Earlier in the year we wrote about 5G and the thoughts of Cisco, GSMA and Telecom26 which you can read here.
And in this blog 5G – Explaining eMBB, FWA, mIoT and URLLC we discussed how and why 5G as a topic causes some confusion because it’s actually a combination of four different – but related – services that offer new capabilities for different applications and user groups: eMBB – Enhanced Mobile Broadband; FWA – Fixed Wireless Access; mIoT – Massive IoT and ULRCC - Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC).
Telecom26 now offers 5G in 50+ countries with more being added once we have tested them and are satisfied with the service. 5G is available to all our customers, and for those who already have 5G capable devices, our SIMs can automatically access the higher data speeds of 5G. Telecom26’s 5G service is available with the same pricing as our other services so there are no extra charges or hidden costs.
But even while the standards and user cases for 5G are still being thrashed out, the industry is looking ahead to 6G. This piece What is 6G? in telecoms.com, an online news and analysis website for the global communications industry, is an interesting read and says that:
“the (6G) hype has already begun, as we start to hear more firms publicly ponder what the next generation of connectivity standards might bring with it”
“standards bodies like the ITU are currently outlining visions for what 6G will look like” with “the first 6G technical specification expected to finish in 2028” and the first commercial 6G deployments expected around 2030
What will be the ‘killer apps’ of 6G? asks telecoms.com
“This is perhaps a difficult question since there remain difficulties in identifying solid new use cases for 5G that are wholly distinct from what you could do with 4G, at least on the consumer side. Some of what is anticipated with 6G involves proper realisation of some of what was promised with 5G, and other predictions involve more immersive environments” through AI and the Metaverse. (McKinsey provides a great overview of the Metaverse here.)
Quoted in the telecoms.com article Sarah McBride, Senior Analyst at Omdia sees 6G as key to the proliferation of automation and AI:
“6G is expected to go beyond the vertical use case that dominates 5G, moving from the digital economy to a completely automated and intelligent economy state that provides everything as a service and a completely immersive experience”. According to Sarah, 6G will be about:
“connecting machines that are involved in handling very complex tasks, such as remote surgery, which will leave humans to focus on what they want to achieve, rather than how to carry out the task.
wireless factory automation which require very sophisticated operations such as communication with ultra-high reliability and ultra-low latency, high-resolution localization (at the centimetre level), and high-accuracy inter-device synchronicity (within 1 µs).
high-resolution imaging and sensing, accurate positioning, wearable displays, mobile robots and drones, specialized processors, and next-generation wireless networks.”
The Telecom26 view of 6G
As a global connectivity service provider, the team at Telecom26 is monitoring 6G developments – and, like many many others, wondering what the cost of it all will be.
We are currently focusing our efforts on 5G Non Standalone (NSA) as it reuses the existing LTE Core which offers the fastest route to getting the greatest 5G coverage for our customers.
In parallel we are working on ensuring our core network is ready for 5G standalone (SA) for when these roaming agreements become more commonplace.
Our message to our customers and prospects is clear: LTE will be the dominant cellular technology for some time to come. What most enterprises really need isn’t the latest 5G, or the future 6G.
They need solutions that meet their current needs – and which can evolve over time. Secure, controlled and reliable comms is what most enterprises want and need - and we provide seamless access for mobile users from public to private networks, protecting assets while delivering a better user experience.
Telecom26 and your organisation’s global connectivity requirements
We’re an independent, global mobile operator with our own network core and operational assets leveraging relationships with more than 1100 network connections and 650 mobile operators to secure unrivalled global coverage.
We offer a full range of telecom services and connectivity options including 5G (where available), LTE-M, WiFi, private networks, 2G, 3G and 4G, as well offshore connectivity capabilities.
Our customers include enterprises, OEMS and NGOs who want a single delivery partner, cross-border solutions and network coverage that is secure, resilient and can be tailored to meet specific and evolving needs.
If you’d like to discuss how our 5G, IoT, global connectivity and maritime connectivity services can help improve connectivity for your devices, then please contact us.
Telecom26 is a full operator member of the GSMA and the ITU.
