Service providers, vendors, cloud service providers, and other stakeholders gathered to define the vision, high-level requirements, and considerations for 6G networks during the 3GPP Workshop on 6G in Incheon, South Korea, from March 10–11, 2025. This Insight Note focuses on the most critical requirements voiced by service providers. While the views of other stakeholders are important, we will address them in a separate Note.
One key theme dominated the two days of deliberations, which featured over 230 presentations: simplicity. Service providers, frustrated by the “over-flexibility” of 5G, called for technology rooted in the 5G roadmap but guided by practical, focused, and monetizable requirements. This approach marks a shift from 5G’s grand ambitions, which service providers link to high implementation costs, lengthy service delivery cycles, and limited monetization potential. While 5G aimed to achieve impressive technical metrics like peak throughput, 6G will prioritize user experience, efficiency, and commercial viability. Essentially, 6G seeks to address the areas where 5G fell short. If this proves to be the case, it would further perpetuate the so-called “curse of the odd-numbered technology”—[2G and 4G are widely regarded as successes, while 3G is considered a failure.]
Service providers stressed the importance of controlling costs and limiting capital expenditures, both implicitly and explicitly. They advocated for cloud-native solutions, artificial intelligence, energy efficiency, and prioritizing software over hardware. Security concerns also emerged as a significant priority, with some championing the adoption of Quantum Security.
The Insight Note highlights key areas where service providers aligned or diverged, reflecting their distinct operating contexts. Broadly speaking, service providers fall into two categories: innovators, such as many in the Asia-Pacific region, who push technological boundaries; and pragmatists, like those in Europe, who focus on cost control. North American operators occupy a middle ground, blending elements of both approaches.
While the Insight Note cannot address every aspiration expressed by stakeholders, it focuses on the highlights with the most direct impact on investments. Consequently, it excludes critical topics such as Wi-Fi integration, the low-altitude economy, and 6G applications in data centers.
Defining a new communication standard presents significant challenges and requires years of work. The industry does not expect 6G standards until March 2029. This timeline gains further importance given the current geopolitical landscape, where rising tensions create unpredictable outcomes. Such tensions could fracture standards, as seen before 4G, posing a serious risk that requires careful consideration.
