Management consulting firm McKinsey has listed 6G as one of the underlying technologies that will enable advanced connectivity. According to the company’s latest report, “Technology Trends – Outlook 2024”, the next generation of mobile internet will play an important role in the future of communications.
“5G and 6G cellular technologies [will] provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity services with access to higher-spectrum frequency bands capable of handling a massive amount of connected end-points, as well as low-power connectivity suitable for IoT,” the report reads.
However, McKinsey points out several questions and uncertainties, especially regarding 6G monetisation. “It is still unclear whether the value added by 6G to certain applications will outweigh the associated costs and whether telecom companies will be able to successfully monetise this new innovation.”
The authors also expressed concerns about a potential slow adoption pace for 6G since it would depend on spectrum cost and sharing regulation, according to McKinsey.
They highlighted that questions such as what needs to happen for players (network equipment, telecoms, and chip manufacturers) to invest in and monetise 6G are still unanswered.
“Advanced connectivity enabled an array of industrial use cases and transformed the day-to-day lives of people across the globe. Creating value for investors is something the telecom industry was struggling with quite a bit, as a large share of extra profits is going to the tech players sitting on top of the advanced telecom networks,” said Zina Cole, a McKinsey partner.
“In any case, securing external investments, critical infrastructure, and the right talent mix will be essential to navigating toward a 6G future,” the report added.
Other Trends
Besides 6G, the McKinsey study explored other technologies that would enable advanced connectivity in the future.
Among them, the report highlighted the deployment of Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. They should offer wide-area coverage with significantly reduced latency compared with existing satellite offerings and provide coverage in remote areas.
McKinsey also observed the adoption of xRAN, saying that “both vRAN and oRAN enable a potential shift away from tightly integrated hardware and software components from single vendors to open interfaces and standardisation of components, increasing flexibility to select services from a wider range of vendors.”
