Red Hat outlines telco-to-techco themes at MWC
Red Hat has presented core themes from MWC, saying the telco-to-techco transformation has accelerated, driven by 6G, AI, digital sovereignty and cloud-native infrastructure, and has argued that automation plus AI and sovereign network offerings will create new enterprise revenue opportunities.
Viavi and Nvidia collaborate on AI-native network software
Viavi and Nvidia have expanded a partnership to integrate testing, simulation and AI platforms to develop agentic digital twins, improve spectral and energy efficiency and advance software-defined, AI-native networks towards autonomous 6G deployments.
AI system halts 5G cyber-attacks within 100ms
Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed TwinGuard, an AI-driven digital twin framework that has detected and neutralised cyber-attacks on 5G test networks in under 100 milliseconds and has indicated its suitability for securing future 6G infrastructure.
Keysight showcases AI-RAN, uplink and pre-6G testing
Keysight has unveiled integrated AI-RAN testing, an AI-driven uplink optimisation prototype with MediaTek, and pre-6G interoperability and troubleshooting tools with Ericsson at MWC, aimed at validating AI-native RAN functions and accelerating deployment.
Ericsson targets 5G mid-cycle gains from AI RAN
Ericsson has emphasised extracting more value from 5G via AI-driven RAN optimisation, APIs and network upgrades, and has reported roughly 10% spectrum-efficiency gains in field tests and has introduced AI-ready radios and software for operators.
Qualcomm defines three pillars for 6G
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has outlined three 6G pillars — connectivity, distributed computing and sensing — saying networks have been designed as AI data‑centre networks with RF sensing; demonstrations have been scheduled for 2028, and rollout has been targeted for 2029.
Qualcomm positions 6G as infrastructure for AI agents
Qualcomm has said 6G has been positioned to support agent‑centric AI and has forecast three‑to‑sevenfold mobile traffic growth, extensive edge data generation, and requirements for lower latency, higher capacity and integrated edge computing.
ZTE demonstrates AI immersive communication in U6G band
ZTE has demonstrated an AI-driven immersive communication prototype in the U6G band, combining 6G GigaMIMO and edge AI to achieve low-latency multi-sensory interaction and rapid generation of photorealistic 3D digital humans.
T-Mobile US outlines AI-native 6G and cloud RAN plans
T-Mobile US has announced expanded collaborations with Qualcomm, Ericsson, Nvidia and Deutsche Telekom to advance AI-native 6G research, portable cloud RAN trials and a transatlantic 6G innovation hub focused on sensing, distributed compute and network intelligence.
SNS JU awards €116m to 20 6G research projects
The SNS JU has awarded €116m to 20 projects, has expanded its 6G portfolio to 100 initiatives and has announced planned additional investments of €270m for 2026–27 to advance European 6G research, trials and standardisation.
ZTE outlines 6G strategy and unveils GigaMIMO
ZTE has presented a strategic 6G roadmap and GigaMIMO prototype, emphasising AI-native integration, space-air-ground convergence and efficiency improvements aimed at capacity, coverage and deterministic service for large-scale deployments.
Qualcomm unveils AI-native 6G prototypes at MWC
Qualcomm has presented AI-native 6G prototypes at MWC Barcelona 2026, demonstrating multi-vendor RF alignment, sensing-enabled digital twins, agentic AI services and millimetre-wave non-terrestrial network developments that have advanced early ecosystem validation and prototyping.
Samsung, KT and Keysight validate 7 GHz X-MIMO trial
Samsung, KT and Keysight have validated X-MIMO in the 7 GHz band, demonstrating peak downlink speeds of up to 3 Gbps in outdoor trials using a 256-port base station, ultra-high-density antennas and eight simultaneous data streams.
Challenges of Achieving Reliable Indoor Connectivity
The piece has argued that indoor connectivity has remained unreliable due to fragmented ownership, misaligned economic incentives and ageing infrastructure, and has proposed federated, multi‑stakeholder approaches to align investment and operational responsibilities.
