The era of 5G feels like it has just begun, but the next big thing, 6G, is already on the horizon. The rapid speeds and low latency promised by 5G were expected to revolutionize various industries, from enabling remote surgeries to creating smart cities and self-driving cars. 
However, the rollout of 5G has not fully met these lofty expectations, and now, we’re preparing for the arrival of 6G.
According to Nokia’s published timeline, 6G is expected to roll out commercially by the end of 2029. The timeline follows recent meetings held by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which includes leading telecom standards organizations. These meetings, held last week in Prague, discussed the technical architecture behind 6G. The Technical Specification Group (TSG) has set the goal to wrap up their studies by the first quarter of 2027, with the final 6G specifications being part of 3GPP’s Release 21
. The first official 6G standard will be finalized by 2029, with some carriers possibly offering the service before others.
6G is set to enhance AI model management, data collection, and network performance in ways that will transform radio, core networks, and overall management. The goal is to make network operability easier while boosting performance as AI capabilities evolve.
Following the meeting, both Nokia and Ericsson shared their thoughts on 6G. Nokia’s blog revealed that the company is aiming for a commercial launch by the fourth quarter of 2029. One key feature of 6G will be its ability to improve battery life for mobile devices. However, the deployment of 6G will require large amounts of spectrum, with both 5G and 6G expected to share existing spectrum through a technology called 5G-6G Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS). This method promises to be more efficient than current 4G/5G spectrum sharing technologies.
Ericsson also highlighted the role of MRSS in the 5G-to-6G transition and emphasized that AI and machine learning will play a crucial role in the future of 6G. These technologies will help improve receiver performance, mobility measurements, positioning, and much more.