An alliance of mobile operators has called for harmonised international standards for 6G to ensure the next generation of mobile networks evolves seamlessly from 5G without costly infrastructure overhauls.
The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance today released a position paper “6G Key Messages: An Operator View” urging the telecommunications industry and standards body 3GPP to prioritise compatibility, sustainability and practicality as it begins shaping 6G’s technical blueprint in its upcoming Release 20.
NGMN says 6G must be an evolution, not a revolution.
Instead of pushing for another full cycle of hardware replacement, the NGMN says most 6G advancements should come via software upgrades, especially within existing frequency bands. New hardware, it argues, should only be needed for higher-frequency applications.
“6G should be viewed as a seamless evolution — fully compatible with 5G and propelled by continuous software innovation,” said Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and CTO at Orange Group. “We must move beyond hardware/software ‘G’ cycles and embrace a decoupled approach: sustainable, value-led hardware investment alongside faster, software-led service innovation.”
The alliance, which includes major players like Vodafone, Orange, and Deutsche Telekom, believes that clear benefits must be demonstrated before moving forward with 6G. These include enhanced user experiences, improved operational efficiency for operators, and sustainable practices across the ecosystem.
Luke Ibbetson, Vodafone’s Head of Group R&D and an NGMN Board Director, added:“Network evolution is essential to address ever-changing societal needs. But to succeed, we need to work collectively as an industry to ensure future networks are secure, environmentally sound, and economically viable.”
The publication outlines technical principles from an operator’s viewpoint, including architecture design requirements and performance benchmarks for new radio technologies. It stresses that any new 6G proposals must offer meaningful improvements over 5G, with clear, evidence-backed benefits.
NGMN CEO Anita Döhler said the publication is not only aimed at 3GPP but also intended to galvanise broader industry alignment. “A core tenet of our message is that 6G should not be treated as just another generational shift. It must be evolutionary — not a disruptive break from the past.”
NGMN’s full paper, “6G Key Messages: An Operator View”, is available at: ngmn.org
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