Telecommunication industry investments Disruptive wireless technologies over the past few decades have fundamentally changed people’s daily lives, enabled the creation of massive new businesses, and transformed entire industries. But even as each new wireless generation introduces new services, lowers costs, and improves performance, carriers are increasingly struggling to take advantage of the unprecedented value creation. (Chart 1).
6G, the next generation mobile standard, offers carriers an opportunity to disrupt the status quo and reinvigorate the industry. If developed carefully, 6G has the potential to attract sufficient cross-sector investment, drive innovation, expand adoption, and spark future waves of disruptive technologies. Most importantly, it has the potential to drive new value above the connectivity layer, value that carriers will ultimately enjoy.
To reap these potential benefits from 6G, the telecommunications industry must overcome the headwinds created by previous generations of wireless communication standards, especially 5G. Expectations for 6G vary widely, with persistent skepticism about the challenges and costs of 5G deployment weighing on the outlook. This attitude increases the likelihood that 6G will become an afterthought rather than the next great technological engine of innovation.
This report considers how best to avoid that fate and raises the question of what 6G should look like to generate the necessary momentum during the development and standard-setting stages. Based on our own experience in the market, a series of expert interviews, and our own research, our findings support a collaborative approach to innovation and investment with companies outside the telecommunications industry, including a set of KPIs. This highlights the need for a paradigm shift to revise the system. Leading the research and development that drives 6G and a broader vision that encompasses all of the vastly different expectations for 6G.
Specifically, to lay the foundation for future 6G success, carriers can take action now in five key areas:
- Shift your focus to creating value for your customers (and carriers). Telcos need to ensure that 6G doesn’t become a near-identical technology that just offers higher peak speeds, lower latency, and higher device density. Instead, research and development focus needs to shift to addressing the operational issues faced by mobile network operators (MNOs) and the issues that are preventing enterprises from expanding the use of advanced connectivity in their operations. there is.
- Work towards a multi-functional platform. Extending the capabilities of mobile networks beyond mere connectivity, for example by allowing MNOs to sell the data generated by sensing, could unlock new revenue streams and improve the economics of 6G investments. .
- Expand your network investor roster. With the introduction of 6G, wireless connectivity will become an even more integral part of society and non-telco businesses. This could lead to partnerships and closer collaboration, ultimately spreading capital investment and generated value more evenly across telecom providers and the industries that operate on their infrastructure.
- Invest wisely in your digital infrastructure. Accelerating xRAN deployments, backhaul and fronthaul fiber upgrades, and green energy investments are all examples of digital infrastructure investments that can help support future capital expenditures related to 6G.
- Achieve the right combination of talent. New network technologies require new capabilities and skills. Building 6G talent now will help ensure operators can take advantage of new value creation opportunities.
This type of approach will put the industry on a stronger footing for the 6G future and ensure the next generation technology reaches its full potential.
