6G
Providing guidance and requirements related to design considerations and network architecture evolution
“NGMN’s 6G programme is shaping the foundation for the next generation of mobile networks by aligning industry requirements, technology priorities and sustainability objectives. By bringing together operators and the global ecosystem, we ensure that 6G evolves in a way that delivers real value, resilience and long-term societal benefit.”
Johann Reindl
Senior Programme Manager (external), NGMN
johann.reindl@external.ngmn.org
6G Guidance & Requirements
NGMN’S MAIN FOCUS IN 2026
Providing guidance and key requirements for design considerations and network architecture evolution
- Operator-driven 6G requirements and alignment
- Dialogue of MNOs, vendors and academic membership
- Addressing industry challenges
- Fostering consensus and forward-looking view
- Defining clear guidance and requirements for 6G standardisation in 3GPP
This collaborative approach aims to streamline networks, improve efficiency and deliver clear customer value.
Programme Leads
-
Quan Zhao
China Mobile -
David Lister
Vodafone
Objectives
Deliver impactful 6G insights and guidance from an operator’s perspective to provide timely guidance to the industry. Play a key role in preventing the fragmentation of global 6G standards and the broader ecosystem, enabling affordable and consistent deployments. Identify a set of high-level business drivers, including aspects of social responsibility and mobile network operator (MNO) operational needs.
Develop requirements with a strong focus on customer-centricity. Engage with various stakeholders, monitor external 6G developments, and facilitate timely bilateral exchanges with relevant external organizations. Identify and analyze relevant standards development organizations (SDOs) and industry bodies to maximize the impact of NGMN.
NGMN’s 6G vision focuses on creating intelligent, sustainable, and user-centric networks that go beyond speed to deliver societal impact, operational efficiency, and future-ready innovation.
AI SURGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON 6G
Project Leads
-
Quan Zhao
China Mobile -
David Lister
Vodafone
Objectives
- Identify and validate AI-driven societal and business requirements that could justify network architecture evolution, intending AI-enabled infrastructure delivers greater accessibility, performance, and value for end customer.
- Emphasise network simplification, energy efficiency, and total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction as core evaluation criteria.
- Explore the integration of computing capabilities in the network to enable AI-based services to UEs, in addition to support AI-based network functions.
6G ARCHITECTURE/MIGRATION OPTIONS
Project Leads
-
Quan Zhao
China Mobile -
David Lister
Vodafone
Objectives
- Study and narrow down 6G architecture options to simplify networks and reduce complexity.
- Prioritise migration strategies (e.g., Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS), Dual Connectivity, Dual stack) by analysing current networks and future deployment needs—balancing time-to-market, cost, and operational efficiency for 6G adoption.
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6G Videos
6G with no Hardware changes
Significance of the 6G Postiiton Statement
NGMN’s Path from 4G to 6G
Publications
AI Surge and its Implications for 6G
The publication outlines the NGMN perspective on how AI-related requirements should be addressed in the evolution towards 6G. It consolidates mobile network operators’ views on how AI may impact 6G standardisation and provides guidance to support ongoing 6G studies within 3GPP. It examines three key dimensions: the impact of AI-driven traffic on networks, the network capabilities required to support AI-based services, and the role of AI as an enabler for future network architecture evolution.
6G Key Messages - an Operator view
A harmonised global 6G standard is essential to ensure a smooth industry evolution, address societal needs, and support a healthy ecosystem. The rollout of 6G should avoid mandatory hardware replacement, instead focusing on software upgrades within existing frequency bands. New hardware should only be introduced where new frequencies make it necessary. Any new technologies must demonstrate clear benefits within a techno-economic framework, with a strong emphasis on spectrum and energy efficiency.
NGMN Radio Performance Assesment Framework
6G Position Statement - An Operator View
6G Use Cases and Analysis
The identification of 6G use cases is key to predicting major trends in future usage scenarios and will help to steer the needs and requirements for future generational change. Therefore, operators, technology suppliers and academic advisors in NGMN joined forces and contributed their views on which 6G use cases they predict will emerge in the future decade. The result is published in NGMN’s “6G Use Cases and Analysis” publication.
6G Drivers and Vision
In this publication, the NGMN MNOs, with input from NGMN Partners (vendors, research institutions), outline their vision for 6G representing a future evolution of networks enabling differentiated services with expanded market opportunities and novel experience. It first describes the drivers for 6G, and the key necessities to guide the future technologies to respond to the needs of the end users, societies, and MNOs. This is followed with NGMN’s vision of 6G, its novelty and capabilities to meet the drivers identified.
We discuss a number of fundamental aspects, including new scope and approach, that need to be considered in design and development of the next generation of standards and technologies. Furthermore, we recommend that research and the development of future ecosystems prioritize the key gaps and challenges discussed in this publication.
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