TaNTIN: Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Integrated Networks-A collaborative technologies perspective for beyond 5G and 6G

Akhtar, Muhammad Waseem; Hassan, Syed Ali

The world is moving toward globalization rapidly. Everybody has easy access to information with the spread of Internet technology. Businesses are growing beyond national borders. Internationalization affects every aspect of life. In this scenario, by dispersing functions and tasks across organizational borders, time and space, global organizations have higher requirements for collaboration. In order to allow decision-makers and knowledge workers, situated at different times and spaces, to work more efficiently, collaborative technologies are needed. In this paper, we give an overview of potential collaborative technologies, their benefits, risks and challenges, types, and elements. Based on the conceptualization of terrestrial and non-terrestrial integrated networks (TaNTIN), we highlight artificial intelligence (AI), blockchains, tactile Internet, mobile edge computing (MEC)/fog computing, augmented reality and virtual reality, and so forth as the key features to ensure quality-of-service (QoS) guarantee of futuristic collaborative services such as telemedicine, e-education, online gaming, online businesses, the entertainment industry. We also discuss how these technologies will impact human life in the near future.