- 6G promises dynamic quality of service and uplink efficiency, enhancing reliability for automotive applications and enabling in-vehicle AI to improve utilization of network resources.
- 6G-enabled integrated sensing and computation (ISAC) could expand cars’ sensor range, providing additional coverage through the TCU.
- The 6G standard remains under development, with the first standard freeze still three years away.
- Suppliers will need to address automaker cost concerns. The industry is still transitioning to 5G, so 6G ROI will depend on whether specific vehicle models require the capabilities provided by 6G.
At Qualcomm’s 6G Leadership event in San Diego, California, company executives provided an overview of the wireless industry’s progress toward finalizing the 6G cellular standard. This included what is still in development and what has been agreed upon by the standard-setting body, the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project). Qualcomm has set H2 2029 as the target date for its first 6G modem, though the company did not state it would be an automotive-grade product.
The main timeframe for 6G is 2030-2040, with networks launching in late 2029. China is among the major markets seeking to be the first to launch 6G networks and compatible products. Going by the number of China-based automakers that have committed to supporting 6G (as detailed in a previous blog titled ‘MWC 2026: Auto Industry Focuses on NTN Solutions, 6G’), it is reasonable to assume that the majority of cars connecting to 6G networks during the early part of the next decade will be in China.