The global telecom industry is accelerating preparations for the 6G era, with the first commercial 6G services expected to launch around 2030 and the first implementable specifications scheduled for completion by the end of 2028 or early 2029, according to the Ericsson Mobility Report June 2026.
Ericsson said standardization discussions for 6G are already underway as operators, network vendors, chipset makers, and governments prepare for the next generation of wireless technology. Unlike previous mobile generations, 6G is being designed as an AI-native network platform capable of supporting advanced applications such as autonomous mobility, massive digital twins, wide-area mixed reality, smart cities, physical AI systems, and intelligent industrial automation.
A key feature of 6G will be full support for Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), allowing networks not only to connect devices but also to sense and understand their environment. Ericsson also expects seamless integration between terrestrial and satellite networks, helping reduce connectivity gaps and extend broadband coverage to underserved areas. Energy efficiency is another major design priority, reflecting growing industry demands for sustainable network operations.
The company said 6G will build upon the architectural foundations established by 5G Standalone networks while introducing a new Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture and a new radio interface. For traditional services such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, 6G will deliver higher performance, improved reliability, and stronger service guarantees.
Ericsson forecasts that global 6G subscriptions will reach 180 million by the end of 2031. This estimate excludes early subscriptions generated by AI-enabled devices such as autonomous vehicles, smart glasses, drones, and other emerging connected systems, meaning actual adoption could be significantly higher if commercialization accelerates faster than expected.
The report identifies the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as likely early adopters of commercial 6G services because these markets were also among the earliest to deploy 5G. India is also positioning itself to accelerate its 6G rollout timeline relative to its 5G deployment cycle, highlighting the country’s growing ambitions in next-generation telecom technology. Europe is expected to launch 6G approximately one year later than it did for 5G, largely due to its comparatively slower adoption of 5G Standalone infrastructure.
The emergence of AI-powered devices is expected to be one of the biggest drivers of 6G demand. Ericsson noted that commercial 6G devices are likely to arrive within three to four years, while smart glasses are expected to become a major 6G use case. Global smart-glasses shipments reached around 10 million units in 2025, and analysts expect volumes to grow by two to three times in 2026. These always-connected AI devices will require optimized uplink performance and distributed computing capabilities that are expected to be significantly enhanced in 6G networks.
Ericsson believes 6G could trigger a major device upgrade cycle driven by native agentic AI capabilities, advanced smart-glasses functionality, connected physical AI devices, and strong interest from chipset vendors to participate in the next wireless generation from the outset. As AI, cloud computing, edge intelligence, and autonomous systems converge, 6G is expected to become the foundation for the next phase of global digital transformation.
BABURAJAN KIZHAKEDATH
