Charting the path to 6G
A new generation of connectivity for a new generation of human needs
6G will be more than just a network. Nokia believes 6G will allow us to intuitively move between and interact with digital and physical realities, unlocking a new generation of services that encompass far more than communications. As AI and quantum technologies evolve, they will become inextricably linked to the network, expanding its purpose and function. This will lead to a more intuitive, cyber-secure and environmentally responsible connectivity, making us more productive while transforming how we live, work and care for the planet.
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What is 6G? Why do we need it?
6G will provide the next level of connectivity needed to power the next generation of applications. New monetizable services, the expanding device ecosystem and the rapid surge in AI usage are all fuelling unprecedented growth in data traffic, which 6G is ideally positioned to handle. But 6G will do far more than provide advanced connectivity. Emerging technologies such as quantum computing, the cloud continuum and space communications will place increasing demands on the network, redefining its role both on and off Earth.
These new demands on the network will require continuous innovation. 6G will unlock new capabilities in the network by focusing on four core principles:
Value centric
6G will be the most impactful network ever.
We aim to design a network that outperforms its predecessors in all metrics by unlocking new spectrum, providing unparalleled efficiency and streamlining the innovation of new services. 6G will fuel economic growth and technological advancement, while creating an application ecosystem that bridges digital and physical realities.
AI native
6G will be the most intelligent network ever.
Leveraging AI-powered automation, 6G will revolutionize network design, deployment, optimization and operation, while enabling seamless connectivity across a multitude of AI-enabled devices and applications.
Sustainability by design
6G will be the most sustainable network ever.
Addressing the growing needs of the digital economy, Nokia is committed to fostering greater equity for people and the planet. Our 6G network will support a low-carbon, circular future, ensuring that sustainability is at the core of our technological progress.
Security by design
6G will be the most cyber-resilient and secure network ever.
In an era of increasing cyber threats, we are proactively anticipating future security challenges. 6G will incorporate innovative security measures and pioneering new quantum-safe networking technologies, protecting privacy and preparing the network for the new security realities of the quantum-computing era.
6G use cases
Immersive multimedia beyond the living room
6G will bring VR, XR and cloud gaming beyond the indoors to any outdoor environment
Wireless connectivity everywhere, at any time
With NTN and other 6G network enhancements the access limitations of mobile networks will disappear, whether on a mountain, at sea or in the air
Robots automating our world
6G will connect and control the most advanced devices, including the robots that will assist us in our daily lives
A digital twin of reality
6G will be key to simulating massive environments, from factories to entire cities, unlocking unprecedented optimization capabilities
Swarms of autonomous AI agents saving lives
Drones, ground rovers and medical-triage software agents will work together in real time to assist in search-and-rescue operations
Digital-physical fusion
We will project life-sized, holographic representations of themselves into virtual or physical rooms, allowing genuine human interaction over any distance
The 6G journey
While the 6G era will officially kick off in 2030, we’re already well down the road to making 6G a reality. 2025 marks a milestone year for 6G as our focus shifts from research exploration to technical standardization and system design. Global standards and regulatory bodies have already laid out the standardization framework for 6G and identified new spectrum for 6G use.
The first 6G specifications, under 3GPP Release 21, are expected to be finalized by Q4 2028, leading to the first anticipated commercial 6G deployments in late 2029. These initial 6G networks will deliver an evolved architecture and new advancements that provide immediate operational and economic benefits, building on the capabilities of 5G and 5G-Advanced. On day one, 6G will provide a multitude of 5G services in more efficient, secure, resilient and sustainable ways.
As 6G evolves over the next decade, however, its more future-looking aspects will unlock. A new generation of applications will emerge that bridge digital and physical realities. 6G will gain the ability to sense and act on its surroundings, and a plethora of new devices — from robots to wearables — will populate our networks.
What to expect on 6G day one?
Enhanced uplink coverage for all data rates
6G will provide enhanced and reliable uplink connectivity across all environments, from crowded cities to remote areas. This is essential to ensure consistent performance across a wide range of applications.
Enhanced uplink is especially important for tasks like:
- Uploading videos from crowded stadiums
- Sending real-time data from environmental sensors in remote forests
High data rates with excellent user experience
6G will deliver ultra-fast internet speeds with sustained reliability and low jitter. Whether you are indoors, outdoors or in motion, it will power the next wave of immersive technologies and seamless connected experiences.
These superpowered connections will support:
- Streaming rich content to smart glasses or wearables as you explore a city
- Instant access to virtual or augmented reality for gaming or meetings, even in a moving vehicle
Support of low latency services
Low latency is needed for time-critical applications such as industrial automation, XR, and real-time collaboration. This requires tight coordination across radio, transport and compute layers.
With low latency:
- Immersive experiences will more closely mirror reality
- Self-driving cars can react instantly to their surroundings
New and re-farmed spectrum
To support faster and more reliable connections with better efficiency, 6G will tap into new spectrum ranges while optimizing the use of existing bands through intelligent re-farming.
World Radio Conference (WRC) 2023 made some key spectrum decisions that will pave the way towards harmonization of 6G and ensure that service providers can easily embrace the next generation of networking.
Native support of versatile device population
6G will be built to naturally support all kinds of devices — from tiny, low-power sensors to advanced virtual reality headsets. These devices have very different needs: some require minimal energy and simple data transfer, while others demand high speed, low delay, and complex computing.
By designing 6G to handle this variety right from the start, the network can connect everything securely and efficiently. Whether it’s smart home gadgets or intelligent robots, 6G will ensure they all work smoothly together without compromising performance or security.
