The 6G Global Summit will return on 21 – 22 May as a hybrid event, hosted by Ofcom UK. Delegates will be able to choose to attend the event in person, at the Pullman St Pancras in London, or online using our virtual platform.
All around the world, work on developing the 6G vision is picking up pace. We are on the brink of a new era of connectivity that promises to revolutionize industries and transform the way we live, work and communicate.
The 6G Global Summit will bring together top-level industry and policy representatives from all around the world to explore the path to 2030 and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Early visions and research on future 6G technologies and requirements will be discussed, along with the key drivers, applications and use cases that are emerging. With sustainability expected to be at the heart of 6G, there is the potential over the next few years to build an ecosystem that helps to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. This will be the opportunity to join key global leaders at The 6G Global Summit, and be part of shaping a better future with 6G.
Following the summit’s successful launch as a virtual event in 2022, we were delighted to be working alongside The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain to introduce an in-person element for the first time in 2023. We were pleased to welcome delegates in-person to the city of Manama as well as online.
You can view the agenda in your preferred time zone by selecting it from the list below.
Agenda times are shown in British Summer Time.
Work on laying the groundwork for 6G is continuing at pace. The last 12 months has seen the emergence of a number of 6G ‘visions’ at both regional and national levels, and also globally through ITU’s IMT-2030 framework. As we move closer to a 6G reality, this session will look at some of these frameworks and visions that have been put forward in different regions around the world, and how these are set to shape the reality of 6G. explore whether a consensus is emerging when it comes to the shape of the 6G future and at the different elements, drivers and use-cases that will be a part of this.
• What progress has been made on developing the 6G vision and roadmap?
• Is it becoming clear what we trying to achieve with 6G? What is the difference between this and 5G / 5G Advanced?
• What different plans for 6G are emerging around the world and what different elements are being discussed (network performance, customer experience, reliability, sustainability etc.)?
• What similarities are being seen in these emerging visions and where are there differences? Is a consensus emerging?
• What are the key drivers of 6G from both a societal and government standpoint?
• What role will emerging new technologies such as AI and quantum computing play in shaping the 6G ecosystem? What visions for the integration of 6G with these and other enabling technologies are already emerging around the world?
• What needs to be done to overcome some of the perceived scepticism around 6G (possibly based on key objectives of 5G not yet being hit?)
• What regulatory frameworks are needed to facilitate global 6G adoption while considering evolving technologies and diverse national interests?
• How can we foster a culture of innovation and collaboration among academia, industry, and government to drive 6G research and development?
6G envisions a world where wireless connectivity is not just ubiquitous, but also intelligent, immersive, and ultra-reliable. To translate these ambitious visions into reality, the next step now requires a rigorous standardization process, which will involve international collaboration among standard-setting bodies, industry players, research institutions and policymakers. This session will look at the work that has already begun in defining and setting these standards and in developing international collaborations that is vital in order to minimize geopolitical tensions that could lead to the emergence competing standards and technologies. With 6G expected to not just be about faster data speeds but also about fundamentally reimagining how we interact with the world around us, it will look at how standards can help to keep this human element central to 6G development, as well as other key elements such as sustainability and privacy/security. Ultimately, it will look at the best way forward to ensure the delivery of a single global standard that will ensure consistency and economy of scale in 6G rollout and enable its benefits to be felt across societies everywhere.
• How will 6G standards differ from 5G? What lessons can be learnt from the 5G standardisation processes and how can these be taken forward as focus switches to 6G?
• What needs to be done to overcome key geopolitical and technical obstacles in order to deliver global interoperability in 6G standardization? What work in this area has already begun?
• What role should governments and other stakeholders play in shaping 6G standards and ensuring equitable access? How can they foster collaboration between industry stakeholders and the research community?
• How can we ensure that 6G standardization addresses the needs of developing countries and bridges the digital divide?
• What are the key technical features and capabilities that should be prioritized in 6G standards?
• To what extent is shared spectrum going to play a part in delivering the 6G connectivity ecosystem? How does this element and the requirement to potentially work around existing incumbent services in bands need to be considered when developing standards?
• Is 6G the last ‘G’? What will come next? Do we need the standardisation world to continue evolving in the same way?
