6G Global Summit 2025

The arrival of 6G promises to redefine connectivity, bringing transformative capabilities far beyond those of 5G. This session explores the evolving vision for 6G, its potential applications, and the challenges and opportunities that come with its development. From enhancing network architectures to integrating autonomous systems, 6G aims to support a highly connected, efficient, and flexible digital world. However, critical questions remain: how can operators deliver these ambitious features affordably, and what progress has been made so far in addressing these challenges? This session will offer a holistic view of the current state of 6G development and provide a platform for exploring its transformative potential.

• What is the long-term vision for 6G and what new features and capabilities will it deliver?
• How are this vision and the associated timelines being refined as we continue on the path towards its development and launch? 
• Are we seeing the emergence of a harmonised vision and plan for 6G across APAC and the rest of the world, or are there any differences emerging?
• How can the costs of required upgrades and new features be managed to ensure affordability for operators and end-users?
• What other critical challenges can be expected as we transition from 5G to 6G, and how can these be addressed?
• How has the ‘6G Hexagon’ evolved from the ‘5G Triangle’? 
• What are the key technological pillars of the ‘6G Hexagon’ framework, and how can these be brought together to create a robust and adaptive network ecosystem and address emerging societal and industrial demands?
• How much spectrum will be required to meet the many diverse new use cases that will come with 6G, and what options are available to deliver this necessary bandwidth whilst also considering the needs of other emerging future economies?

As the foundation of every generation of wireless technology, standardization plays a pivotal role in transforming vision into reality. For 6G, this process will involve navigating complex global collaboration, addressing diverse industry needs, and integrating emerging technologies to define the next era of connectivity. This session will delve into the anticipated timelines and phases of 6G standardization, reflecting on lessons from previous generations while considering the unique demands of 6G. Experts will discuss the challenges of building global consensus, the interplay of innovation and regulation, and the influence of new use cases on shaping the priorities for 6G standards. 

• What are the likely key milestones and phases in the 6G standardization timeline, and how do they compare to previous generations like 5G?
• What progress has been made to date, and is progress on track?
• What international collaboration between regulatory and standards bodies is playing a part the 6G standardization process?
• What challenges are faced in reaching global consensus and can these be overcome?
• With 6G expected to not just be about faster data speeds but also about fundamentally reimagining how we interact with the world around us, how can these human-centric elements be built into standards?
• What role do emerging technologies and use cases play in shaping the requirements and priorities of the 6G standards development process?

Asia Pacific has established itself as a global leader in telecommunications innovation, playing a pivotal role in shaping the success of 5G. As the world looks toward the transformative possibilities of 6G, the region stands at a crossroads of immense opportunity and responsibility. This panel discussion will explore how Asia Pacific can harness its leadership in technology and innovation to drive global progress toward 6G while ensuring inclusivity and equitable access across its diverse markets. It will delve into the importance of fostering a collaborative ecosystem that brings together governments, industries, and academia, and balancing regional leadership with global cooperation to create a unified 6G framework. 

• How can Asia Pacific leverage its leadership in 5G to drive global advancements and position itself as a key leader in the journey toward 6G?
• What specific steps can the region take to cultivate innovators and entrepreneurs as key drivers of 6G transformation?
• What role should governments, industries, and academia play in fostering a collaborative 6G innovation ecosystem?
• How can the ambition for 6G leadership be balanced with the need to work collaboratively with other regions around the world to deliver a truly global worldwide ecosystem?
• How can the region balance the diverse needs of its advanced and emerging markets while driving unified 6G development? 
• How can we ensure that the benefits of 6G are distributed equitably across the region, reaching all citizens rather than being limited to the ‘digital elite’?
• What lessons can be drawn from experiences in the development of 5G across the region to overcome challenges and build consensus in the global 6G roadmap?