API exposure
For 6G to unlock its full potential, network services need to be easily accessible through open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). These APIs act like open doors that allow operators to tap into the developer ecosystem agility and innovation. This enables rapid creation of customized services across sectors like smart cities, healthcare, entertainment and manufacturing.
In 6G the focus will be on exposing the relevant services —data, resources and control — that empower use cases with the highest business impact.
Extreme automation
6G will rely on AI-native operations to manage networks with minimal human intervention. This includes the ability to automatically detect and fix issues (self-healing), adjust performance in real time (predictive optimization), and efficiently manage vast numbers of connected devices and services.
As 6G networks grow in scale and complexity, this level of automation becomes essential. It ensures higher reliability, lower operational costs and faster response times, making the network smarter, more resilient and instantly adaptable to changing demands.
Superior lean radio design
6G radios will be built to deliver high performance with a focus on simplicity, efficiency, and scalability. This means designing radio systems that consume less energy, reduce unnecessary signaling or processing overhead, and are easy to scale across different use cases.
Single and simple architecture
To make 6G widely and rapidly accessible, a simple architecture and streamlined migration path are essential. We envision a standalone 6G system supported by an efficient, flexible spectrum-sharing approach between 5G and 6G. This strikes the right balance between leveraging existing network infrastructure and accelerating 6G adoption.
A key enabler of this transition will be Multi-Radio Access Technology Spectrum Sharing (MRSS), which allows 5G and 6G to operate side by side using shared spectrum resources. MRSS ensures a cost-effective, seamless migration.
Discover the foundational building blocks that will bring 6G to life
Nokia’s 6G research
Nokia Bell Labs is bringing its 100 years of technology innovation to bear in developing the underlying technologies of 6G. Our work spans multiple aspects of the 6G ecosystem from network architecture to spectrum technologies. Here are highlights from the multitude of 6G research projects in our labs.
AI native air interface
By pairing an AI-based learned waveform in a transmitter with a deep-learning receiver, Nokia Bell Labs was able to design and implement a proof-of-concept air interface that transmits data efficiently and learns under many different scenarios. This is fundamentally different to how we currently implement the air interface, allowing the network radios to learn from its surroundings.
Revolutionizing wireless communications with AI-powered air interface
Integrated sensing and communications
6G won’t just connect sensors to the network. 6G will act as a sensor itself. Nokia Bell Labs is giving 6G networks the ability to sense their surroundings and the properties and movements of objects within them. This will imbue the network with a digital “sixth sense” that can extend our human senses to every point the network touches. Add AI/ML to the mix, and the 6G network will become more cognitive, unlocking deeper, actionable insight from the information it gathers.
Shaping 6G with a digital "sixth sense"
Learn more about how Nokia Bell Labs is advancing 6G technologies
Creating a 6G ecosystem
Nokia is engaging with major industry peers, customers, academia and research institutions globally to develop a common view of and direction for 6G. Armed with this collaborative insight, Nokia is using its leadership role in the standards bodies to drive 6G innovation in directions that will benefit the world to the fullest. Our current key engagements span the US, Europe and APAC. Here are six of the highlights:
Hexa-X-II
Funded as part of the Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU), Hexa-X-II aims to form the basis for 6G standardization.
Next G Alliance
A nationwide initiative to advance North American mobile technology leadership over the next decade through private sector-led efforts.
SUSTAIN-6G
SUSTAIN-6G develops sustainable, secure, and resilient 6G architectures across the full technology stack.
6G-ANNA
A lighthouse project funded by the German government to drive 6G research and pre-standardization efforts in Europe.
Brooklyn 6G Summit
Nokia and the NYU Wireless Research Center have been co-hosting the Brooklyn Summit, a key event shaping the future of the wireless industry.
Frequently asked questions
6G is the 6th generation of cellular networking technology. The first generation dates back to the first analog mobile networks and continues to the current generation, 5G, which have been commercially deployed in many parts of the world. While specific technical specifications and standards for 6G are still in the very early stages of development, 6G holds promise for significant advancements in wireless communications.
6G has the potential to open the flood gates to a plethora of new services, applications and use cases. Collaborative robots, mass digital twinning, sensing, extreme autonomation and many more services are all in the realm of possibility under the 6G umbrella.
While the smartphone will remain a key device in the 6G era, new man-machine interfaces will make it more convenient to consume and control information and have truly immersive experiences for both commercial and professional users. These devices could take the form of new wearables, from XR glasses and connected clothing to AI-assistants.
While AI/ML plays a key role in 5G today, in 6G, AI/ML will go beyond being an enhancement to become a foundational technology. By taking a clean slate approach, we will eliminate the current complexity in the wireless air interface, and instead let AI/ML figure out how to best communicate between two endpoints. An AI-native 6G will change how we design, operate and optimize networks and devices.
We foresee superior deep-learning receiver performance, prediction-based energy efficiency, improved beam management and more predictable device performance as some of the key advancements enabled by native AI/ML.
The 3GPP and several other standards organizations have already begun to lay the groundwork for 6G specifications. The first official 6G standards will emerge with 3GPP Release 21, which is targeted for completion in late 2028.
While we may see trials of 6G systems as early as 2028, the first commercial, standardized 6G networks and devices are expected to go live in late 2029 in early-adopter countries. Those initial networks will be followed by large-scale 6G deployments globally in 2030.
The first commercial 6G devices will be available when the first 6G networks launch in 2029 and 2030, but as with previous generations, we likely won’t see smartphones or other mass-market consumer devices on day 1. The first devices will likely come in modem form factors, followed by smartphones, tablets and other devices as 6G gains more global traction.
It’s also important to note that 6G will support many new types of connected devices beyond phones. 6G could become embedded in sensors, wearables, internet appliances, drones, robots and industrial machinery.