6G standardisation moves closer as 2026 begins
After several years of exploratory research, the global telecommunications industry is preparing for a more concrete phase in the development of sixth-generation wireless systems. While commercial 6G networks are not expected until around 2030, 2026 is shaping up as a key year in which formal 6G standardisation work is set to begin.
For eeNews Europe readers, this matters because decisions taken over the next 12 to 24 months are likely to influence spectrum use, silicon roadmaps, and network architectures well into the 2030s. The outcome could affect everything from embedded connectivity and edge computing to industrial automation and mobility systems.
From research to early standardisation
Work on 6G concepts began as early as 2018, but much of the activity to date has remained at the research and vision-setting stage. That is now beginning to change. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) outlined its high-level IMT-2030 framework in 2024, providing a broad set of target capabilities rather than fixed specifications.
The ITU’s IMT-2030 framework does not define final specifications, but it outlines a set of performance targets intended to guide research and early standardisation work. These include potential data rates significantly higher than those of 5G, support for very high connection densities, and improved reliability at extreme mobility speeds.
Other proposed targets include end-to-end latencies that are orders of magnitude lower than current systems, as well as positioning accuracy down to the centimetre level. Such capabilities are often linked to use cases such as holographic communications, advanced robotics, autonomous transport and large-scale smart city deployments.
However, these figures should be interpreted as upper bounds rather than baseline requirements. Many of the underlying technologies remain at laboratory or pilot stage, and it is not yet clear which of these targets will translate into mandatory features within the eventual 6G standard.
“In practical terms, 2026 could mark the year that discussions shift from ‘what could be possible’ to ‘what will actually be built,’” said IEEE member Gabrielle Silva.
The ITU vision points to potential performance targets such as significantly higher data rates than 5G, support for extremely high device densities, improved mobility at very high speeds and substantially lower latency. It also highlights enhanced positioning accuracy, which could be relevant for future industrial and autonomous systems. However, many of these figures remain aspirational and may not all make it into the final standard.
Lessons learned from 5G deployments
Unlike previous generational shifts, 6G development is taking place against the backdrop of mixed commercial outcomes from 5G rollouts. Mobile network operators invested heavily in 5G infrastructure, but in many markets the revenue uplift has fallen short of expectations, with consumers largely treating performance gains as incremental rather than transformative.
This experience is shaping industry attitudes. IEEE Fellow William Webb suggests operators may take a more cautious approach this time around.
“I expect 6G to be lower key, with less of a ‘build it, and they will come’ mentality and an understanding that operators will not deploy brand-new equipment to all their base station sites,” Webb said.
Rather than focusing purely on headline performance, future requirements are likely to emphasise efficiency, cost control and power consumption. Webb has also argued that some use cases often cited for 6G, such as autonomous vehicles, may not require the full bandwidth levels being discussed.
“I expect 6G to be more aligned with the requirements of operators,” he said. “It will deliver efficiencies, lower operational costs, lower power consumption and better integrate with other networks.”
A long road to deployment
Formal 6G standardisation is expected to start around 2026, with commercial systems following closer to the end of the decade. Given that each wireless generation typically remains in service for 15 to 20 years, early technical and regulatory decisions will have long-term implications for the European electronics and telecoms ecosystem.
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