Next G Alliance Sets the Innovation Inherent in 6G Integrated Sensing and Communication into Action with New ISAC Data Initiative
WASHINGTON, June 2, 2026 —
The leading North American authority on 6G, Next G Alliance (NGA), today announced the launch of a new initiative focused on Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC). The initiative will help the information and communications technology (ICT) industry advance its understanding of how sensing data generated by mobile networks can be packaged, stored, transported, and delivered to end-user systems. Initial focus will be on both drone and vehicle detection as well as environmental sensing applications, highlighting U.S. government agency needs including those of the Departments of War, Homeland Security, Transportation, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service.
The inaugural ISAC Data Initiative open meeting is scheduled for June 10 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Representatives from interested organizations are invited.
To participate register here.
ISAC introduces sensing as a native capability of the communications network. By combining radar-like sensing and wireless communications within a unified system, ISAC enables capabilities that extend well beyond today’s networks. This integration supports applications ranging from detecting the presence, movement, and characteristics of objects within network coverage areas to improving network performance through enhanced environmental and channel awareness.
The new ISAC Data Initiative represents an industry-first effort to explore how sensing data from 6G-enabled networks can be standardized, managed, and delivered for real-world applications across public sector and critical infrastructure environments. Initial areas of exploration may include transportation safety, weather and environmental monitoring, infrastructure awareness, emergency response, and situational intelligence.
“ISAC presents a revolutionary spatial sensing capability that can be offered at an unprecedented scale,” said Jaydee Griffith, Managing Director, NGA and Technical Lead for the NGA ISAC Data Initiative. “This initiative will tackle one of the largest challenges to reaping the benefits of ISAC: how we synthesize, package, and distribute sensing data from mobile networks.”
NGA ISAC Data Initiative Leadership:
- Brian Daly (AT&T), Co-Chair
- Havish Koorapaty (Ericsson), Co-Chair
- Doug Castor (InterDigital), Co-Chair
“Integrated Sensing and Communications creates a powerful new radio-based sensing capability within the network, but realizing its value requires more than sensing alone,” said Brian Daly, AVP, Wireless Technology & Standards, AT&T and Co-Chair of the NGA ISAC Data Initiative. “Today’s work has largely focused on waveforms and sensing performance, yet the real impact comes from ensuring that sensing-derived information can be delivered in a usable way to the systems that ultimately make decisions and take action. This initiative is focused on closing that gap—defining how ISAC data is packaged, delivered, and integrated into existing operational environments.”
“Use of the mobile network infrastructure for sensing through Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) is rapidly gaining significant interest as a new service in the 6G time frame,” said Havish Koorapaty, Co-Chair of the NGA Steering Group and the NGA ISAC Data Initiative, and Vice President of Standards and Industry Initiatives for the Americas at Ericsson. “ISAC can serve a diverse set of use cases ranging from detection of drones to environmental sensing. Understanding the requirements for data exposure to third parties for these use cases is important to ensure that ISAC in 6G networks can serve them appropriately. This initiative will provide a forum for key stakeholders to advance this goal.”
“ISAC will bring to 6G a powerful sensing capability. Realizing the potential for consumers will require common data models, trusted sources, and interoperable delivery interfaces,” said Doug Castor, Co-Chair of the NGA ISAC Data Initiative and Steering Group and Vice President of Wireless Research at InterDigital. “InterDigital is proud to join in leading this initiative and advance the foundation that will move ISAC from research to deployment and adoption.”
Be a part of this ground-breaking work. Register for the NGA ISAC Data Initiative open kick-off meeting.
MORE ABOUT ISAC: ATIS’ Next G Alliance has developed the landmark industry report on integrated sensing and communication for 6G innovation. Access
Integrated Sensing and Communications Readiness Report, Phase I.