The transition from one generation of connectivity to the next is never without debate, and the move toward 6G is no exception. This panel will explore whether 6G will bring about a revolutionary shift requiring entirely new hardware and network architecture, evolve as a software-driven upgrade building on 5G foundations, or whether the reality may be somewhere in the middle. With operators wary of the financial burden of another large-scale equipment replacement, it will address the extent to which new radio interfaces and innovative hardware will be necessary; as well as examining the potential to simplify 6G network architectures to reduce deployment costs and shorten time-to-market. Will 6G be an evolution of 5G or a true revolution in the connectivity landscape?

• Will 6G bring incremental evolution or a transformational revolution to connectivity, and what key factors will shape this trajectory?
• Will 6G require significant new hardware investments, or can a software-driven upgrade minimize costs and disruptions? What are the implications for operators and suppliers in terms of costs and other elements?
• How can 6G networks be designed to reduce implementation complexity and costs, particularly when current 5G use cases require different architectures? Is simplification feasible without compromising performance?
• How are future network architectures set to evolve as we move towards 6G, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead?
• Are there emerging standards to reduce device costs, and how can they be implemented early in the 6G rollout to encourage widespread adoption?
• How can operators, regulators, and manufacturers collaborate to strike a balance between the cost of innovation and the need for global accessibility and adoption?

The concept of a “network of networks” delivering seamless connectivity across diverse technologies and platforms is something that has been talked about for years. While 5G hinted at achieving this vision, the full potential remained unrealized.  This session will explore the extent to which 6G could finally deliver on the promise, and unify terrestrial, satellite, Wi-Fi, and IoT networks into a single, interoperable framework, enabling truly ubiquitous connectivity. It will explore the challenges that would need to be overcome, including technical complexities, regulatory hurdles, and operational barriers; and the technological innovations that would be required. This session will shed light on the transformative potential of 6G to unify global networks and the roadmap to overcome the challenges in achieving this vision.

• To what extent is it likely that 6G can finally deliver on the vision of a seamlessly integrated ‘network-of-networks’, enabling a unified user experience across mobile, Wi-Fi, satellite, and IoT networks?
• What are the primary technical, regulatory, and operational challenges that must be addressed to achieve this?
• What lessons can be learned from the challenges faced by 5G in pursuing this vision, and how can they inform the development of 6G technologies?
• What advancements are required to establish space-air-ground integrated networks combining terrestrial infrastructure, high/medium/low orbit satellites, and aerial systems?
• What progress is already being made in this area through the emerging Direct-to-Device (D2D) and D2X (Direct-to-Everything) ecosystem?
• Which use cases—such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, or industrial IoT—stand to benefit most from a unified network of networks, and how can they drive adoption?
• How can 6G combine with emerging Wi-Fi and fixed access technologies to meet the diverse needs of indoor connectivity?

As we move toward the era of 6G, the convergence of communication, sensing, and computing technologies holds the promise of transforming industries and enabling groundbreaking applications. Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) is emerging as a pivotal framework in 6G development, offering the potential to combine advanced wireless capabilities with precision sensing and intelligent computing to enable groundbreaking applications. This session will delve into the technical challenges associated with designing ISAC systems, including spectrum management, signal processing, and network optimization. It will explore how these challenges can be addressed, and at how emerging technologies such as AI and Quantum Computing can be leveraged to unlock the transformative potential offered by ISAC, paving the way for more intelligent, more secure, and more efficient networks.

• What are the fundamental technical hurdles in developing systems that combine communication, sensing, and computing in 6G networks, and how can these hurdles be overcome?
• How can innovative spectrum management and signal processing techniques be leveraged to address these challenges and deliver an ecosystem to enable the unique requirements of ISAC systems?
• How emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing enable a deeper integration of sensing, communication, and computing?
• What are the key use cases for ISAC in 6G, and how can joint sensing and communication capabilities transform applications like environmental monitoring, security, and intelligent computing networks?
• How can digital twin technology benefit from integrated sensing and communication, and what are the technical prerequisites to enable this synergy?
• What collaborative efforts among industries, governments, and academia are needed to develop and standardize ISAC technologies in 6G networks? How can global cooperation can drive innovation and ensure the interoperability of these advanced systems?

