6G Research Accelerates: What’s After 5G and When It Might Become Reality

As the world becomes more connected than ever before, scientists, companies, and governments are already looking beyond 5G to what’s next in wireless networks: 6G. While 5G is still being rolled out and refined, 6G research has gained significant momentum due to rising demands for ultra-high bandwidth, lower latency, tighter integration of AI, and increasingly wider coverage. What are the breakthroughs so far, and when might the next generation of mobile technology transition from lab experiments to real-world deployment?

One major milestone in the 6G race is the development of use-case planning. According to Ericsson’s projections, 6G will not simply deliver faster mobile broadband; it will open entirely new services.

Think immersive mixed reality, global connectivity even in remote and rural areas, ubiquitous AI-aided communication, digital twin simulations, and critical services like emergency response that depend on near-instantaneous data transmission. These are not distant fantasies; they are central to the vision many in industry share.

From a technical standpoint, multiple enablers are being explored. Terahertz (THz) frequencies are among the most exciting, offering data rates far beyond what 5G can reliably provide. However, THz bands present challenges, signal absorption by the atmosphere, the need for novel antenna designs, and the complexity of precisely moving and pointing beams.

Research groups are also investigating non-terrestrial networks (including satellites), reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), AI-native networks that self-optimise and adjust in real-time, and architectures that blend cloud, edge, and distributed components.

Standardization efforts are also catching up. Bodies like 3GPP (the organization behind many cellular standards) are formalizing study items and architecture designs for 6G. Ericsson recently announced that 3GPP will begin full technical studies of radio access networks, core architecture, and related system design in August 2025, with specification work to commence by 2027. The goal is for early commercial deployments of 6G, at least in a limited form, to occur around 2030.

Global players are hustling. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been laying the groundwork for 6G’s resilience, security, and intelligence in wireless networks. China’s IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group is coordinating research among academia, industry, and government to define requirements, spectrum, and the social and economic impact. Korea, Japan, the European Union, and many other countries are also deeply involved in pushing the envelope, both in patenting and in prototype tests.

Still, the path from lab to market is complex. Overcoming the physical limitations of THz signal propagation, designing energy-efficient hardware, ensuring global compatibility, and integrating thousands of connected devices with privacy and security protections are all non-trivial problems. Moreover, investment and infrastructure rollout tend to lag behind research and development. The complementary deployment of satellite systems, ground base stations, edge computing nodes, and fiber backhaul must keep pace. Also critical is sustainability: as networks consume more power, designing greener network elements is becoming a priority.

When will 6G arrive? The consensus in recent reports is that full commercial availability is unlikely before 2030. However, this deployment may come in stages: pilot networks, experimental zones, and early adopters (such as smart cities, critical infrastructure, and enterprise systems) may achieve 6G-level performance earlier in select areas. After that, broader consumer availability will depend on factors such as cost, device readiness, regulatory and spectrum allocation, and standardization.

6G isn’t simply about doing today’s tasks faster; it promises a shift in how we think of wireless networks themselves. Rather than just pipes for data, future networks may become platforms of sensing, intelligence, and even prediction. The devices around us, phones, AR/VR headsets, vehicles, sensors, and satellites, will all play a role. When combined with AI, edge computing, and new spectrum frontiers, 6G could redefine “always connected” into “always responsive, always aware.”

The journey to 6G is well underway. With standardization, technical prototypes, and global research efforts accelerating, the mid-to-late 2020s are likely to see 6G transition from theory to practice. By 2030, we may see the first wave of true 6G services, ushering in a new era of computing, communication, and connectivity that surpasses the capabilities of 5 G.