6G

As more and more of us access the digital world, generating more and more data, Europe needs a digital infrastructure to support this. This is where 6G comes in, which we could see in deployment by 2030.

6G will usher in a new era in which humans and connected vehicles, robots and drones generate Zettabytes of information. It will bring pervasive and seamless connectivity and expand integrated sensing and communication as well as artificial intelligence.

6G has the potential to bring together fields such as connectivity, robotics, cloud and secure and trustworthy commerce. It will allow us to develop more challenging applications, such as:

• virtual and augmented reality
• hologram devices
• remote surgery
• digital twins of real world objects
• extended reality sensing (the Internet of Senses)
• autonomous vehicles

The European Commission is supporting the development of 6G through the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, which includes the 6G Industry Association, the Recovery and Resilience Facility, and international collaboration. 

Preparing for 6G

6G standardisation is expected to start around 2025 with early study phases. It will follow the global 6G vision. The need for 6G global standards and interoperability is important for our industries. It calls for engagement with all regions, in particular Asia and the US.

Research and innovation initiatives relating to 6G have emerged around the world, with the first products and infrastructures expected towards the end of this decade.

Europe has the potential to become a leading global provider of 6G if we target investment accordingly.

It is crucial to maintain Europe’s sovereignty and market positions in 6G and advanced 5G through partnership with European industry. It is also essential to work with like-minded countries to ensure that the development and deployment of 6G technology align with shared principles and values.

Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)

The European Commission established the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) in 2021 to support the shift to 6G. The SNS JU is a legal and funding entity and has an ambitious EU budget of €900 million between 2021-2027, to be matched by industry.

The two main missions of the SNS JU are to:

• foster Europe’s technology sovereignty in 6G by implementing the related research and innovation
• boost 5G deployment throughout Europe by developing digital lead markets and enabling the digital and green transition of the economy and society.

6G Industry Association

The 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association contributes to Europe’s leadership on 5G, 6G, and smart networks and services. It brings together global players in telecoms, including manufacturers, researchers, universities, SMEs and more. The Industry Association is the private partner of the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking and is part of the SNS JU Governing Board, together with the European Commission’s DG CONNECT.

Recovery and Resilience Facility

On top of these efforts, under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility, Member States must allocate at least 20% of the expenditure under their national recovery and resilience plans to support the digital transition, including 5G and 6G networks and projects.

International collaboration

The EU is working with the US through the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) and adopted the 6G outlook, defining guiding principles for this next generation of communication technologies. These outline a vision for a 6G that is:

• trusted technology and protective of national security
• secure, resilient and protective of privacy
• global industry-led and inclusive in standard setting and international collaborations
• cooperative, enabling open and interoperable innovation
• affordable, sustainable and global
• secure and resilient when it comes to spectrum and manufacturing

This led to the joint ‘6G vision’ which focuses on technology challenges and research collaboration including on:

• microelectronics
• AI and cloud solutions for 6G
• security and resilience
• affordability and inclusiveness
• sustainability and energy efficiency
• openness and interoperability
• efficient radio spectrum usage
• the standardisation process

Moreover, the European Commission has strong cooperation in the field of communication networks with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan. This will contribute to the development of key technology towards a global standardisation of 6G. For example, there are currently two international cooperation projects under the SNS JU Work Programme 2024 with each ROK and Japan, leading to coordinated calls with those countries.