6G
Every ten years the mobile industry has moved to a new generation of technology. But with 6G the old rhythm is under strain: equipment suppliers are looking for the next network upgrade while operators question how they could pay for it. Can an evolutionary 6G preserve the global cooperation that began with GSM, or will rival revolutionary approaches pull the industry apart?
The story and the decisions
The inside story
Who can afford another generation—and what should it deliver? Stephen Temple examines the competing interests of operators and suppliers, the risk of fragmented standards and a possible path between evolutionary and revolutionary 6G.
Read the Story →Research and Evidence
6G for Policy Makers
2021 · Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
What should governments seek to achieve with 6G? Edited by Professor Stephen Temple, this IET guide considers societal goals alongside spectrum, regulation and international cooperation. It offers a starting point for policy debate, rather than a settled technical blueprint.
IMT-2030 Framework
November 2023 · International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
What has been agreed internationally about the direction of 6G? Recommendation ITU-R M.2160-0 sets out the framework and overall objectives for IMT-2030. It provides a common basis for future development, not a completed 6G technical standard.
Surrey’s 6G Reset Vision
June 2025 · University of Surrey, 6G Innovation Centre
What improvements do operators need—and what can they afford? Developed with UK mobile network operators and industry, this working vision focuses on more reliable coverage, AI-ready infrastructure and economic realities. It proposes a direction for future networks rather than reporting an agreed deployment plan.
6G Spectrum Roadmap
16 June 2026 · European Commission Radio Spectrum Policy Group
How is Europe preparing spectrum policy for 6G? This RSPG opinion sets out a developing roadmap of frequency ranges and regulatory work. Read it alongside the earlier pioneer-band debate as recommendations for future decisions—not final spectrum assignments or evidence of commercial 6G deployment.