AI for satellite network handovers and resource management
Researchers and operators have applied AI to manage handovers between moving satellites and ground networks, have improved predictive allocation and spectrum coordination, and have encountered limits from on-board hardware, latency budgets and regulatory fragmentation.
Dell'Oro Adjusts O-RAN Forecast on 5G and 6G Demand
Dell'Oro has raised the long-term O-RAN outlook driven by 5G and early 6G expectations, while it has lowered near-term O-RAN and cloud RAN revenue projections and has trimmed multi-vendor RAN share forecasts to under 5% by 2030.
Giga-MIMO and SBFD for 6G upper-midband networks
Research has shown that Giga‑MIMO and subband full duplex (SBFD) have increased uplink capacity, reduced latency and enabled upper‑midband FR3 deployments, supporting higher throughput, sensing and pragmatic co‑location strategies for scalable 6G rollouts.
Digital twins for 6G network optimisation
Industry participants have identified three roles that digital twins have played in enhancing 6G: they have enabled risk-free what-if simulations, supplied context-rich data for AI training, and improved power optimisation to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
RAN market stabilises ahead of 6G investments
Dell'Oro Group has reported the RAN market has stabilised after a near $10 billion revenue decline, and revenues have been forecast to grow at a 1% CAGR while RAN has been expected to account for 20-25% of wireless capex.
Samsung reports commercial vRAN call on US operator network
Samsung said it completed a commercial vRAN call on a Tier 1 US operator’s live network, demonstrating single‑server consolidation of RAN and network functions for efficiency and AI readiness.
2026 outlook: 6G development and AI infrastructure
Forecasts indicate 2026 will see 6G studies continue, flat telecom economics, AI inference cost reductions constrained by energy and construction, and centralised inference dominance.
FR3 role in 5G-Advanced Release 18
FR3, spanning 7.125–24.25 GHz, is included in Release 18 to extend mid-band capacity; deployment will depend on macro co-location, cell planning and realistic indoor performance expectations.
6G development priorities and expectations for 2026
Predictions indicate 2026 will prioritise AI‑native architecture, integrated sensing, FR3 deployments, NTN–TN continuity and energy‑aware operation, with operator and vendor trials translating research into practical testbeds.
IEEE survey finds limited near-term AI impact from 6G
IEEE survey finds 7% view 6G as a primary AI opportunity, suggesting continued focus on 5G. Experts say 6G may prioritise uplink capacity and AI resource allocation.
Keysight and KT SAT demonstrate GEO-to-LEO handover
Keysight and KT SAT completed a laboratory proof‑of‑concept for an NR‑NTN handover from a GEO satellite to an emulated LEO link using Ku‑band and network emulation tools.
Samsung and KT validate AI-driven RAN optimisation
Samsung and KT validated AI-driven radio access network optimisation on a commercial network, reducing user connection failures in a trial of about 18,000 subscribers and informing 6G preparation.
OBBB Act sets spectrum deadlines for US 6G readiness
The article states the OBBB Act mandates identifying and auctioning mobile spectrum by 2034; it says at least 600 MHz should be ready for full-power 6G deployments by 2029.
NATWORK 6G cybersecurity and resilience framework project
NATWORK develops an AI-driven, energy-efficient 6G cybersecurity and resilience framework; consortium-led pilots, testbeds and standards engagement support evaluation and potential commercial exploitation.
Monetising 5G Standalone Before 6G Rollout
CSPs should shift from selling speed to service-based monetisation of 5G SA, using network slicing, API exposure and end-to-end observability to establish sustainable revenue before considering 6G.
Global Coordination for 6G Standards and Industry Alignment
Operators and vendors urge global harmonisation of 6G standards to ensure efficient migration from 5G, address AI and security challenges, and prioritise sustainability, interoperability and economic viability.
Samsung and SK Telecom sign AI-RAN 6G collaboration
Samsung and SK Telecom will co-develop AI-RAN technologies for 6G, combining Samsung model development with SKT operational data and nationwide testing to validate channel estimation, distributed MIMO and schedulers.