The world in 2030 will undoubtably look very different to that of today. 6G alongside other emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing are evolving at a fantastic pace and are set to fundamentally change the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us. They will not only revolutionise existing industries but also create entirely new ones, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. However, navigating this transformative journey requires responsible development, ethical considerations, and a focus on human-centred innovation. This session will explore the expected evolution of 6G alongside other emerging and enabling technologies and network architectures. It will explore some of the some of the innovative applications that could emerge, including immersive telepresence, hyper-connected cities, real-time remote surgery and next-generation robotics; and if we are indeed on the brink of a new digital revolution, explore the challenges and opportunities that this may bring.
• As 6G and other technologies develop, how can we develop governance and regulatory frameworks that ensure that the transformational potential of these technologies is delivered around the world in a responsible and ethical way?
• What transformative potential is offered across different vertical industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles? Are we on the brink of a new digital revolution?
• How can vertical industries get involved in the early stages of technology development in order to help shape a future connectivity ecosystem that enables them to maximise the benefits that are on offer?
• How can we develop governance and regulatory frameworks that foster innovation while addressing concerns around security, privacy, sustainability? How can it be ensured that technologies evolve in a responsible way and that ethical considerations are embedded throughout?
• What emerging use cases and innovative applications enabled by 6G are likely to have the greatest impact?
• How can vertical industries get involved in the early stages of technology development in order to help shape a future connectivity ecosystem that enables them to maximise the benefits that are on offer? How important is collaboration in order to ensure that the full potential of 6G is harnessed across different vertical sectors, and what role do different stakeholders need to play in delivering this?
Whilst it is difficult to put an accurate figure on the costs associated with 6G rollout, best estimates suggest that globally, it will likely be in the range of tens of trillions of dollars. This is significantly higher than the cost of previous cellular technology rollouts, reflecting the complexity and ambitious goals of 6G. This session will look at the different options and potential funding sources that are available to deliver this required investment, and the approaches and funding models that are starting to emerge in different regions around the world. It will discuss the commercial opportunities that will be enabled by 6G, and the way in which stakeholders can work together to develop an environment that enables these to be realised. With mobile operators having invested billions of dollars in 5G and arguably yet to see any major impact on sales, it will look at the lessons that can be taken from this and at what needs to be done by both the private and public sectors to ensure a more sustainable investment model and ultimately to secure the required funding to deliver on the 6G vision around the world.
• What are the estimated costs of developing and deploying 6G networks globally and how does this compare to previous generations? What are the expected economic and social returns on investment and how can we create a compelling business case for potential financiers?
• How can collaboration between different stakeholders, like mobile operators, technology companies, and research institutions, help mitigate financial risks and foster innovation?
• What needs to be done in order to secure the necessary funding and investment and what sources could this come from?
• What lessons can we learn from past successes and failures in financing previous generations of mobile networks, both from the private and public sectors?
• With mobile operators having invested billions of dollars in 5G and arguably yet to see any major impact on sales, how can a more sustainable investment model be developed for 6G?
• How many networks will a country need in a 6G era? With MNOs under intense pressure to invest more in networks even though revenues have been flat, should regulators still be promoting 3-4 wholesale operators, or consider championing a smaller number?
• How can technology providers ensure that they are building flexible and resilient solutions and long lasting and sustainable business models?
• Given the current economic climate, are there specific challenges to securing investment for 6G compared to past advancements?
• To what extent will there be a need for Government funding, particularly in rural areas and to ensure the ubiquitous nature of 6G? If this is the case then what is the best way to deploy subsidies to support efficient rollout of new networks and ensure cost-effective access?
• What potential exists for alternative funding models, like public-private partnerships or crowd-sourcing?
6G will not be like any other ‘G’, and its arrival is likely to have an impact across almost all areas of the connectivity ecosystem. From the way in which connectivity is delivered, to the interaction between different providers and the way in which spectrum is allocated and accessed, innovative applications, technologies and approaches will be required in order to meet the connectivity requirements of the future connected world. This session will explore the likely evolution of the connectivity environment and the framework that governs access to spectrum as we move towards the era of 6G. It will look at the impact that new market entrants and changing relationships between connectivity providers may have on the broader ecosystem, and on how this may impact the way in which spectrum is allocated and accessed. In an increasingly crowded and complex telecoms landscape, how can creative policy measures and advancing technologies be harnessed to ensure the delivery of the required connectivity both for 6G and for other key technologies?
• How is the mobile network ecosystem set to change as we move towards 6G, and to what extent are new entrants, hyperscalers and systems integrators set to increasingly play a role in future markets?
• What differences are likely to be seen in the mobile operator of 2030 compared to the mobile operator of today?
