5G Rollout & Road to 6G
Over 3 billion 5G subscriptions in 2026; the first 6G specification is due in early 2029, with networks from around 2030.
Open in the interactive tree →5G launched in 2019 and brings higher data rates, short response times and network slicing for industry and vehicles. 6G is to combine communication with sensing (radio as radar) and AI-based network functions. Standardization runs in 3GPP Release 20 (studies) and Release 21 (first 6G specification).
As of October 2026
Per the Ericsson Mobility Report (June 2026), 5G subscriptions passed the 3 billion mark in Q1 2026 (3.1 billion, +162 million in one quarter), with 6.4 billion expected by the end of 2031. The ITU reports 5G now reaches more than half of the world’s population. After the 3GPP decisions of June 2026, Release 21 specification work starts in March 2027 and is due by the end of 2028, followed by about a quarter of review, so the first 6G release lands in early 2029; first commercial systems are expected in 2030.
Open steps
- AI in the radio link itself High AI leverageLearned beam management, channel feedback and positioning must work across vendors, devices and cells without retraining, inside tight latency limits.
- Radio as radar Medium AI leverage6G aims to sense objects and motion with the same signals that carry data; separating weak echoes from clutter and keeping it privacy-safe are open.
- Network energy per bit Medium AI leverageBase stations draw most of an operator's power; sleep modes, longer reference-signal periods and smarter traffic steering must cut energy as traffic grows.
Where AI could help
Low AI leverage. Rollout is spectrum, sites and capital; AI helps network planning and parts of 6G air-interface design, a small share of the schedule.
- Optimize radio networks, energy use and coverage planning
- AI/ML air-interface features such as beam prediction and channel-state feedback
- Network digital twins to test 6G designs
- Predict base-station faults before they cause outages
Shown so far
- In October 2025 an industry overview described 3GPP Release 19 as adding a general framework for AI/ML on the air interface, with use cases such as beam management and channel-state feedback. source
Prerequisites
- Error-Correcting Codes19505G uses LDPC and polar error-correcting codes
- Optical Fiber1970
- Mobile Networks (1G to 4G)1983
- Smartphone2007