The 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) has kicked off in Barcelona, Spain. While vendors from around the world are channeling their energies into AI, they are also casting a keen eye on 6G technology. In 2025, 6G found its way into the work report of the Chinese government. Come January of this year, China has embarked on the second phase of 6G technology experiments. Multiple equipment vendors are flaunting their 6G-related accomplishments, striving to gain a foothold in the industry. According to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the 6G standard is projected to be unveiled in early 2029. If the launch proves successful, the first wave of 6G devices is expected to make their debut in the latter half of 2029, with a flurry of device innovations anticipated in 2030. At present, 5G-Advanced (5G-A) still reigns supreme as the dominant commercial technology, yet stakeholders in the industry harbor diverse demands. Equipment vendors are fervently competing for new technologies to secure a voice in the 6G standard-setting process. Meanwhile, operators are more preoccupied with the return on investment. As a crucial mobile communication frequency band, U6GHz has witnessed the introduction of pertinent technical solutions by Huawei, ZTE, and other players. Faced with the challenge posed by NVIDIA's push for AI-RAN (Artificial Intelligence-Radio Access Network), traditional equipment vendors are fortifying their dominant positions by refining dedicated chips and bolstering inherent AI capabilities. In 2026, the global allocation of 6G frequencies and the formulation of technical standards will enter a pivotal phase. This standards battle is poised to shape the global telecommunications industry's interest landscape for the next decade.
