Summary

  • Qualcomm is positioning 6G as an AI-driven, smarter network focused on efficient traffic management.
  • Early 6G tests start in 2028, with a full rollout planned for 2029.
  • Qualcomm's X105 Modem-RF targets 'personal AI' needs, promising unmatched upload/download speeds for 6G testing.

At MWC 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, Qualcomm has revealed its plans for 6G, the next generation of wireless technology.

Unlike 5G, which primarily focused on faster bandwidth, 6G's key goal seems to be building a smarter network with the help of AI. What does that actually mean? It's still unclear, but in the context of network connectivity, "smarter" seems to indicate more efficient network traffic management.

At this point, you're probably thinking something along the lines of, "wait, I just bought a 5G phone a few years ago?" Yes, you did, but that doesn't slow down the relentless pursuit of mobile network development. However, this time around, we don't really know how much faster 6G network technology will actually be, though early 6G tests in China indicate we should expect speeds in the 280Gbps range.

If you're familiar with the mobile space, you'll be aware of the practical 5G examples thrown around by US carriers like Verizon and AT&T between 2016-2018, including mixed reality devices, telemedicine, and self-driving vehicles. While only some of that relentless marketing turned out to be sort of accurate, more than anything, 5G just offers a faster mobile connection for your smartphone, depending on where you live in the US.

My guess is we'll see a lot more about how 6G is being positioned as an AI-focused network connectivity standard in the months and years ahead.

Qualcomm is part of a coalition of several companies working on 6G

The chipmaker also showed off its X105 Modem-RF

Credit: Qualcomm

With Qualcomm specifically, the company has confirmed it's working on advanced processor and modem technology capable of handling higher speeds and more complex AI tasks. Qualcomm says it aims to help develop the global 6G standard as part of a group of major tech companies, including Amazon, Asus, Dell, Google, HP, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Meta, Nokia, Samsung, T-Mobile, and more.

Lastly, Qualcomm revealed its new X105 Modem-RF, which offers "unmatched upload and download speeds" to meet the "needs of personal AI devices." The company says that this modem will lay the groundwork for future 6G testing.

Early 6G tests will start in 2028 before a full rollout in 2029, according to Qualcomm.