Rel-21+ (expected) · IMT-2030 (research targets)
6G
IMT-2030 (Research Phase)
The network that merges the physical and digital worlds.
6G doesn't exist yet - what follows is a set of research targets, not a shipping product, and history suggests the eventual reality will land somewhat short of the pitch (5G's own hype cycle is a useful reminder of that). ITU-R's IMT-2030 targets are expected to be finalised around 2027, with the first commercial networks pencilled in for 2030. The wish list is ambitious: sub-millisecond latency, terahertz spectrum offering vastly more bandwidth than mmWave, an air interface with machine learning built in rather than bolted on, and integrated sensing that turns the network itself into a kind of radar. Strip away the buzzwords and the underlying idea is simple - a network that doesn't just move your data, but has some awareness of the physical world it's moving through.
Key Metrics
Key Innovations
6G research targets 0.1–10 THz bands, offering hundreds of GHz of contiguous bandwidth per carrier - enabling theoretical peak rates of 1 Tbps. Range is sub-100m; primarily indoor and dense urban.
Unlike 5G where AI is an add-on optimisation layer, 6G embeds machine learning directly into the air interface - channel estimation, beam management, and waveform selection are all ML-driven.
6G base stations simultaneously communicate and sense their environment - acting as distributed radar. Enables centimetre-precision positioning and environment mapping using the communication signal itself.
Extended ultra-reliability targets: 0.1ms over-the-air latency and up to 99.99999% (seven nines) reliability - enabling full remote surgery and safety-critical industrial automation.
Multi-dimensional holographic video transmission requires Tbps throughput and <1ms latency simultaneously - only feasible with 6G's combined improvements.
6G formally integrates LEO satellite, HAPS (high-altitude platform stations), and terrestrial networks into a unified access layer - true global coverage including oceans and polar regions.
Use Case Support
All legacy messaging services continue to work.
1 Gbps+ realistic speeds make any web interaction instantaneous.
HD streaming is trivially supported - not a meaningful differentiator for 6G.
Fully supported.
6G exceeds all cloud gaming requirements by multiple orders of magnitude.
6G targets 10 million devices/km² - 10x 5G's mMTC target.
6G's Tbps rates and <1ms latency enable full holographic AR/VR without any compromise.
Sub-1ms with seven-nines reliability is the core design target of 6G URLLC - this is the flagship 6G use case.
Architecture
6G - AI-Native Distributed Architecture (Conceptual)
6G architecture is not yet standardised. Research consensus describes a distributed, AI-native, cloud-native architecture with integrated sensing, non-terrestrial layers, and semantic communication.
See the full diagram catalogue on the Architecture page.