UK digital infrastructure: gaps and future connectivity
Assessment identifies UK telecoms infrastructure gaps in deployment, coverage, skills and investment; recommends accelerating 5G standalone rollout, preparing for 6G, and improving skills and stakeholder co-ordination.
SoftBank trial shows 7GHz viable for urban 6G coverage
SoftBank and Nokia field tests in Tokyo indicate 7GHz spectrum can provide wide-area urban coverage and stable connectivity for 6G macro deployments, with performance comparable to 3.9GHz in open areas.
Europe's 6G Strategy for Ethical and Inclusive Networks
EU-funded 6G4Society coordinates researchers, industry and civil society to prioritise sustainability, ethics and inclusivity in 6G development, informing policy and industry decisions ahead of anticipated 2030 deployment.
Technology standards for wireless, AI and devices
Global technology standards underpin interoperability, reduce development costs and accelerate deployment across cellular, Wi‑Fi, codecs and memory, supporting scalable, secure and efficient device ecosystems.
Key Telecom Trends for 2026: AI, MVNOs, 6G and Satellites
Juniper Research forecasts telecom evolution in 2026 focusing on AI-driven customer service, MVNO and eSIM convergence, sector expansion, terahertz 6G research, and multi-orbit satellite networks.
Nokia and SoftBank Advance 4G, 5G Networks and 6G Research
Nokia and SoftBank have agreed to modernise SoftBank’s 4G and 5G networks in Western Japan and continue joint research into AI-RAN and 6G technologies.
6G Capital Expenditure to Increase from 2030, Dell’Oro Reports
Dell’Oro forecasts flat RAN market growth through 2035, with 6G deployments comprising 55–60% of RAN investments between 2029 and 2034, driven by Massive MIMO technology.
6G4Society Advances Sustainable and Ethical 6G Connectivity
The 6G4Society project integrates societal, environmental, and economic values into 6G development, promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and public trust within European policy and innovation frameworks.
Samsung and SoftBank Collaborate on AI-RAN and 6G Development
Samsung and SoftBank have signed an MoU to jointly develop AI-driven Radio Access Network technologies and 6G communications, combining research and network expertise for future telecom advancements.
Nvidia Highlights Rapid AI Integration in Telecom Networks
Nvidia outlines accelerated AI adoption in telecom, emphasising software-defined infrastructure and AI-native architectures as pivotal to future network transformation and 6G deployment.
SEASON Project Demonstrates Energy-Efficient AR/VR Network Trial
The SEASON project conducted Europe's first field trial integrating multicore fibres, PONs, O-RAN, and edge computing to deliver immersive AR/VR services with up to 11% energy savings.
Vietnam Allocates Spectrum for 6G and Wi-Fi 7 Technologies
Vietnam’s new radio frequency plan opens key mid- and low-band spectrum for 5G, 6G, Wi-Fi 7, and satellite services, aligning with global standards to support next-generation technology deployment.
Nokia Licenses Juniper's RIC Technology to Enhance 5G and 6G AI
Nokia has licensed Juniper's RAN Intelligent Controller technology and absorbed its 45-person team to enhance its AI-driven MantaRay platform, supporting multi-vendor 5G and preparing for 6G networks.
Finland Advances 6G Research at University of Oulu
Finland’s 6G Flagship leads academia-industry collaboration in wireless communication, focusing on resilience, distributed intelligence, and real-world testing through the 6G Test Centre in Oulu.
Germany's 6G NeXt Project Concludes After Three Years
The 6G NeXt project, funded by the German government and led by Deutsche Telekom, completed three years of research on modular, scalable 6G network infrastructure and applications.
Qualcomm Projects Pre-Commercial 6G Devices by 2028
Qualcomm CEO announced plans for pre-commercial 6G devices by 2028, emphasising 6G's role in enhancing AI-driven connectivity and the edge-cloud continuum in future networks.