Following the first day of the 6G Global Summit on May 8th, enjoy an evening of cocktails and conversation at the CAHK Evening Networking Reception in the Pearl Pavilion on the 21st Floor, of the Hopewell Hotel.

You can find out more about the reception, and the reception sponsors, here

Spectrum availability and management will be central to the success of 6G networks, as emerging technologies demand higher frequencies, broader bandwidths, and more efficient utilization of resources. This session will explore the critical questions around how existing and new spectrum bands can be leveraged to support 6G evolution. With the upcoming discussions at WRC27 and the work that is being done ahead of that to explore 3 possible new pioneer bands for 6G, the panel will explore address the challenges of global coordination, technological innovations, and the interplay between regulatory and technical considerations. Additionally, it will consider whether traditional approaches to licencing spectrum for specific uses remain viable, the role that unlicenced and sharing could play, or even if a shift to more technology-neutral frameworks could drive efficiency and innovation. Finally, the panel will address the latest advancements in wireless transmission technologies and their implications for future spectrum strategies, offering a comprehensive view of the roadmap toward a connected 6G future.

• What mix of spectrum bands will be required for 6G networks? How can low-, mid-, and high-frequency bands be strategically allocated to balance coverage, capacity, and latency requirements?
• How much new spectrum will be required, and to what extent can requirements be met, at least partially, by refarming existing bands?
• What usage is currently seen across the world in the 3 bands identified for discussion at WRC27 as possible 6G pioneer bands? How does this variation in usage impact the challenges of making this spectrum available in different regions?
• Are there other options beyond these 3 bands that should also be considered? To what extent could advancing technology mean that other options (e.g. such as millimetre wave, terahertz, and visible light) could also be considered?
• Can a globally harmonised spectrum framework be delivered for 6G? What lessons from 5G can guide international collaboration to minimize fragmentation and ensure interoperability?
• What role will licensed, unlicensed, and shared spectrum allocations play in shaping the implementation and success of 6G networks?
• As we move towards the 6G era, should we still be thinking of bands in terms of being allocated for a specific user (IMT, satellite etc.) or should we be looking to move towards a more technologically neutral approach? How might such an approach work, and what mechanisms could ensure equitable access and protection of user rights?
• What progress is being made in wireless transmission technologies, such as ultra-large-scale MIMO, full duplex and flexible duplex communication, and semantic communications? How do these advancements influence spectrum requirements?

Sustainability is set to be a central driver for 6G, offering the opportunity to create an ecosystem that delivers meaningful progress toward global climate goals. To achieve this, it is essential to integrate sustainability into the core of 6G’s design and deployment. This session will examine how key principles such as power efficiency, the use of renewable energy and materials, and circular economy practices can shape 6G standards and infrastructure, including energy-efficient base stations and sustainable data centres. It will also highlight the critical role of stakeholders in advancing this agenda through collaboration, policy-making, and practical implementation. Additionally, it will explore the innovative technologies and fresh approaches that are needed in order to achieve the performance and capacity expected from 6G while significantly reducing the network’s energy footprint.

• What measures are already being explored to ensure that sustainability is a core focus in 6G development, from energy efficiency in network standards to the adoption of renewable energy, materials and practices?
• Who are the key stakeholders in advancing sustainability for 6G, and what roles can governments, regulators, and industry leaders play in achieving this goal?
• Should we be looking to set specific energy efficiency targets or KPIs in terms of directly reducing the carbon footprint of 6G networks? If so, what should they be and how could they be measured?
• How can 6G networks be designed to integrate circular economy principles, promoting resource efficiency and reducing waste throughout their lifecycle?
• What strategies can drive sustainability through the deployment and use of 6G connectivity across industries and applications?
• How can 6G networks achieve energy-saving capabilities at a fundamental level, particularly in Layer 1 and Layer 2 air interface designs?
• How can advanced technologies and mathematical modelling help optimize network performance and reduce the need for physical testing?
• What lessons from previous network generations (e.g., 5G) can inform the development of sustainable and energy-efficient 6G technologies?
• How can emerging technologies, such as digital twins and AI-driven simulations, support sustainability efforts in 6G network design and deployment?

