WBAs 6G Vision calls for collaboration on connectivity
Summary
The statement calls for greater collaboration between all stakeholders if 6G is to deliver on its promise, and details five key vision points for 6G, to achieve ubiquitous connectivity that comprises Wi-Fi, cellular, non-terrestrial networks, IoT LPWANs, and other wireless technologies at its core. While the cellular standards organisations have made efforts to integrate these systems and positive progress has been made, with converged solutions like Wi-Fi Calling or SIM-based seamless Wi-Fi authentication, broader real-world adoption and implementation have lagged for reasons including the need to harmonise fragmented user experiences, complexity of non-3GPP access methods, costs related to implementation complexity, and the need to learn from previous cellular generations. While equipment manufacturers, both cellular and Wi-Fi vendors, drive many innovations in their respective technologies, operators may be better positioned to take a holistic, technology-agnostic view of customer needs and their own challenges. Operators can bring balance to the ecosystem by ensuring that solutions are designed with customer challenges and real-world use cases in mind, avoiding a technology-driven approach that may overlook cross-network requirements. By centring its vision on densification, capacity, efficiency, and collaboration, the WBA aims to make 6G not just a technological leap but a practical solution for global connectivity challenges.” The WBA will be promoting several actionable steps to drive broad industry alignment, which it believes will ensure the 6G opportunity resonates beyond the technical community, appealing to policymakers, businesses, and end-users alike: • Advocate for simplified, cross-network policies that focus on the end user experience.