The development of 6G is increasingly being shaped by technologies and capabilities that are already advancing through 5G-Advanced. Rather than representing a complete break from existing mobile networks, the next generation is being developed through a sequence of standards, research programmes and technical improvements that build on the foundations established by 5G.
This makes 5G advanced 6G an important part of the industry’s technology transition. 3GPP identifies Release 18 as the first 5G-Advanced release, with work spanning areas such as enhanced radio capabilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning, network energy efficiency and broader network performance. Subsequent releases are continuing this development while dedicated 6G studies are beginning to define the requirements for the next generation.
5G-Advanced is Creating a Bridge to the Next Generation
The relationship between the two generations is also visible in the standards timetable. 3GPP’s Release 20 programme includes dedicated 6G studies, while Release 21 is expected to carry the first normative 6G specifications. At the same time, development of the 5G-Advanced architecture continues, creating a period in which the two technology cycles overlap.
This overlap is important because many capabilities associated with future networks are already being explored within 5G-Advanced. AI and machine learning are being introduced into network operations, energy-saving mechanisms are being developed and new approaches to connectivity and sensing are being studied. These developments provide technical experience that can help inform the requirements and architecture of later systems.
The International Telecommunication Union is following a similar evolutionary approach through its IMT-2030 framework. The framework describes 6G as building on the existing IMT-2020 foundation while introducing additional capabilities and new usage scenarios. This positions 5G advanced 6G development as a progression in which established network technologies are extended while new capabilities are introduced.
Standards are Moving from Concepts Toward Measurable Requirements
The transition is becoming more concrete as international standards bodies define measurable performance requirements for 6G. In 2026, the ITU completed draft technical performance requirements for IMT-2030 covering 20 minimum technical performance requirements, including several that are specific to 6G.
The framework also introduces new usage scenarios alongside enhanced versions of established mobile connectivity applications. These include immersive communication, ubiquitous connectivity, artificial intelligence and communication, and integrated sensing and communication.
The significance of this process is that 6G is increasingly being evaluated through defined technical parameters rather than broad predictions about future connectivity. At the same time, 5G-Advanced continues to develop capabilities that address many of the same underlying challenges, including higher performance, greater intelligence and more efficient network operation.
The result is a technology transition that is being built progressively. 5G advanced 6G development is therefore less about replacing one generation with another overnight and more about extending current capabilities while establishing the technical conditions for the next stage of mobile networks.
Key Takeaway: 6G is being defined through measurable performance and evaluation criteria while building on technical areas already advancing through 5G-Advanced.
The broader direction is therefore one of progressive expansion rather than technological replacement. As 5G-Advanced continues to mature, its work is helping address some of the performance, intelligence, efficiency and connectivity challenges that 6G is expected to take further. 5G advanced 6G development is consequently becoming a continuous standards and technology pathway, with current improvements increasingly feeding into the requirements of the next generation.