Ericsson and Qualcomm Complete Pre-Standard 6G Trial
Ericsson and Qualcomm have completed a major pre-standard 6G trial in the U.S., demonstrating key performance metrics and cross-vendor interoperability. These early trials are critical for shaping the technical agenda within 3GPP and the ITU before formal standards are ratified.
The trial's technical specifications offer a glimpse into the future radio access network, utilizing a 400 MHz component carrier and exploring the 6-8 GHz centimeter-wave (cmWave) spectrum. This work is explicitly aligned with 3GPP's Release 20 study items, signaling a strategic effort by Ericsson and Qualcomm to steer the formal standardization process. The focus on enhancing uplink performance and supporting devices with four transmit/receive antennas indicates a shift towards applications requiring more robust data transmission from the device to the network. This pre-standard work is unfolding within a clear timeline set by global standards bodies. The ITU has already finalized its "IMT-2030" framework, establishing the overall vision for 6G. Following this, 3GPP is scheduled to begin its 6G studies in Release 20, with a key workshop in March 2025 and study item approvals later in the year. The first 6G technical specifications are anticipated in Release 21, with a timeline to be finalized by June 2026 to meet the IMT-2030 submission deadline. The push towards 6G is deeply intertwined with geopolitical strategy, primarily between the U.S. and China. Both nations view leadership in 6G as critical for economic competitiveness and national security, influencing everything from intellectual property to military capabilities. This competition is driving significant national investments and R&D programs, as seen with China's IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group and the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration's (NTIA) initiatives. China has established a multi-phase national strategy, aiming for commercial 6G deployment by 2030. Having already completed key technology trials, the current phase focuses on prototype development. Chinese research has yielded breakthroughs in space-to-ground laser communications and terahertz transmission, with state-backed labs and major operators actively running testbeds. In the U.S., the NTIA is coordinating a strategy focused on creating a secure, open, and interoperable 6G ecosystem. This involves aligning with allies on spectrum policy and standards, promoting Open RAN, and using events like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as a testbed for emerging 6G technologies. The collaboration between American and European firms like Qualcomm and Ericsson is a key component of this transatlantic approach to counter China's early lead. Beyond speed, the technical vision for 6G is AI-native, designed to support applications like immersive augmented reality and integrated sensing. The architecture anticipates a fusion of communications and computing, enabling device-network collaboration where intelligence is distributed across the system. This will require new security frameworks, such as zero-trust architectures and quantum-safe cryptography, to address an expanded threat surface.
