While 6G is a work in progress, almost all technologists believe the next generation of mobile internet will be standardised in five years. That’s the outcome of an IEEE survey recently published.
According to the study “Impact of Technology 2023,” 88% of the interviewees agree that 6G will primarily be an evolving effort in 2023. However, in half a decade the technology will have the standards ready.
An even stronger majority (95%) of global technologists think that Non-Terrestrial Networks, more specifically space satellites for remote mobile connectivity, will be a game-changer next year. They’ll enable 5G device connections anywhere, leapfrogging terrestrial infrastructure.
“6G will primarily be the subject of research and experimentation in 2023, but look for mainstream adoption in the next five years,” Bala Peddigari, IEEE Senior Member, forecast.
IEEE surveyed 350 chief technology officers, chief information officers, and IT directors from the US, UK, China, India, and Brazil.
The Use Cases of Today
Even though 6G is on the radar for the coming years, 5G is today’s business. And surveyed professionals are excited about what 2023 has in store.
According to the study, 97% of respondents believe 5G will impact vehicle connectivity and automation. “Fully electric, shared on-demand driverless vehicles will have a positive impact on society in 2023. They will give underserved and diverse communities access to fast and reliable mobility,” said IEEE Senior Member Bilin Aksun-Guvenc.
Also, 56% think it will help improve remote learning and education, while 54% agree it will benefit telemedicine, including remote surgery and health record transmissions.
On the other hand, only 23% of the technologists believe that 5G will lead to carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency in 2023.
Cybersecurity Concerns
With the growing adoption of 5G, the cybersecurity landscape demands more attention. The level of concern with threats in several areas has increased, notably:
- Cloud vulnerability (51% of respondents, up from 35% in 2022)
- The mobile and hybrid workforce, including employees using their own devices (46%, up from 39% in 2022)
- Datacenter vulnerability (43%, up from 27%)
AI Will Increase Job Openings
Although this one could be more of a feeling than necessarily an assessment, technologists seem optimistic about the power of AI to develop the job landscape.
According to the survey, 24% said AI-driven software will increase the percentage of jobs up to 25% globally. Most respondents believe in a 26-50% growth, while 27% go with 51-75%.
