What will 6G technology look like and how can we best use it? Director of Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center chimes in
Published: May 19, 2025 10:45 AM
By Joe McAdory
Wireless communication systems have advanced through a series of generational upgrades, each bringing significant improvements in speed, capacity and functionality.
- 1G (1980s): Marked the beginning of mobile communication with analog voice services.
- 2G (early 1990s): Introduced digital transmission, improving voice quality and enabling text messaging.
- 3G (2000s): Provided faster data speeds, supporting mobile internet, video calls and multimedia applications.
- 4G (2010s): Enabled high-speed mobile broadband through technologies like LTE, allowing for video streaming, online gaming and voice over IP.
- 5G (from 2019): Offers ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and supports a wide range of connected devices, including those used in smart cities, autonomous vehicles and the Internet of Things.
Each generation played a key role in shaping the modern digital landscape, enabling new technologies and transforming how people communicate and access information. But what’s next? 6G, of course.
Shiwen Mao, director of the Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center at Auburn University and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, took time to answer a few questions about the intricacies of 6G.
How will 6G technology be used?
Mao: Unlike earlier generations that focused primarily on a single wireless technology — such as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access in 3G or LTE in 4G — 6G encompasses a broad spectrum of application domains and extends far beyond traditional mobile phones. 6G technologies will be integrated into smartphones and wearables, AR/VR headsets and smart glasses for immersive entertainment. They will also power smart homes for security surveillance and energy-efficient appliance management, enable autonomous driving in smart vehicles and support automation in factories and supply chains.
Will cell phones we use today be radically different because of 6G?
Mao: Backward compatibility remains a crucial consideration in the development of wireless systems. For instance, newer Wi-Fi routers remain compatible with older devices. Similarly, in cellular networks, base stations may revert to older-generation technologies during periods of low traffic to reduce operational costs. The rollout of 6G will take years and completely overhauling network infrastructure every decade presents a significant financial burden for service providers.
However, new devices with novel functionalities are emerging. One such example is the Humane AI Pin — a wearable gadget designed as an alternative to smartphones. It attaches to clothing and uses a laser projector to display output on the user’s hand. The device integrates a large language model-powered virtual assistant to perform tasks such as web search, messaging and real-time translation.
Moreover, smart headsets and glasses are evolving from simple display devices into full-fledged spatial computing platforms. Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), camera sensors, and computer vision, these devices map and interact with the physical world, allowing users to control applications with finger gestures or hand movements — eliminating the need for traditional screens or keyboards.
In conclusion, cell phones are very likely to evolve significantly with 6G, becoming more integrated with wearable and spatial technologies. While they may not disappear entirely in the near term, their role and form factor are expected to change dramatically.
How much of a role will the continued evolution AI play in 6G as compared to 5G?
Mao: Probably the most disruptive technology in 6G is AI. The convergence of AI and communications will make 6G the first AI-native networks, where AI models will be executed in mobile devices, network edge nodes and in the cloud. On one hand, the traditional wireless system and network design will be revisited and redesigned with AI for greatly enhanced efficiency and resilience. On the other hand, various AI-enabled applications, e.g., search engines, AI generated content, sentiment analysis and chatbots will be better supported on mobile devices.
When will 6G technology launch with commercial products and what could those products be?
Mao: As of mid-2025, 6G standardization is progressing steadily, with key milestones achieved and a clear roadmap outlined by international bodies and industry stakeholders. Organizations such as the Third Generation Partnership Project and the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector are leading this process, which is expected to continue through the latter half of the decade. The first commercial deployments of 6G are anticipated in the early 2030s.
Are there any potential drawbacks to 6G?
Mao: Generational cohorts — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z — are defined by their birth years and are often associated with distinct characteristics and cultural influences. Similarly, earlier generations of wireless systems were characterized by signature technologies and core applications. However, this clarity begins to blur with 5G and 6G, where a wide range of heterogeneous wireless technologies and applications are grouped under a single generational label. As a result, the definition of 6G has become increasingly broad and virtually any technological advancement may be classified as part of it.
Another concern is the substantial cost associated with upgrading network infrastructure every decade, which poses a significant financial burden for service providers and users (e.g., factory owners).
The rapid advancement of wireless systems also brings environmental challenges. These include the high-power consumption of 5G and 6G base stations, the growing volume of electronic waste and depleted batteries, and the accumulation of satellite debris, which poses risks to operational satellites.
While AI is enhancing the design and efficiency of 6G systems, it introduces its own set of challenges. We often lack a deep understanding of how AI models function internally, and there are usually no guarantees regarding the reliability or accuracy of their outputs. If trained on flawed or incomplete data, AI systems can produce biased or misleading results.
Media Contact: , jem0040@auburn.edu, 334.844.3447
Shiwen Mao is director of the Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center.
