6G is probably at least 7 years away; however, many countries and regions have begun research around 6G. Joint projects between Asian advanced markets, the USA and Europe have also been successfully set up and running. Many countries plan to work together to create international standards.
Success in 6G will depend on the extent regions succeed in building a solid 5G infrastructure, on which 6G technology experiments and, later, 6G deployments can build. In this context, building 5G ecosystems is of key importance.
Apart from Europe, the USA, South Korea, Japan, China, and India have started developing 6G research intensely.
- The Next G Alliance in North America was announced in 2020 and set in 2021 opening the way to the NSF RINGS and PAWR partnerships involving major vendors. Academic research centers and universities started to work on THz spectrum as from 2022 with the support of the FCC.
- China is one of the 6G front runner. In China in 2019, when 5G was commercially launched, 6G research started: the 6G-ANA Industry Alliance was formed at that same time and two annual 6G research projects went to life in 2021 supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. China allocated 6GHz spectrum in 2023 to 5Gand 6G. The country has also launched its first 6G satellite and plans to introduce 6G as early as 2025.
- In India, the 6G Technology Information Group (TIG6-6G) which was formed by the Government aims at deploying 6G in 2030. Early indoor 6G trials took place in 2022 and 2023; outdoor trials are planned for 2024.
- In Japan, the MSIT 6G program was announced in September 2020. Universities and vendors started to work actively. More than EUR400 million were allocated to 6G research at the end of 2022.
- In South Korea, the MIC announced its roadmap towards 6G in June 2021. It launched a 5-year program aiming at launching early 6G services by 2026 and commercial services by 2028 with EUR160 million. ITRI, LG-KAIST 6G center and universities are heavily involved.
- Singapore plans to launch 6G as from 2030. Research involving the University of Technology is backed by the Government which secured USD50 million under the Future Communications Research and Development Program.
