6G-Enabled IoT for Next-Generation Vehicular Communication

Abstract

The rapid evolution of sixth-generation (6G) wireless communication is poised to transform next-generation vehicular networks by enabling highly reliable, intelligent, and ultra-low-latency connectivity. This article investigates the core technological foundations of 6G—including terahertz (THz) communication, massive MIMO, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), and URLLC+—and explains how they collectively strengthen the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) ecosystem. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of network slicing as a key enabler for supporting heterogeneous vehicular applications ranging from safety-critical services to infotainment systems. Scalability challenges in dense vehicular environments are addressed through techniques such as AI-driven spectrum management, interference mitigation, and RIS-assisted coverage enhancement. Additionally, the article highlights green IoT strategies for minimizing energy consumption through task offloading, edge computing, and renewable-energy-powered infrastructures. A performance analysis using synthetic datasets demonstrates realistic trends in latency, reliability, spectral efficiency, slice utilization, and energy consumption. Results illustrate the significant improvements achievable with RIS, THz bands, and edge-enabled optimization. Overall, this work provides a unified overview of how 6G and IoT technologies will reshape autonomous transportation systems, enabling safer, more sustainable, and highly efficient vehicular communication networks.