The transition from 4G to 5G marks a critical evolution in mobile telecommunications, driven by the demand for faster data speeds, reduced latency, and enhanced connectivity to support emerging technologies. 4G technology, introduced in the late 2000s, revolutionized mobile communications by enabling high-speed internet access, streaming services, and the widespread adoption of mobile apps. However, as digital technologies advanced, the limitations of 4G, particularly in handling massive data traffic and supporting low-latency applications, became apparent.
5G emerged as the solution to these challenges, offering speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and latency as low as 1 millisecond. This leap forward enables real-time applications like autonomous vehicles, augmented and virtual reality, and the Internet of Things (IoT), where billions of devices are interconnected. By 2023, 5G networks had been deployed in over 70 countries, with more than 1 billion 5G connections worldwide. Ericsson’s Mobility Report 2023 [1] projects that 5G will account for 50% of all mobile subscriptions by 2028.
Figure 1 ITU-R timeline for IMT-2030 [2]
Moving forward to 6G, by 2030, some of the envisioned use cases will become a reality but also more complex use cases across different industries such as healthcare and automotive will follow as 6G evolves. (Figure 2)
Figure 2: 6G use case categories [3]
Despite 5G’s capabilities, the push toward 6G is already underway, with expected deployment in the 2030s. 6G promises to deliver data rates up to 1 Tbps, ultra-low latency below 1 millisecond, and the integration of AI-driven network management.
While 5G meets current demands, the argument for 6G lies in future needs, preparing and forming a new digital ecosystem: supporting immersive technologies like holographic communications, pervasive AI applications, and the seamless integration of physical and digital worlds. 6G could also address the increasing demand for energy-efficient networks and universal connectivity in underserved regions.
There are various research centers around the world that dive into the 6G research, such as in University of Sheffield that recently launched the UK’s first National 6G Research Facility [4]. But also, there are several EU organizations on 6G such as the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA) [5] is the voice of European Industry and Research for next generation networks and services. Its primary objective is to contribute to Europe’s leadership on 5G, 5G evolution and SNS/6G research.
There are also several EU projects around the future of 6G technology such as Proteus-6G, led by the University of Patras [6] on optical networks developing offer the highest-capacity flexible optoelectronic interfaces and fast-switching nodes that fully exploit optical spatial/spectral/subcarrier resources using novel algorithms and control-plane implementations.
The need for 6G is driven by the anticipation that the exponential growth in data consumption and the evolution of new applications will eventually outpace 5G’s capabilities. As technology and user expectations continue to evolve, 6G is seen as the next necessary step to sustain and enhance global digital infrastructure.
Strategy International is monitoring closely the evolution to the 6G technology and the transition from 5G, mainly on the infrastructure and applications sections, assisting customers on market analysis and tailored case studies in order to gain a deep understanding of the future technology trends.
References
- Ericsson Mobility Report, https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/mobility-report
- ITU-R, “Overview timeline for IMT towards the year 2030 and beyond,” 2022. Available online: https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/oth/0a/06/R0A060000C80001PDFE.pdf
- 6G spectrum – enabling the future mobile life beyond 2030 https://www.ericsson.com/en/reports-and-papers/white-papers/6g-spectrum-enabling-the-future-mobile-life-beyond-2030
- Sheffield launches the UK’s first National 6G Research Facility https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/eee/news/sheffield-launches-uks-first-national-6g-research-facility-0
- https://6g-ia.eu/sns-ju/
- https://proteus-6g.eu/
