What 6G Could Mean for the Future of Connectivity

• Industry consensus is forming around the cmWave band (7–15 GHz) for general traffic, offering a balance between speed and signal reliability.
• The industry is now focused on identifying “killer apps” that justify the investment in 6G infrastructure.
• This historical footnote underscores how long the journey of wireless communication has been, and how each leap forward often builds on ideas that were ahead of their time.

Wireless communication has evolved dramatically since the 19th century, with each generation introducing new capabilities and reshaping how people connect. According to a new report from IDTechEx, titled “6G Market 2026–2036: Technology, Trends, Forecasts, Players,” the telecom industry is preparing for the next major leap: 6G. Expected to enter commercial use around 2030, 6G promises faster speeds, lower latency, and expanded integration with satellite and high-altitude platforms. The report explores how this new standard could address the limitations of 5G and unlock novel applications.

Technical Foundations and Spectrum Strategy

6G aims to deliver theoretical peak speeds of up to 1 terabit per second, significantly surpassing 5G’s capabilities. Achieving this will require new radio designs, advanced semiconductors, and antenna architectures such as distributed MIMO. Technologies like Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) may help mitigate signal attenuation at higher frequencies, improving coverage in dense urban areas. Integration with non-terrestrial networks is also expected to play a larger role, extending connectivity beyond traditional ground-based infrastructure.

Spectrum allocation remains a key challenge. Industry consensus is forming around the cmWave band (7–15 GHz) for general traffic, offering a balance between speed and signal reliability. For high-speed scenarios, mmWave (24–100 GHz) and Sub-THz (100–300 GHz) bands are under consideration, though both face significant attenuation issues. These higher bands may be limited to specific environments like stadiums or require repeaters and RIS to be viable. IDTechEx notes that spectrum competition from military, Wi-Fi, and legacy mobile services will influence final allocations.

Searching for Meaningful Applications

Historically, each wireless generation has introduced transformative features: 2G brought SMS, 3G enabled mobile internet, and 4G delivered broadband-level speeds. While 5G was marketed as a revolutionary upgrade, its most notable success has been fixed wireless access (FWA), which provides broadband-like service without physical cabling. Many of the anticipated 5G applications—such as autonomous driving and digital twins—have yet to achieve widespread adoption.

The industry is now focused on identifying “killer apps” that justify the investment in 6G infrastructure. Concepts like integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) are gaining traction, using high-frequency signals to detect and track objects in real time. Other potential use-cases include enhanced edge computing, immersive virtual environments, and AI-driven network optimization. IDTechEx emphasizes that conventional data speed improvements alone are unlikely to drive 6G adoption; monetizable innovations will be essential.

Outlook and Industry Implications

Standardization efforts for 6G are already underway, with stakeholders exploring technical frameworks and deployment models. The report suggests that 6G will not only improve performance but also reshape network architecture and service delivery. Operators may need to rethink infrastructure strategies, balancing terrestrial and non-terrestrial assets to meet coverage and capacity demands. Collaboration across sectors—including semiconductor, satellite, and software industries—will be critical to realizing 6G’s potential.

As the telecom landscape evolves, the pressure to deliver meaningful returns on investment remains high. IDTechEx argues that without compelling applications, 6G risks repeating the underwhelming rollout of 5G. The search for transformative use-cases will likely define the next decade of wireless innovation. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage early in shaping standards, spectrum policy, and ecosystem development.

Alexander Graham Bell’s 1880 experiment transmitting voice via light beams—considered a precursor to fiber optics—was conducted decades before radio became mainstream. This historical footnote underscores how long the journey of wireless communication has been, and how each leap forward often builds on ideas that were ahead of their time.