6G news and analysis for the week ending Friday 5th September, 2025.
The security of 6G networks took centre stage this week as Nokia revealed the outcomes of a critical 3GPP meeting in Gothenburg, where the industry’s security working group (SA3) began prioritising the technologies that will protect next-generation networks from day one. Post-quantum cryptography, AI security and radio lower-layer protection emerged as the three most impactful areas — a clear signal that 6G security architecture is being treated as foundational, not bolted on afterwards. With governments worldwide setting post-quantum transition timelines, the pressure on 3GPP to align its specifications is mounting.
Meanwhile, the commercial potential of Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) came into sharper focus through a new ABI Research report, which described it as “the first truly innovative concept discussed for cellular networks since 4G introduced mobile broadband.” The opportunity is tantalising for operators seeking to move beyond pure connectivity, but the price tag — upwards of $50,000 to $100,000 per cell site for ISAC-capable radios that are not backward compatible with 5G — remains a formidable barrier.
And in the US, Verizon Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath delivered a blunt assessment of America’s 6G readiness: “If we are not No. 1 in 6G, it’s a shame on us.” His candid admission that 5G applications were a disappointment — and that Verizon was “five years ahead” on mobile edge compute with “zero” return — adds a sobering note of realism as the industry gears up for the next generation. This week’s newsletter also covers new GaN chip development from Ericsson and SweGaN, Nokia’s vision for satellite connectivity in every 6G device, Qualcomm’s view of AI-native user experiences, and Korea’s TTA joining the AI-RAN Alliance.
Key announcements this week
Nokia Prioritises 6G Security Foundations at 3GPP
Nokia published a detailed account of the recent 3GPP SA3 (security and privacy) meeting in Gothenburg (25–29 August 2025), where members began prioritising security technologies essential for 6G. Nokia, which has chaired SA3 for the past four years, moderated the effort to distil all members’ contributions into a document outlining 15 potential work tasks. The meeting reached consensus on endorsing a broad 6G system security study, with formal approval expected later this year.
What’s new: Nokia identified post-quantum cryptography (PQC), AI security and radio lower-layer protection as the three highest-impact security study items for 6G. A dedicated study on Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) was also agreed. The blog noted that three divergent AI regulation approaches — from the US, China and the EU — must be navigated to establish a single global 6G standard.
Why this matters: Mobile networks are now national critical infrastructure, and the anticipated proliferation of AI agents, API-driven services and connected devices in 6G dramatically expands the attack surface. The fact that wireless generations up to and including 5G do not protect radio layers below the PDCP layer — leaving them vulnerable to software-defined radio exploitation — underscores the urgency of addressing lower-layer security from the outset. Nokia’s secure-by-design philosophy aims to embed security at every stage, from standardisation through to deployment.
Implications for 6G standards: With SA3 now formally endorsing the scope of 6G security studies, expect detailed work items to accelerate through 2026. The challenge of harmonising AI security standards across US, Chinese and EU regulatory frameworks within a single 3GPP specification will be one of the most politically sensitive aspects of the entire 6G process.
Source: Link to source
ABI Research: ISAC Could Redefine Operator Business
ABI Research published findings from its new report on Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC), describing it as a unique opportunity for mobile operators to break free of their connectivity legacy. Dimitris Mavrakis, Senior Research Director, said: “ISAC is a unique opportunity for mobile operators to break free of their connectivity legacy. Coupled with network APIs, they can become brokers for location and positioning across their network footprint.”
What’s new: ABI Research confirmed that live commercial ISAC trials are underway in 2025, with initial trials in China driven mostly by the low-altitude economy (drone management). However, the report flagged that a fully capable ISAC radio is not backward compatible with existing 5G infrastructure, with upgrade costs estimated at $50,000 to $100,000 per cell site.
Why this matters: ISAC represents perhaps the most significant potential revenue diversification opportunity for operators in a generation. By transforming base stations into radar-like sensing platforms, operators could enter markets for asset tracking, perimeter security and environmental monitoring that are currently unserved by cellular networks. However, the capital expenditure required, at a time when many operators are still absorbing 5G costs, creates a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma. The report notes that demand and economies of scale should eventually bring prices down.
Implications for 6G standards: ISAC is being actively standardised across ETSI and 3GPP, and the security implications — as Nokia’s SA3 blog also highlighted this week — will require cross-working-group coordination. Getting the technical specifications right while ensuring commercial viability will be critical for ISAC’s inclusion in Release 21.
