Dependable Connectivity for Industrial Wireless Communication Networks

Dependability - a system's ability to consistently provide reliable services by ensuring safety and maintainability in the face of internal or external disruptions - is a fundamental requirement for industrial wireless communication networks (IWCNs). While 5G ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) addresses some aspects of this challenge, its evolution toward holistic dependability in 6G must encompass reliability, availability, safety, and security. This paper provides a comprehensive framework for dependable IWCNs, bridging theory and practice. We first establish the theoretical foundations of dependability, including outlining its key attributes and presenting analytical tools to study it. Next, we explore practical enablers, such as adaptive multiple access schemes leveraging real-time monitoring and time-sensitive networking to ensure end-to-end determinism. A case study demonstrates how intelligent wake-up protocols improve event detection probability by orders of magnitude compared to conventional duty cycling. Finally, we outline open challenges and future directions for a 6G-driven dependable IWCN.