable sensing performance amid coverage gaps and resource constraints.
Türk Telekom Chief Network Officer Zafer Orhan said the collaboration demonstrates how 6G could combine communication and sensing capabilities, adding that collaborative cellular and Wi-Fi sensing could support applications in manufacturing, healthcare and intelligent buildings.
According to the companies, the demonstration showed near real-time indoor human presence detection with greater resilience than single-network sensing approaches.
Tiago Rodrigues, chief executive officer of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said the project aligns with ongoing efforts to advance Wi-Fi and cellular convergence as part of 6G development.
InterDigital said the findings are expected to inform future network architecture and standards development as industry research progresses toward potential 6G commercialization in the early 2030s.