After more than two decades, 5G Americas this week announced plans to formally dissolve and wind down operations by February 27, 2026. The industry association helped guide the evolution of mobile networks from 3G through 5G and 5G-Advanced, shaping policy discussions, publishing white papers, and convening industry stakeholders along the way.
Its closure underscores a broader moment of transition for the telecom ecosystem: While 5G remains foundational, the industry’s attention is increasingly shifting to what comes next. “As the industry landscape evolves, the Board determined that this is the appropriate time to conclude the association’s work, reflecting the continued evolution of the wireless cellular industry,” the organization said.
Early work toward 6G is already underway within global standards bodies, with research and initial requirements taking shape well ahead of expected commercial deployments around 2030. At the same time, networks are becoming more intelligent and programmable, with AI-powered automation poised to define the next era of mobile systems.
Catherine Sbeglia Nin
Managing Editor
RCR Wireless News
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What We're Reading
5G Americans to sunset operations: 5G Americas, a wireless industry association that helped guide mobile technology from 3G through 5G-Advanced and toward 6G, has approved a plan to dissolve and wind down operations by Feb. 27, 2026.
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