• What will be the likely shape of future networks? Will there be more integration between mobile / fixed / NTN networks or will there still be strict boundaries?
• How will this impact the way in which spectrum is allocated and accessed? What innovative new ways of using the spectrum in these bands could be used and what needs to be done to at a regulatory level to allow this innovation to thrive?
• What role is Open RAN set to play in the development of 6G architecture, and how can this help to lower costs and drive forward innovation?
• What role should governments play in nurturing a diverse 6G ecosystem?
• To what extent could the emergence of new technologies and the evolution of relationships and partnerships between mobile operators and NTNs change the overall telecom landscape?
• Will 6G finally deliver the vision of being a ‘network of networks’ with individuals having seamless connectivity to Wi-Fi, traditional mobile networks, satellite? What impact could integration in this way have on coverage, resilience and service levels?
The availability of sufficient spectrum in a timely manner is of course essential for the success of 6G. At the end of last year, the outcomes from WRC-23 and the first preparatory meeting for WRC-27 gave the first concrete pointers at a global and regional level on the key spectrum frequencies that may be seen as the primary and pioneer bands for 6G. This session will reflect on these outcomes, and at the extent to which they are likely to shape the initial bands that are used for the launch of 6G. Widening the discussion and looking beyond WRC, it will look at how much spectrum will be required around the world across low, mid and high band frequencies and at how this can be balanced with the needs of other key spectrum users. Looking at the early work that has begun around the world to develop 6G connectivity and spectrum roadmaps, it will explore the extent to which coordination and alignment is being seen, and at where there are differences. whether harmonised global 6G spectrum bands and approaches are realistic.
• How much spectrum is it expected will be needed in different regions around the world to meet the needs of 6G and other future connectivity technologies in terms of both capacity and coverage?
• What mix of spectrum across low, mid and high band frequencies may be required? What options exist in each and are being considered in countries and regions around the world?
• What bands have been identified to be studied for 6G use ahead of WRC-27 across the different regions? To what extent is this likely to shape and decide the pioneer and priority bands for the launch of 6G in different regions around the world?
• Given the decisions taken at WRC-23 on the future of the upper 6GHz band across each region, to what extent could spectrum in this band play a part in 6G rollout?
• What role is spectrum allocated on a licenced, unlicenced and shared basis set to play a part in delivering 6G? 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? If so, how could this work and how could the rights of different users be protected?
• What initial work has begun in different regions around the world to develop strategic 6G spectrum roadmaps?
• To what extent is coordination and alignment across and between regions being seen and where are there differences?
• Is it still possible that a globally harmonised 6G pioneer band or bands can be identified in the same way that the 3.5GHz band became the global 5G capacity band? If so then which options offer the best potential for this?
• What could be the potential economic and technological consequences if convergence isn’t achieved across regions and countries?
Since the 2G and 3G eras, spectrum auctions have been a favoured method of regulators around the world in order to allocate and licence spectrum. As we move towards 6G however, it likely that a much more flexible approach to spectrum allocation will be required in order to meet connectivity needs across different technologies and use cases. This raises the question of whether there may be a need for a rethink in the way in which spectrum is allocated, and the award processes that are used. This interactive ‘pause for thought’ discussion will explore these issues and at whether auctions are still likely to be the right tool for spectrum allocation in the 6G era.
• What impact may the switch towards a more flexible and diverse ecosystem incorporating sharing and multiple technologies and users operating across multiple bands have on the spectrum award and allocation processes in a 6G world?
• What innovative new licensing models and approaches may emerge? Are we still going to see specific bands licenced to specific services or will there be a further shift towards technology neutrality and spectrum sharing?
• How will this impact the way in which spectrum is allocated and how may regulators have to adapt traditional methods of assigning and licensing?
• What might be the implications of some of the public policy and social objectives of 6G (for example on delivering rural connectivity) have on how spectrum is made available?
• Will we see a decline of spectrum auctions as we know them today with a single auction and set valuations for spectrum in specific frequencies?
• If auctions in this way do start to become used less, what alternative models could replace these?
• How can spectrum bands be valued in this new flexible environment that we are likely to see?
As has been discussed, the promise of 6G is undeniable: hyper-fast speeds, ubiquitous connectivity, and transformative applications that will touch every aspect of our lives. But with this immense potential comes a crucial responsibility – safeguarding the security and resilience of this next-generation network. As the threat landscape evolves with the emergence of 6G but also other key technologies, there will be a need to take a proactive stance in addressing the security challenges that are posed. This discussion will look at some of the specific cyber challenges that are likely to emerge with 6G, and at how approaches to security may have to evolve alongside these to keep pace. It will explore the challenges of protecting privacy, preventing cyberattacks, and keeping the network running smoothly in the face of disruptions, and at how stakeholders all over the world will need to come together in order to ensure a secure and resilient future 6G network.
