It is envisioned that 6G mobile networks will enhance and majorly empower the Industry 4.0 paradigm, evolving towards smart factories with optimized and customized services. Especially the smart factory scenario with high-capacity data communication, which requires the usage of new portions of the electromagnetic spectrum (mmWave/sub-THz), is presenting us with new challenges, both in communications and networking. This article discusses the new challenges arising from highcapacity data communications in smart factories. It proposes extensions to the current Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) standards for 6G networks to enable further evolution of Industry 4.0 and beyond. We motivate the need for real-time functionalities in O-RAN and an extended interface to the user equipment (UE) to allow for its fine-granular control.
