Table of Contents
We have cobbled together a 6G special today with some smart editing – plus more about AI-RAN (with Singtel, Softbank, T-Mobile; Ericsson and Nokia), more still about D2D (about regulatory changes, defensive positions, control strategies – all contra you-know-who), and a whole fourth act about Industry 4.0 (courtesy of Nvidia, Siemens, Mercedes, plus Dell’Oro with the stats). Here’s the tease; if you want the rest, as it has been pulled together, then click here for the full picture.
6G looks like a proper engineering project. But the closer the industry gets to setting out its new pitch, the tougher the questions get: what needs to change, who pays for it, how much can be salvaged? The recent 6G Forum, hosted by RCR, exposed this tension. Keysight sees a standalone 6G core from day one, with commercial systems from 2029. Ericsson wants an evolutionary path, reusing 5G core infrastructure and spectrum where possible – whilst also convincing operators to dig deep for a standalone RAN upgrade somehow. First, show me the money, they retort. Meanwhile, 3GPP is still debating how deeply AI should reshape the core, from a dedicated AI domain to more radical agent-based architectures. Consensus is building, but it is hardly complete.
Operators are wary of another investment cycle without clear returns. Tech adoption does not mean business success, said BT. Stéphane Téral’s challenge over who will actually pay for (much-vaunted) sensing services goes to the heart of it. (AT&T has a whitepaper about this.) But incremental upgrades won’t cut it, we hear. Ericsson has warned about a six-fold increase in uplink traffic, potentially. 5G will run out of road in the mid-term, it reckons. New AI agents, sensing devices, and sundry physical AI gadgetry need more networks. Yeah? Well, show me the money. 5G-based AI-RAN trials, as below, are already producing performance gains, but 6G economics hinge on bigger stuff. The business case is the killer – and we all know how that went, in IoT, private 5G, yadda yadda.
This article is continued here.
James Blackman
Executive Editor
RCR Wireless News
6G Special Edition
6G to the rescue: Ericsson forecasts surging uplink demand as AI shifts mobile traffic patterns, urging operators to avoid 5G’s costly standalone delays. Its 6G vision hinges on spectrum efficiency, reusable infras, and bankable new services.
6G core problems: Keysight and Docomo say 6G core development is advancing on a compressed timeline, but AI architecture options remain under study and consensus is still needed.
G = 5G SA-plus? Some panel consensus at 6G Forum: 6G looks less like a clean-slate redesign and more like standalone 5G made smarter – with agentic AI, spectrum sharing, integrated sensing, and satellites baked in.
6G fragmentation: 6G standardization faces difficulties over spectrum, architecture, and AI integration, says Téral Research – while geopolitical competition raises concerns about fragmentation and commercial returns.
6G on MNO terms: AT&T, BT, Orange, and Verizon have urged an evolutionary approach to 6G, protecting existing network investments while demanding clear returns. AI uplink traffic and ISAC could justify changes where 5G falls short.
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D2D Special Edition
D2D regulation: Regulators in the UK, US, and Spain are taking different approaches to D2D services, but await WRC-27 for global spectrum rules. Existing deployments risk shutdown under ITU rules if they cause harmful interference.
D2D access control: Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone want a joint position on MSS spectrum, but can Europe’s telcos secure control without owning the satellites – or surrendering commercial leverage to SpaceX?
D2D scaling laws: D2D services are expanding, but modest spending and costly infra threaten returns. CCS Insight, Qualcomm, and Elveo Mobile argue open standards, operator partnerships, and regulatory alignment will be crucial.
D2D playbooks: Starlink need not replace terrestrial networks to disrupt telcos. Strand Consult and Dell’Oro examine its hybrid ambitions, capacity constraints, AI opportunities, and other economics – and say indirect threats to telcos matter most.
D2D ‘earthquake’: SpaceX’s proposed 800 MHz acquisition strengthens its push into terrestrial wireless. But coverage is not capacity, and building a competitive nationwide network could cost tens of billions of dollars
AI-RAN Special Edition (etc)
New AI-RAN tests: Softbank will trial AI-RAN with Nokia in Japan in 2027 on live systems, combining Nokia’s anyRAN software with Softbank’s AITRAS platform and Nvidia GPUs to validate AI and radio workloads on shared infrastructure.
Live AI-RAN gains: T-Mobile and Ericsson are testing AI-RAN software on a live 5G-A network, claiming 10% higher efficiency and 15% improved throughput. Ericsson also has a deal with Singtel to scale AI-native networks in Singapore.
Defensive position: Telefónica and NOS will develop defense comms and services for European military and security, building on 5G integration demos during maritime exercises at REPMUS 26 and exploring edge AI and autonomy.
Integrated sensing: AT&T has a whitepaper to outline how ISAC could combine 5G and 6G with radar-like sensing to enable networks to detect and track objects for applications spanning industrial monitoring, transport and public safety.
Wavelength service: Lumen has a new wavelength service to provide enterprises with two separate network routes and a 99.99% availability SLA, plus AI tools to predict disruptions, accelerate repairs, improve customer comms
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