CEOs of some of the largest companies telecommunications and technology announced that 6G, the next generation of mobile internet, is likely to be released in 2030.

However, they cautioned that the industry should not create too much publicity around the technology in order to avoid confusing consumers.

The development comes as companies devise ways to recoup the billions of dollars invested in 5G over the past few years.

“We haven’t finished developing 5G yet. I don’t think he’s mature enough to talk seriously about 6G… It’s too early,” Ha Min-young, head of development at SK Telecom, said last week.

6G dominated last week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​the world’s largest trade show for the mobile industry, where international telecommunications companies set out their intentions for the new technology.

5G adoption is low

Mobile carriers in China, South Korea and the US began rolling out 5G in 2019, heralding infinitely faster and more reliable connections than the previous generation of mobile internet, 4G.

However, consumer penetration of this technology has been low. Only every fifth citizen According to Strategy Analytics, the world today uses 5G mobile communications.

On the other hand, 5G was developed by the telecommunications industry not only as a product for consumers who need faster connections, but also as a network that supports new technologies such as self-driving cars or self-driving air taxis.

But after a dizzying investment of hundreds of billions of dollars in the 5G network, investors have not seen much return. Payback may be a matter of time, analysts say.

“5G adoption is accelerating in most countries where the technology has been developed, but consumer demand is low,” said Richard Webb, director of network infrastructure for CCS Insight.

So why talk about 6G?

Telecommunication networks require specifications. These are internationally recognized technical rules that govern how the technology works and its interoperability around the world. Interoperability is the ability of two or more systems to work together and exchange data.

These standards take many years to develop and refine, involving a large number of participants, from companies to academia and industry. That’s why the industry is looking at it so carefully.

Works for 6G technology specifications are already under development – although still at an early stage.

“However, I would say that we as an industry should stop confusing consumers about G because the next thing they will start asking is when is 6G coming. I don’t see any use case today that we can’t use with 5G or its immediate developments,” said Howard Watson, BT’s chief technology officer.

Source: CNBC.