Source: Link to source
Verizon CEO: US Must Lead in 6G
Verizon Consumer Group CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath used a keynote at the Mobile Future Forward event in Seattle to make a forceful case for US 6G leadership, citing both innovation and national security imperatives. “If we are not No. 1 in 6G, it’s a shame on us,” he said, adding: “It’s super important we don’t let China take the lead.”
What’s new: Sampath highlighted the mid-band spectrum gap, noting that by 2028 China will have four times more mid-band spectrum than the US. He also called for more American companies to participate in standards bodies to influence how 6G specifications are set. Notably, he offered a candid mea culpa on 5G: “We got devices right. We got the network right. We didn’t get the applications right,” acknowledging that Verizon invested in mobile edge compute five years too early and “made zero money.”
Why this matters: This is one of the most senior US operator executives publicly connecting 6G to national security and calling out the spectrum deficit with China. The acknowledgement that 5G’s application ecosystem failed to materialise — despite correct network and device strategies — is a significant lesson for 6G planning. Sampath’s observation that European operators lack the cash flows to be aggressive on 6G also signals diverging regional timelines.
Implications for 6G standards: Sampath’s call for greater US participation in standards bodies directly addresses the 3GPP membership balance, where ATIS (North America) accounts for just 9.9% of individual members compared to ETSI (Europe) at 54% and CCSA (China) at 20.6%. Whether increased US engagement will meaningfully shift 6G specifications remains to be seen, but the political will appears to be growing.
Source: Link to source
Ericsson and SweGaN Partner on GaN Chips for 6G
Semiconductor manufacturer SweGaN has partnered with Ericsson to develop power amplifiers for 6G based on gallium nitride-on-silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC), targeting the 7–15 GHz frequency range (X/Ku bands). The project, funded by Swedish innovation agency Vinnova, also involves defence company Saab and Chalmers University of Technology.
What’s new: This is the first time Ericsson has worked with epitaxial GaN-on-SiC technology, which combines the wide-bandgap properties of gallium nitride with silicon carbide substrates to create chips that handle greater power levels and mitigate overheating. The collaboration will explore high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) and develop high-efficiency power amplifier circuits for 6G radio frequencies.
Why this matters: The 7–15 GHz band is widely expected to be a key spectrum range for 6G deployments, and power amplifier efficiency at these frequencies is a critical enabler. GaN-based chips are more efficient and durable than silicon alternatives, but commercial-grade components remain scarce. The dual telecom-defence application, with Saab’s involvement, reflects the strategic importance governments are placing on semiconductor sovereignty for next-generation wireless.
Implications for 6G standards: While chip development sits outside the standards process itself, the availability of efficient, affordable radio components at upper mid-band frequencies will directly influence what 6G radio specifications can realistically deliver. This project aligns with broader European efforts to secure semiconductor supply chains for 6G.
Source: Link to source
Nokia: Satellite in Every 6G Device
Nokia outlined its vision for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) in 6G, arguing that satellite connectivity will become a standard capability built into every device from day one — comparable to Wi-Fi or GPS today. Jeroen Wigard, Principal Research Lead, authored the blog detailing the evolution from current 5G NTN (Release 17) through to 6G integration.
What’s new: Nokia identified three key NTN advancements for 6G: satellite connectivity embedded in every device as standard, removal of the requirement for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities in NTN devices, and seamless terrestrial-to-satellite handover for uninterrupted service continuity. The removal of GNSS dependency is notable, as these systems can be jammed or disrupted.
Why this matters: NTN is already operational in limited form — devices like the Google Pixel 9 and Samsung S25 support emergency messaging via NB-IoT over NTN. But making satellite connectivity ubiquitous and seamless in 6G would fundamentally change coverage economics, particularly for rural areas, disaster response and maritime applications. Nokia frames this as part of its “single technology stack” vision for 6G.
Implications for 6G standards: NTN has evolved rapidly through 3GPP Releases 17, 18 and 19, with regenerative satellite architecture introduced in Release 19. For 6G (Release 21), the standardisation challenge will be ensuring seamless TN-NTN interworking without adding undue complexity to device requirements — a balance that multiple 3GPP workshop submissions flagged as critical.
Source: Link to source
6G Coverage: The Line-of-Sight Challenge
Semiconductor Engineering published an in-depth feature examining the practical coverage challenges facing 6G deployments at sub-THz and THz frequencies. The article draws on expert commentary from Fraunhofer IIS, Ansys(now part of Synopsys), Siemens, Purdue University and others.
What’s new: The piece details the engineering trade-offs involved in deploying 6G at higher frequencies, where signal attenuation is severe and line-of-sight is essential. Solutions discussed include densified small cells, repeater networks (such as Ericsson’s “dot” concept), intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) using metamaterials, and the coexistence of licensed 6G with unlicensed Wi-Fi 7. Purdue University president Mung Chiang noted that affordability ultimately depends on the pricing structure: “Not all deployment scenarios will be in a position to afford it.”
