Some of the world’s leading telecom operators are calling for globally harmonized 6G standards, as discussions around the next generation of mobile technology gain momentum. The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance this week released a report urging the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to ensure a seamless and evolutionary transition to 6G, ahead of its upcoming Release 20.
While 6G is not expected to launch commercially before 2030, preparation is already underway. Release 20 will mark the final stage of 5G Advanced and will also include early study projects that lay the groundwork for 6G.
In its new publication, “6G Key Messages – An Operator View,” NGMN emphasizes that 6G must build upon 5G’s foundations while addressing its shortcomings. The report calls for simplified architectures, greater interoperability, and a move away from underutilized features and non-viable use cases that characterized parts of 5G.
NGMN’s board includes major global telecom companies such as Deutsche Telekom, Orange, MTN, Telefónica, Vodafone, and China Mobile, all united in advocating for operator-driven network evolution.
“6G standards must be globally harmonized,” the report states. “They should build on the strengths of 5G while adding new capabilities that deliver value. Any technological evolution must justify its impact with clear benefits.”
The alliance also stresses that the transition to 6G should be evolutionary, not a disruptive generational leap. One of its key recommendations is to avoid a complete hardware overhaul, and instead facilitate 6G deployments—particularly in new frequency bands—via software upgrades, ensuring cost-effectiveness and operational continuity.
NGMN is calling on 3GPP to ensure that future 6G network architectures meet operators’ needs for modularity, simplicity, openness, operational efficiency, interoperability, and trustworthiness. “This publication not only presents a unified operator perspective to 3GPP, but also sets the stage for wider industry collaboration,” said Anita Döhler, CEO of NGMN. “A core principle is that 6G must not be just another generational shift—it must represent a thoughtful and practical evolution of mobile technology.”
