Apple Leads the 6G Charge.

It wasn’t long ago that industry observers questioned Apple’s future, particularly its delay in offering 5G iPhones. However, the landscape has dramatically shifted. As the industry anticipates the 6G network transition around 2030, Apple is actively positioning itself to be a key participant.

This engagement is underscored by Apple’s planned presence at this year’s Mobile World Congress, where it will demonstrate its collaborative work with Ericsson on 6G networking performance. This is a notable development, not only because Apple rarely makes such overt appearances at the event but also because it highlights that the company’s modem development teams are not merely keeping pace with industry advancements but are actively shaping them.

Apple’s Commitment to Next-Generation Networks

Ericsson confirmed in a statement: “Ericsson and Apple will have a live demonstration of Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS) between 5G and 6G.” The statement further elaborated, “This solution will help CSPs (Communication Service Providers) with smooth 5G to 6G migration and coexistence, minimizing resource waste and signalling overhead. The demo will use two systems running proof of concept technology — one on 5G and one simulating 6G that are connected to an Ericsson base station operating in Time Division Duplex (TDD) mid-band — validating real-time interoperability and performance of MRSS.”

While the statement contains several acronyms common in specialized industry development, its core message is that Apple, Ericsson, and other partners are collectively addressing how 6G and 5G networks can effectively share the same fundamental bandwidth. This approach aims to facilitate a more efficient and, presumably, more affordable deployment of the upcoming standard.

This effort is critical, especially considering that the significant costs associated with 5G deployments have contributed to its slower-than-anticipated introduction. The technologies being developed should pave the way for a more strategic and cost-effective transition to 6G.

Ericsson further stated that the collaboration with Apple and MediaTek “represents an ecosystem approach to developing, validating, and demonstrating essential 6G capabilities. All three companies are committed to the transition to 6G, building on robust 3GPP standards to ensure that the new generation of mobile networks is scalable, open, and ready to meet the evolving demands of AI-driven applications.”

Apple’s Influence in 3GPP: Shaping Future Mobile Standards

Apple is an active participant in the 3GPP industry standards development organization, with company leaders chairing several working groups. While 3GPP has implemented measures to prevent large tech companies from overly dominating its direction, Apple’s significant user base of over a billion active smartphones inherently grants it considerable influence. The company has been instrumental in curating the initial standards proposals for 6G and continues to be deeply involved in the development of the future 6G standard through its engagement with both 3GPP and the Next G Alliance.

For several years, Apple has actively sought to integrate its own concepts into the emerging 6G standard. For instance, last year, the company emphasized that successful 6G implementation would necessitate superior user experiences, stable and consistent networking operations, robust backward compatibility, and strong energy efficiency.

Prioritizing User Experience, Compatibility, and Energy Efficiency

The company advocates for a unified and cohesive standard, aiming to avoid the fragmented and often conflicting versions that hindered the rollout of 5G. Apple’s involvement suggests that future 6G devices will likely offer excellent out-of-the-box support, optimized power and performance, and seamless communication capabilities across various networking devices, including low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, which 6G is expected to support natively.

(It’s tempting to think Apple might introduce an ultra-secure, premium, satellite messaging, and communications service down the road, something that might reduce the available attack surface for some nation-state attackers.)

Ericsson further elaborated on the foundational aspects of 6G, explaining: “6G networks will be built on the foundation of 3GPP standards, complemented by O-RAN Alliance specifications, to enable open and globally scalable platforms for innovation. As work in 3GPP progresses, with first implementable specifications targeted for 2029 and commercial readiness expected around 2030, early collaborations with device and chipset partners like Apple and MediaTek are crucial for building the 6G ecosystem and ensuring network and device interoperability.”

Apple: A Frontrunner in 6G Development

For those closely following Apple’s trajectory, this proactive engagement in 6G development offers compelling evidence. Having arguably joined the 4G and 5G races later than some competitors, Apple—now equipped with its own modem development expertise—is clearly striving to be an integral part of the 6G transition from the outset. This also makes Apple a more visible participant at the annual Mobile World Congress, a significant shift from its past, more reserved, presence.

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