Achieving More with Less: Measurements and Datasets for Resilient 6G

Keynote recorded at: IEEE International Conference on Communications 2025 Presenters: Nada Golmie, IEEE Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA Achieving more with less is a defining challenge for 6G, as the push for smarter, adaptive, and autonomous networks must contend with growing constraints in energy and data resources. At the heart of this vision is the integration of communication, sensing, and AI/ML. However, the development and validation of AI/ML-driven 6G capabilities depend not simply on having data, but on access to well-curated, high-quality datasets with reliable benchmarks and ground truth—critical for repeatability, side-by-side comparisons, and rigorous evaluation of algorithms. This presentation will examine the essential role of comprehensive measurement campaigns and reliable datasets in enabling key 6G functions such as integrated sensing and communication, intelligent resource management, and network self-optimization. We will discuss the unique measurement challenges posed by 6G, including operation at different frequency bands, multi-modal sensing requirements, and increased energy constraints. We will highlight the need for a trustworthy, standardized, and globally accessible data ecosystem that can support reproducible research and benchmarking in AI/ML-driven communications. The talk will showcase examples of ongoing collaborative efforts aimed at data sharing and “golden dataset” creation and explore how these initiatives can empower robust AI/ML models capable of maintaining reliable performance under real-world complexity, variability, and resource limitations.