Goodbye to 5G?

How 6G will be the true game-changer for connectivity

The world may still be in the throes of rolling out 5G networks, but the debate is starting to move on to what 6G might look like and what it might deliver: and it could be quite a leap forward

With the global 5G rollout now well underway, it may seem a little too early to start wondering what the future holds for internet connectivity. Many experts have labelled 5G a game-changer for the digital world we live in, with its expanded capabilities likely to impact every corner of society. Numerous industries have worked themselves into a lather over 5G as they strive to build on the significant inroads they have made since the turn of the century.

The sports sector today is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy, with this multibillion-dollar global behemoth beginning to benefit massively from 5G technology. Its integration with other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) is transforming how people engage with sporting events around the world.

However, while 5G is hugely exciting for industries of this nature, it looks guaranteed to be just the forerunner to a technology which will truly change the game. 6G is the one where mobile is going to realise its true potential.

The United States has already revealed its strategies for 6G, which could give it a significant head start in the race to lead the development of future telecom networks.

Among the elements expected to benefit from 6G are cognitive applications, global 3D connectivity and extended reality (XR), highlighting how it will transform digital experiences. These and other emerging technologies require superfast speeds, massive bandwidth and low latency to ensure those experiences live up to expectations.

This undoubtedly bears similarities to the obstacles previously faced by VR, which was let down by the capability limitations imposed by 4G connectivity. One of the biggest challenges facing telecommunications companies during the rollout of 6G will be handling the logistics surrounding the frequency spectrum. Accommodating the high-frequency Terahertz (THz) spectrum will require the construction of new cell towers which do not fall foul of environmental legislation.

With 2030 slated as the year when the global rollout of 6G occurs, time is of the essence to ensure the worldwide infrastructure is fit for purpose. Assuming there are no significant hiccups along the way, the transition from 5G to 6G mobile network technology could be truly transformational.

Poor connectivity in isolated regions should become a thing of the past, thus ensuring that every citizen can seamlessly engage with digital technology. By harnessing the forecast speeds of 6G, numerous industries will be able to more effectively leverage emerging technologies such as AI and VR.

Augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) technologies will become far more prevalent, further enhancing how people digitally interact with the world around them.

With the world still in the midst of the 5G rollout, some people may believe that it is much too soon to start thinking about 6G and its potential impact. However, the phrase ‘time and tide wait for no man’ undoubtedly rings true where digital advancements are concerned.

Research by Juniper Research in February of this year predicted that there could be 290 million global users of 6G by 2030. And, as we reported a back in the last issue of Telemedia Magazine, operators are being urged to up their game with deploying 5G Advanced, which evolves 5G to its fullest, richest capabilities, creating a foundation for more demanding applications and a wider range of use cases than ever before with a truly immersive user experience based on extended reality (XR) features. This is widely seen as the first steps towards 6G.

A separate study by Juniper Research predicts the benefits of 5G Advanced will be instrumental in the growth of IoT sectors, including automotive and mobile broadband. In turn, it forecasts there will be over 360 million 5G IoT devices using public network by 2028; a substantial growth from 35 million devices in 2024.

With the world on an inevitable march towards 6G connectivity, the day is probably not too far away when people start speculating about 7G.