Peter & Christina Go To Cambridge: Insights from a 6G Symposium 

Author: Peter Jarich, Head of GSMA Intelligence and Christina Patsioura, Lead Analyst, IoT & Enterprise

The Cambridge 6G Symposium came hot on the heels of the 3GPP’s 6G workshop held in Incheon South Korea. Where the latter included a series of breakneck series of 6G vision presentations and submissions from companies across the mobile ecosystem, the former was a more intimate affair. But bringing together a select set of academics and operators, along with infrastructure and silicon suppliers provided a unique set of insights into the question we’re all trying to answer – what do we want from 6G? 

From GSMA Intelligence, I attended with Christina Patsioura (Lead Analyst, Enterprise and IoT). We both came away with the same overarching impression; there is incredible anticipation for what we can accomplish with 6G, along with a recognition that we need to learn from the sins of the past. We also went in with different perspectives and technical focuses, resulting in different takeaways. 

Christina’s Lens 

• Learn from 5G rollouts – It’s well understood that monetizing 5G investments has proven challenging, with promises of tapping into B2B sales being dramatically over-hyped. RoI, then, needs to be front-and-centre in 6G planning alongside loftier goals of 6G serving societal demands in terms of near-ubiquitous connectivity, that will transform the lives of the many, as well as security and energy efficiency.  

• Focus on customer needs – At a 6G event with an audience of academics and researchers, there was an expectation that technical innovation would dominate the presentations and panels. To be sure, topics like THz spectrum, integrated sensing and communications (ISAC), and AI-native RAN were on the agenda. Tech talk, however, was balanced by frequent reminders that we need to align 6G capabilities with actual user demands while acknowledging that future network infrastructure should also allow for dynamic reaction to ever evolving market demands (EG, reduced mobility for servicing a factory with static assets).  

• Avoid “Race to 6G” – As with 5G, it’s expected that many operators will rush to deploy 6G technologies and gain a marketing leg-up on competitors. This belies the fact that research, technology and standards development is a continuum and detracts from the improvements that these standards (or even pre-6G evolutions) deliver.  

Peter’s Lens 

• A 6G Event without much 6G. The focus on 6G use cases and aspirations vs. a tech-heavy 6G innovation focus was certainly welcome. But, combined with a prevalence of 5G Era technologies getting called out – EG, NTN, AI integration, open networks and API exposure –you might be forgiven if you showed up and didn’t know it was a 6G event.  

• 6G vs. NTN. Integration of mobile technologies and satellite or high-altitude delivery platforms got plenty of airtime at the Symposium. Much more than expected. To be sure, the wave of satellite constellation launches and telco partnerships, combined with the potential to revolutionize mobile coverage, has captured the market’s attention. Of course, that’s happening in today’s 5G Era.  

• 6G and the 5G Continuum. From AI and open networking, to new spectrum allocations, energy efficiency, security, NTN integration, ISAC and new business opportunities, the resemblance of 6G aspirations and innovation to 5G aspirations and technologies is overwhelming. It’s a reminder that 6G will build upon 5G standards and accomplishments.  

A reasoned, evolutionary view of 6G was refreshing if not what we expected when showing up in Cambridge. It also served as a reminder that the future direction of wireless offers a chance to help the mobile industry to execute against common (well-worn?) goals if we learn from the past and focus on understanding the needs of society, consumers, industry verticals and telcos themselves.