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Industry members attended the 6G Summit last week in Brooklyn, New York to discuss the future and possibilities of 6G connectivity. But an event that was supposed to stir up excitement for 6G may have revealed its innate challenges. Proponents of 6G touted its ability to enhance connectivity in applications like remote outdoor locations and the metaverse. Tech companies like Qualcomm, Mediatek, and Nokia Bell Labs appeared to be on board with the push to 6G. However, there was one problem: the cellular carriers might not be willing to bite. Citing the recent investments in 5G that haven’t resulted in big returns, major carriers like AT&T questioned whether 6G connectivity would be worthwhile.
“We’re getting a little bit worn out with the economics of the industry,” said Chris Sambar, executive vice president of technology at AT&T, as reported by LightReading. “The capital investments, they have to be logical…we have to have clear line of sight to the consumer use cases.” Sambar was the most vocal executive from a major U.S. carrier to outline the concerns with 6G connectivity. However, other executives instead chose to highlight what’s in store for 5G.
Many industry members still feel that 5G connectivity is still in early stages. “It’s an awesome technology and it’s translated to so much value,” said Karri Kuoppamaki, T-Mobile’s senior vice president of technology development and strategy. Considering that some carriers are still rolling out 5G offerings, this may be the case. Other skeptics noted that it’s not just about whether 6G connectivity would be an improvement. It’s also about whether customers would really want to pay more for enhanced 6G services.
Industry trade groups are ready to push 6G forward
Researchers and trade groups were much more inclined to support 6G connectivity. This makes sense, as these groups wouldn’t be shelling out billions of dollars of 6G infrastructure investments. As such, the hesitancy from cellular carriers and the eagerness of tech companies are both to be expected. Qualcomm, who makes 5G modems, specifically noted the demand for metaverse and extended reality applications. With 6G connectivity, it’s possible to use metaverse and XR tools without being in range of a WiFi network.
However, this might not all matter, because there isn’t even room for 6G right now. All cellular bands and frequencies in the U.S. are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, which allocates cellular spectrums. While the FCC has diligently made 5G bands available, there are no clear avenues for offering 6G connectivity right now. The FCC often gets creative to support new technologies, though. Based on the remarks made at the 6G Summit, it’s clear we’re likely sticking with 5G for the near future.