The ‘6G Futures’ discussions will explore how 6G will revolutionize industries, urban infrastructure, and consumer experiences, paving the way for new opportunities and societal advancements. Through three focused panels, experts will discuss the role of 6G in enabling the low-altitude economy, transforming smart cities and IoT, and enhancing AI-driven consumer innovations. These sessions will highlight key use cases, infrastructure needs, and the technologies shaping a connected, intelligent future powered by 6G.

This session will explore how 6G will unlock opportunities within the low-altitude economy, including drone operations, urban air mobility, and low-altitude connectivity infrastructure. As industries begin to integrate 6G-ready solutions, the session will highlight the transformative impact of low-altitude networks on logistics, agriculture, public safety, and smart transportation.

• How can 6G enable robust, low-latency connectivity to support drones and urban air mobility?
• What are the key use cases for the low-altitude economy, and how can industries leverage 6G technologies?
• What infrastructure and policy advancements are required to support the growth of low-altitude connectivity, and what work is already taking place to deliver this?

This session will examine how 6G can build on 5G foundations to transform Smart Cities and IoT ecosystems, delivering enhanced connectivity, scalability, and new business use cases. From public safety and transportation to smart hospitals and airports, 6G has the potential to enable interconnected, efficient, and intelligent systems that redefine urban living. What needs to be done in order to deliver on the potential?

• How can 6G accelerate the adoption of smart city solutions across vertical industries like public transport, healthcare, and public safety? What will the path from 5G look like?

• What role will 6G play in scaling IoT networks to support billions of devices efficiently and securely?

• How can Governments and policymakers work alongside connectivity providers to enable the 6G driven interconnected, efficient, and intelligent systems that can redefine urban living, revolutionizing user experiences for enterprises and consumers?

This session will explore how artificial intelligence will elevate consumer experiences in the 6G era, enabling smarter devices, immersive applications, and personalized solutions. It will also examine the societal value that 6G can unlock, driving advancements in products and services designed to deliver unprecedented levels of connectivity, intelligence, and user engagement.

• How will the integration of AI and 6G revolutionize consumer experiences across sectors like entertainment, education, and healthcare?
• What new devices and innovations are expected to emerge as we move from 5G to 6G?
• How can 6G help create new opportunities for societal growth, enhancing connectivity, productivity, and overall value?

6G presents limitless opportunities for innovation and transformation, as has been discussed extensively in earlier sessions. However, it also brings with it significant challenges, particularly in ensuring the security of this next generation of wireless networks. With 6G systems expected to process and carry vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds and integrate billions of IoT devices, they introduce an expanded attack surface, making them more susceptible to evolving cyber threats. Issues like data privacy, advanced persistent threats (APTs), and identity fraud will demand robust solutions. This panel will examine the unique security risks anticipated in the 6G era and explore how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, can not only address these vulnerabilities but also strengthen the overall security framework. It will discuss the work that has already begun to ensure that security systems are one step ahead of cyber criminals, and discuss strategies to ensure that 6G networks are not only revolutionary but also resilient and secure.

• How is the global cybersecurity landscape evolving, and how is this starting to shape the future security roadmap for 6G?
• What new risks are being faced as network architectures become more decentralized, interconnected and complex?
• What specific challenges could the integration of AI and IoT devices bring?
• What practical steps can governments, industry leaders, and regulators take to ensure security is built into 6G networks from the ground up? What work is already underway in this area?
• How are advancements in AI, machine learning, and quantum computing being harnessed to proactively identify and respond to security threats?
• What role will international cooperation need to play in fostering shared strategies, best practices, and collective resilience against global cyber threats, and to what extent is this being seen?