From 5G to future 6G, Qualcomm and industry partners continue to promote standardization and commercialization efforts.

In recent years, 6G has received increasing attention and focus as the next-generation mobile communication technology. In June last year, 3GPP Release 20 officially launched the 6G technology research project, and 2025 is also called the “Year of 6G Standardization.” In February this year, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released the “IMT-2030 Radio Interface Technology Performance Report,” which systematically defined key performance indicators, marking the beginning of 6G entering a period driven by quantifiable metrics for technological implementation and global standardization efforts. Industry participants will accelerate technological advancements to meet future development needs.

At the recent 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026), Qualcomm and many leading industry partners established a new development consensus, with nearly 60 global collaborators supporting this agreement, jointly promoting the development and global deployment of 6G. This cooperation also established a clear roadmap based on specific milestones, aiming to gradually deliver 6G commercial systems starting from 2029.

During his speech at MWC 2026, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon also discussed this development consensus, viewing it as a shared vision among forward-looking companies to shape the future. According to the plan, technical demonstrations will take place in 2028, and by the end of 2028, chips, terminals, and infrastructure will be ready to enable the phased commercial deployment of 6G from 2029. He believes that the future of mobile communication is bright and that this will be another significant leap in the evolution of wireless technology.

According to publicly available information, this collaboration will focus on three core architecture areas: terminals, networks, and cloud infrastructure, aiming to make 6G an intelligent, AI-native terminal and network platform. This includes promoting the timely development of key 6G standards, conducting early system validation, and showcasing pre-commercial terminals and networks that meet 6G specifications by 2028. It will establish industry-wide benchmarks for 6G readiness and initiate the initial deployment of global, interoperable commercial 6G systems starting in 2029. Members will also explore new business models to promote 6G adoption and create value across the entire 6G ecosystem. Qualcomm’s long-standing involvement in shaping and contributing to global mobile communication standards is at the core of this initiative.

Currently, Qualcomm is actively promoting 6G standardization with industry partners. For example, Qualcomm is leveraging foundational 6G air interface features to advance ultra-efficient integrated communication sensing technologies and accelerate the 3GPP 6G standardization process. Technologies such as 400 MHz channel bandwidth and high-efficiency DFT extended waveforms will enable 6G to achieve enormous network capacity and deep coverage. Additionally, integrating communication sensing and AI-native capabilities into terminals and networks will support the deep integration of physical AI, perception, and digital twin services.

Not only 6G, but Qualcomm has also played a vital role in the innovation and standardization of multiple generations of mobile communication technologies, continuously advancing 3G, 4G, and 5G. While promoting technological innovation and standardization, Qualcomm actively collaborates with numerous industry partners to bring technologies to market, enabling commercialization and maximizing practical value. For example, in January 2018, before 5G commercial deployment, Qualcomm launched the “5G Pioneer Program” with several Chinese partners to accelerate the development of 5G smartphones and related products. The project was highly successful, providing equipment and technology to speed up global 5G commercialization and helping Chinese manufacturers expand both domestic and international markets through 5G opportunities. Qualcomm has also collaborated with Chinese partners on projects like the “5G Internet of Things Innovation Program,” continuously expanding 5G into IoT, industrial internet, and other fields. The establishment of a development consensus with global partners will help industry stakeholders increase investment, foster collaborative innovation, and bring the next-generation mobile communication technology closer to reality.

Amon also pointed out in his speech that each generation of mobile communication technology requires large-scale industry collaboration, and 6G will demand even broader cooperation than before. He expressed his pleasure at seeing many companies from different industries and fields reaching a consensus. In the coming years, to realize a promising future, Qualcomm will continue working with industry partners to develop truly “AI everywhere” wireless technologies.