• How will the increased complexity of 6G networks (e.g., edge computing, distributed intelligence) impact attack surfaces and potential vulnerabilities?
• How can it be ensured at this early stage that security is built in to all aspects of the 6G supply chain and network architectures?
• What updates may need to be made to existing regulations and cyber frameworks to cope with the complexities of 6G?
• How can AI be used to develop proactive and adaptive security measures for 6G, mitigating threats like cyberattacks and malicious actors?
• Conversely, what new risks to cybersecurity and individual privacy may be created by increased integration of AI and quantum computing in 6G? How can we develop robust privacy-preserving policy frameworks for data protection?
• How can international cooperation be fostered to address the evolving threat landscape and share best practices?
• Should specific regulations be implemented for high-risk applications relying on 6G (e.g., autonomous vehicles, healthcare)?
Whilst the sustainability of networks was a part of initial discussions in the development phase of 5G, this ultimately got overtaken, with focus instead shifting towards the optimisation of performance and speed. As we move towards 6G, sustainability is now seen as the key driver of 6G research and development, and differently to 5G and previous generations is set to be prioritised ahead of the usual performance-driven perspective. This session will look at the new technologies and new thinking that will be required in order to deliver the performance and capacity promised by 6G whilst simultaneously lowering the network’s overall energy consumption. It will explore the best way forward to measure and track the environmental and social impact of 6G, and the collaborative efforts between governments, industry, and research institutions that will be required in order to ensure that targets and KPIs can be achieved. And finally it will explore how the delivery of a sustainable 6G network can foster a greener future across industries, and enable new use cases that reduce environmental footprints across societies and businesses.
• What are the major differences that it is hoped that 6G will offer over 5G and other previous generations when it comes to making an impact on environmental sustainability?
• Who are the key stakeholders responsible for driving sustainability in 6G? How can effective collaboration between governments, industry players, academia, and the public be fostered?
• How can regulations balance the need for innovation and competition in the 6G market with the goal of achieving environmental sustainability?
• How can we effectively measure and track the environmental and social impact of 6G? What key performance indicators (KPIs) should we prioritise?
• What are the biggest hurdles to achieving true sustainability with 6G? Are there potential trade-offs between performance and sustainability goals?
• How can we establish international standards and norms that ensure global adherence to sustainable practices in 6G?
• How can it be ensured that 6G networks are designed and built in way that drives environmental and social sustainability across all areas of society?
• What can 6G and the use cases that it enables do to drive sustainability across societies and businesses more broadly?
Same location as the conference venue
You can book to stay at this hotel by clicking the below button
5 minute walk to the conference venue
You can book to stay at this hotel by clicking the below button
5 minute walk to the conference venue
You can book to stay at this hotel by clicking the below button
There is no fee to register to attend the conference. Registration is now open, you can register for the conference here
You can find more information about Forum Global here
For further information on speaking, sponsorship or visibility opportunities, and to discuss how you can maximize the value of involvement, please contact Jordan Francombe on jordan.francombe@forum-global.com or on +44 (0) 7389 889 334.
Exclusive speaking positions | Your organisation can contribute to the discussion.
Engaging and Interactive format | Engage in a fully immersive and interactive debate with decision makers, businesses and policymakers.
European and global outreach | Convey your message to a broad and international audience.
Networking opportunities | Connect with your fellow attendees during coffee and lunch breaks throughout the event.
Visibility Opportunities | Ensure maximum visibility through branding on site and virtually, on the event website and marketing activities.
Exhibition and demos area | Showcase your products and solutions or share a position paper with the audience.
For more information on any aspect of this event, please contact Joshua Robson using any of the following details:
Joshua Robson, Event Manager, Forum Global
6gsummit@forum-global.com
Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 026
Sign up to receive updates on our upcoming policy events. We will only send you emails about the conferences and topics that interest you, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
© Copyright Forum Europe. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Cookies Policy | Booking Terms and Conditions | Registered in UK
Registered Office: 5 Sovereign Quay, Cardiff CF10 5SF | Tel: +44 (0) 2920 783 020 | Email: info@forum-europe.com
Isabelle Mauro, General Director, GSOA 
