The Sequel to 5G: AI's Role in the Next Generation of Telecom

If 5G is so good, what ever happened to 6G? 

Well, it’s on the way, and we’re here to talk about it. 

For years, the evolution of wireless networks has followed a familiar script: faster speeds, lower latency, more devices; you name it. Now, as whispers of 6G grow louder, the narrative is changing. The next generation of telecom will be faster and smarter. 

Instead of tacking AI on after the fact, 6G will be built from the ground up with full integrations. We're talking about networks that perceive, decide, and adapt in real time. This shift holds promise and complexity in equal measure. It’s a bold reimagining of telecom as a living, thinking system. 

Why 6G Now? 

It may seem early to talk about 6G, with a full rollout projected in the 2030s. Nevertheless, network evolution doesn't happen overnight. Standards, spectrum strategies, and interoperability frameworks take years to define and deploy. Planning now means we can avoid retrofitting later. 

The reason to talk about 6G now is to go over its newfound intelligence. While 5G introduced features like network slicing and edge computing, 6G will take it further with full orchestration: AI agents that translate intent into action and dynamically allocate resources based on need, context, and policy.  

What Next-Gen Telecom is all About 

6G will dramatically shift telecom from a utility to an active collaborator. Think ultra-responsive networks that adapt to the moment. They can prioritize a surgeon’s video feed mid-operation or optimize bandwidth for an immersive classroom. AI-guided resource management ensures performance aligns with purpose. 

Under the hood, 6G will blend extreme radio capabilities with real-time analytics and decision-making. Rather than rigid policies, networks will operate on intent. Operators define goals, and AI ensures they’re met, constantly adjusting to new data and shifting demands. 

The Real-World Promise of the Next Generation 

While this subject mainly refers to the far-flung future, AI’s role in telecom is already taking place. Here are a few instances of AI in action that will only expand when 6G becomes a reality:  

• Telemedicine: Remote healthcare will benefit from AI-managed quality of service (QoS), ensuring diagnostic imaging and live consultations run smoothly, even in regions where bandwidth is low. 
• Autonomous Vehicles: Connected mobility demands ultra-low latency and contextual awareness. AI at the edge will prioritize safety-critical messages, manage congestion, and enable dynamic routing. 
• Education and Manufacturing: Immersive learning environments and adaptive manufacturing lines will both rely on the ability to allocate resources on the fly, driven by AI’s situational awareness. 

These will be the catalysts for telecom transformation, requiring a fully realized intelligent network to maintain. 

Roadblocks to AI-Powered 6G 

Of course, reimagining the network comes with very real challenges: 

• Infrastructure Modernization: 6G will require more than speed boosts. New telemetry and edge infrastructure will need to be deployed at scale. 
• Energy Efficiency: AI models are computationally intensive. Building a sustainable 6G network will mean prioritizing lightweight inference models and smarter power management. 
• Trust and Transparency: As AI makes real-time decisions, it must do so transparently. Explainability, observability, and policy guardrails will be critical to stop hallucinations or major ethical oversights. 
• Skills Gap: AI-native networks demand expertise in MLOps, policy-as-code, and autonomous systems engineering. Current telecom experts may be in for a long stint of additional education. 

Once the 6G future is here, Continuant will be ready to help our customers modernize quickly and painlessly to take advantage of the new technology. It’s never too early to start working towards the future of telecom. 

Looking Ahead 

As 5G continues to lay the groundwork, we look ahead to 6G, and the elevation of telecom into intelligent and adaptive platforms. To get there, the industry must align across disciplines: AI, infrastructure, policy, and user experience. Success will come not just from faster data, but from smarter decisions. 

At Continuant, we’re keeping our ears to the ground as developers continue building out the 6G network. Once that future is here, we’ll be ready to help our customers modernize quickly and painlessly to take advantage of the new technology. It’s never too early to start working towards the future of telecom. 

Even if 6G is a decade away, don’t get behind on communications while 5G’s still the latest and greatest. Schedule a discover call with our experts to see how we can make your environment both up-to-date and ready for the future.