Why this matters: While much 6G discussion focuses on standards and spectrum, this article grounds the debate in physical reality. The need for dense repeater networks, fibre backhaul to each access point, and careful RF modelling of every deployment environment means that 6G rollout costs and timelines will vary enormously by use case. Industrial and campus deployments may proceed faster than broad urban coverage.
Implications for 6G standards: The coverage challenges reinforce the importance of 3GPP’s work on relay and repeater architectures, intelligent surfaces and flexible spectrum sharing — all of which featured prominently in the March 2025 6G Workshop submissions.
Source: Link to source
Qualcomm Outlines AI-Native 6G Vision
Qualcomm published a sponsored article via RCR Wireless News outlining its vision for 6G as “the wireless innovation platform for the next decade,” with a strong emphasis on agentic AI, extended reality (XR) and distributed computing as defining use cases.
What’s new: Qualcomm quantified the data demands of emerging AI use cases: a personal AI assistant consuming over 40GB per month at modest usage, and “see-what-I-see” smart glasses streaming generating over 50GB of mostly uplink traffic with just 20 minutes of daily use. The company highlighted collaborative communication (devices working in concert with the network) and distributed computing (offloading tasks to edge servers) as key architectural enablers.
Why this matters: These traffic projections illustrate why 6G needs additional spectrum and fundamentally different network architectures. The shift from downlink-heavy to increasingly uplink-heavy traffic, driven by persistent AI agents and streaming from wearables, will require rethinking radio resource management. Qualcomm’s emphasis on on-device AI sharing contextual information with the network to enable dynamic optimisation aligns with the broader industry push toward AI-native RAN.
Implications for 6G standards: Qualcomm’s vision for context-aware, AI-native protocols — where devices share battery state, application requirements and channel conditions with the network — will need to be reflected in 3GPP specifications. The company is actively contributing to Release 20 and 21 standardisation on these topics.
Source: Link to source
Korea’s TTA Joins AI-RAN Alliance
South Korea’s Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) has officially joined the AI-RAN Alliance, the global consortium launched at MWC 2024 by Samsung Electronics, NVIDIA, SoftBank and Microsoft to drive the development of AI-integrated radio access networks for 6G.
What’s new: TTA becomes the latest member of the approximately 110-strong alliance, joining existing Korean members including Samsung, ETRI, KT, SK Telecom and LG Uplus. As Korea’s sole ICT standardisation and testing body, TTA plans to contribute to quality verification of AI innovation services across public service, defence and transportation sectors.
Why this matters: TTA is one of the seven 3GPP Organisational Partners, through which Korean companies participate in global standards. Its membership of the AI-RAN Alliance strengthens the link between Korea’s AI-RAN research efforts and the formal 3GPP standardisation process. The move aligns with Korea’s government ambition to become a “top three AI powerhouse” globally.
Implications for 6G standards: With AI-RAN increasingly positioned as foundational infrastructure for 6G, having a 3GPP Organisational Partner actively involved in the alliance could help accelerate the translation of AI-RAN research into formal specifications.
Source: Link to source
PROTEUS-6G: Reinventing Optical Transport for 6G
The EU-funded PROTEUS-6G project detailed its innovations in optical network architecture designed to support 6G fronthaul and transport requirements. Writing in Innovation News Network, the project outlined a novel connection architecture, energy-efficient optical transmitters and an AI-enabled unified control platform.
What’s new: PROTEUS-6G has developed optical transmitters that can achieve up to 800 Gbps per channel and over 6 Tbps on a single fibre, using dual-polarisation techniques that double throughput without complex digital processing. The project also introduced a unified control platform integrating packet switching and optical path management into a single AI-driven system.
Why this matters: 6G’s demanding fronthaul requirements — driven by massive MIMO antenna arrays and distributed architectures — will place unprecedented strain on optical transport networks. Current fragmented management of packet and optical layers creates inefficiencies that will become untenable at 6G data rates. The PROTEUS-6G approach of simplifying optical components while adding AI-driven orchestration addresses both performance and energy efficiency.
Implications for 6G standards: While optical transport sits partially outside 3GPP’s scope, the fronthaul interface specifications in Release 21 will need to accommodate the capabilities that projects like PROTEUS-6G are developing. The push for energy-efficient, high-capacity optical links aligns with the near-universal call for sustainability in 6G workshop submissions.
Source: Link to source
6G Futures is published weekly. Subscribe to stay informed on the journey to 6G.