Superfast sixth-generation mobile internet, or 6G, may arrive sooner than expected, with initial devices potentially launching as early as 2028. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon shared the update during the Vision Keynote at the company’s annual event in Hawaii.
Amon clarified that these would be “pre-commercial” devices, designed primarily for testing and demonstrating 6G capabilities. “We have been very busy working on the next generation of connectivity…which is 6G. Designed to be the connection between the cloud and Edge devices,” he said.
Highlighting the difference from 5G, Amon added, “Besides increasing speeds and broadband, 6G is also a network with intelligence to process perception and sensor data. We are going to have completely new use cases connecting the edge and the cloud. Context-aware intelligence at scale is coming.”
While commercial 6G smartphones may not reach consumers immediately, this marks the start of an important testing phase for the next-generation wireless standard. Experts predict that 6G will require significant changes in semiconductor technology, circuits, systems, and algorithms. Smartphone makers are expected to bring fully commercial 6G devices to the market before 2030.
Some analysts suggest 6G could eventually reduce the centrality of smartphones, creating an interconnected ecosystem of devices including driverless cars, smart glasses, and AR/VR headsets. The technology promises seamless communication between multiple devices, even if smartphones remain widely used.
6G was a major topic at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where global telecom leaders discussed the future of mobile internet beyond 5G. Current 5G adoption remains relatively low, with only one in seven people worldwide using a 5G smartphone. Despite heavy investments in 5G networks, carriers continue to face challenges in monetising the technology.
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