6G is Coming: What to Expect from the Next Wireless Standard

It brings me no pleasure to say this, but friends: The next G cometh. The standard formally known as 6G is still being established, but it’s going to be a major topic of discussion at Mobile World Congress 2026, which gets underway today in Barcelona. This news arrives as many are still grappling with the promises – and perceived shortcomings – of 5G.

5G arrived back in 2019, but did it, entirely? The vision of robot surgeons and streets dominated by autonomous vehicles hasn’t quite materialized in daily life. Like previous generations, 5G has evolved through incremental releases, a case of progress that couldn’t possibly live up to the initial hype. That 5G icon on your phone signaled not the full arrival of the standard, but a continuing evolution. Nevertheless, a latest cycle of anticipation is brewing, and it’s centered around a few key themes: seamless connectivity between satellites and smartphones, wireless networks that can sense their environment, and, inevitably, artificial intelligence.

Defining 6G: A Moving Target

Exactly what 6G encompasses is still being defined by a specialized agency within the United Nations; it’s not a fully formed resource that’s been discovered and studied. It’s evolving, and will continue to do so well beyond 2030. This is a crucial point to understand. The communications industry operates on roughly 10-year cycles, which is why we’re hearing about 6G now, even as 5G feels relatively new. Currently, 6G is in a “study phase,” with commercialization planned for 2030. As one researcher put it, when asked if 6G could truly deliver on certain promises, the answer was an unsatisfying “Maybe.”

Despite the long timeline, 6G is taking shape, and will arrive sooner than we think. The 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics are already being eyed as a key demonstration stage. Qualcomm’s VP of engineering, John Smee, stated the company “will be heavily present at the LA ’28 Olympics.” Ian Fogg, a wireless network research director at CCS Insight, also sees the timing of the Olympics driving pre-commercial activities, noting that “people like showing off.” This echoes a similar push seen with the “race to 5G” – a comparison that raises questions about whether technological progress is being driven by genuine innovation or by spectacle.

Sensing the World Around Us: Integrated Sensing and Communication

One of the most striking – and potentially unsettling – capabilities being discussed for 6G is the idea of networks that can “sense” their environment. This goes beyond simply detecting connected devices. Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) would allow base stations to detect objects using the radio frequency signals that wireless internet travels on. This sounds, frankly, like science fiction.

What’s the potential benefit? According to Fogg, ISAC could be used for things like detecting traffic patterns. A more pressing application is drone detection. The recent, unexplained drone sightings over New Jersey highlighted the difficulty of tracking these small, low-flying objects with traditional radar. The mystery surrounding those drones stemmed, in part, from the lack of effective detection methods. ISAC, with its ability to penetrate buildings and objects, could offer a solution.

However, this capability raises significant privacy concerns. As Petar Popovski, a professor and researcher with Aalborg University in Denmark, points out, “You can opt out of communication by turning off your phone, even removing the battery. Opting out of being sensed by a base station is a highly different matter.” Imbuing base stations with the ability to sense the physical world could turn them into a gateway, “a point where signals from the physical world enter the digital one,” according to Popovski. This could lead to the development of “physical AI,” where AI models gain a better understanding of the real world.

Beyond Terrestrial Networks: Satellite Connectivity

Ironically, the most down-to-earth application of 6G may be satellite connectivity. Experts agree this is the area with the most immediate and tangible benefits for everyday users. Currently, connecting phones to satellites happens in two ways: directly through satellite spectrum (like Apple’s partnership with Globalstar) or by using cellular spectrum bands (as T-Mobile is doing with Starlink). 6G aims to standardize seamless switching between cellular and satellite, combining both approaches.

Fogg explains the current experience is akin to using Wi-Fi: switching between cell towers is seamless, but moving away from a Wi-Fi signal is noticeable. The goal is to create a connection that works everywhere – via cell tower or satellite – without the user even noticing. This seamless transition could be a lifesaver for people in areas with poor coverage, allowing them to send messages even without a traditional signal. It’s not always practical to manually connect to a satellite, and a seamless, automatic connection could be critical in emergencies.

The Role of AI in the 6G Network

As expected, artificial intelligence is also playing a central role in the development of 6G. The concept of an “AI-native” network is gaining traction. This isn’t simply about running AI applications *on* the network, but building AI compute *into* the network itself. The idea is to use AI to optimize network operations, and to equip base stations with more powerful processors to run AI applications directly.

Qualcomm’s EVP of technology, Durga Malladi, describes this as a “continuum of compute” stretching from data centers to the 6G network and ultimately to devices. This could allow wireless operators to develop new features, such as real-time language translation – a feature T-Mobile is already offering on its 4G network. However, the need for a GPU in every base station is questionable. If AI-powered features can be implemented on existing networks, the urgency for a complete 6G overhaul diminishes.

Popovski suggests that AI could enable genuinely new multimodal user experiences, moving beyond the smartphone paradigm. Imagine augmented reality glasses displaying real-time information about your surroundings. Processing that information locally, at the base station, would be faster and more efficient than relying on a distant data center. “You don’t desire to have to wait five or 10 seconds,” he says. “You want it to come back as quickly as if it was on your device in the first place.”

Avoiding the 5G Hype Cycle

The question remains: will 6G fall into the same hype trap as 5G? Fogg recalls the optimistic use cases presented at Mobile World Congress 2016, which ultimately failed to materialize due to the sluggish rollout of 5G standalone core infrastructure. T-Mobile gained an early advantage with Sprint’s spectrum, whereas Verizon and AT&T are still catching up. David Witkowski, CEO of Oku Solutions, sums it up: “5G definitely had sort of a ‘ready, fire, aim’ deployment.”

Witkowski suggests that operators may skip directly to 6G, learning from the mistakes of 5G. He points to the history of wireless standards, noting that 3G was often seen as a stepping stone to 4G. Perhaps 6G will benefit from a more focused and strategic rollout. As Witkowski observes, “We don’t talk about the odd-numbered Gs, right?” The best-case scenario, he believes, is that 5G will fade into the background, paving the way for a more impactful 6G.

Looking Ahead: A Phased Approach

The rollout of 6G will likely be a phased process, driven by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a key demonstration event. Expect to see initial deployments focused on satellite connectivity, followed by the integration of AI-powered features and, eventually, the more ambitious goal of environmental sensing. The success of 6G will depend on a careful balance between technological innovation, practical implementation, and a commitment to addressing the privacy concerns that inevitably arise with increasingly powerful network capabilities.