Working Groups and the Spectrum Roadmap

The B6GA has established seven distinct working groups to focus on key domains. These domains include 6G technologies, spectrum, applications, use cases and revenue streams, devices and components, outreach, and green and sustainability aspects. This collaborative platform allows startups, academia, and industry players to identify technology gaps and develop proposals for advanced research and testbeds, directly aligning with the 6G vision of the country.

One of these seven groups, the spectrum working group, recently submitted a detailed report titled “Spectrum Roadmap for 6G in India”. Following consultations with the B6GA and other stakeholders, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) separately released the official spectrum roadmap for 6G services.

Testbeds and the 6G Vision

To further the 6G vision, a three-year project received approval from the Telecom Technology Development Fund under the Digital Bharat Nidhi. This project focuses on establishing a 6G Terahertz testbed at the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) in Kolkata. SAMEER operates as an autonomous research and development body under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The project includes three consortium members: the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, and the Indian Institute of Technology Patna. During the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, a high data rate line of sight link was successfully demonstrated under this initiative within the India 6G telecom sector.

International Contributions to 6G Technologies

India has actively contributed to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) under the International Mobile Technology (IMT) 2030 framework, widely referred to as 6G by the telecom sector. The country successfully pushed for the inclusion of “ubiquitous connectivity” as one of the six primary usage scenarios for 6G technologies. Additionally, interoperability, coverage, and sustainability were included as core capabilities of the technology.

To reinforce India 6G leadership globally, the government supports the active participation of domestic stakeholders in international standardisation bodies. These bodies include the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), ITU, and oneM2M. This support is channeled through the DoT’s Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) scheme. The TDIP scheme offers financial assistance for membership fees, hosting and participating in international standardisation meetings, as well as pilot testing and validation of telecom products. Eligible micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, along with startups across the country, are covered under this scheme.

The move toward 6G is intended to address these demands through extremely fast speeds, very short delays and built-in AI capabilities that improve sensing and communication. For 6G connected vehicles, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) will function like radar, providing millimeter-level precision to detect objects or accidents, potentially before current camera systems can do so. The technology could improve autonomous vehicle safety and efficiency while also supporting applications such as digital twins that depend on real-time data integration.

Standalone networks and unified standards

The network model for 6G will differ from the approach used for 5G. While 5G’s non-standalone (NSA) architecture relied on 4G core infrastructure, 6G networks will be built as standalone (SA) systems from the start. Ericsson states that standalone 6G networks will simplify system complexity, improve scalability, and reduce integration costs by aligning both radio access and core networks.

For 6G connected vehicles, this AI-native and edge-integrated design will require infrastructure capable of meeting high bandwidth and low latency requirements. The fragmented architecture of existing 5G networks is a bottleneck, and legacy networking components may struggle with 6G deployment demands.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration of seven telecom standards organizations, is developing unified standards for 6G. Those standards are expected to ensure interoperability and enable advanced capabilities such as network slicing. 6G networks promise transfer speeds 50 to 100 times faster than 5G, with peak speeds reaching up to 1 terabit per second and microsecond latency.

Cybersecurity and infrastructure pressures

Security remains a major challenge for 6G connected vehicles and wider network deployments. Industry experts warn that 6G will improve security through design but will also introduce new risks associated with AI. Stephen Douglas from Keysight Technologies noted that AI-native architectures may widen the attack surface for hybrid networks by exposing more APIs and models. Gartner predicts that by 2026, AI and GenAI applications will account for over 30% of API demand.

Ericsson has identified over 20 potential threat types related to 6G, including challenges with the misuse of spatial mapping data and adversarial attacks. Existing routers, firewalls and edge devices are often inadequately equipped for 6G’s higher bandwidth and lower latency requirements. Douglas suggests these devices will need enhancements to support next-generation networks.

Enterprise preparation and rollout timeline

Most enterprise networks are only partially prepared for a transition to 6G, according to Douglas. Supporting 6G connected vehicles and other AI-driven operations will require modern LAN and WAN architectures that can accommodate the expected bandwidth and latency. Investments in fiber networks, edge computing and zero-trust architecture are critical for future readiness.

Ericsson anticipates finalizing 6G specifications by 2028, with commercial rollouts expected around 2029-2030. Initial rollouts will depend on existing 5G SA infrastructure before more advanced AI-native capabilities are introduced. Experts recommend a phased migration strategy, with enterprises beginning now by improving security policies and investing in technologies that facilitate the transition.

According to figures from the GSMA’s The Mobile Economy China 2026 report, RCR Wireless News said that by 2025 end, 5G-Advanced coverage in mainland China had expanded to more than 330 cities. By the middle of 2025, the number of 5G-Advanced users exceeded 10 million.

The report also said that 5G made up 55% of the mobile connections in China by 2025 end. Major operators such as China Mobile, China Telecom as well as China Unicom have begun offering commercial 5G-Advanced services across mainland China, whereas operators in Hong Kong and Macau have also entered the market.

China Telecom Shanghai has also launched what GSMA described as the first commercial 5G-Advanced × AI massive-uplink network of China. The rollout includes more than 5,000 refurbished sites, maximum uplink speeds of 1Gbps, and constant 20Mbps uplink coverage imajor urban areas.

Ericsson Mobility Report, has pointed towards rising demand for uplink capacity from AI, cloud as well as mobile services. The report said connected devices are anticipated to send far more data to cloud platforms. Examples of enterprise and industry include autonomous vehicles, AI-enabled IoT devices as well as humanoid droids, drones and 5G-native laptops.

5G-Advanced is not all about speed

The GSMA report said that operators are implementing 5G-Advanced in stadiums, tourism sites, transportation hubs and real-time events venues. These deployments were linked to improved uplink capacity, differentiated packages along with novel monetisation models, the report said.

5G Americas sees 5G-Advanced as one step on the technical path to 6G. Its white paper outlines 5G-Advanced based on 3GPP Release 18 and subsequent releases as an upgrade of 5G Standalone incorporating AI and machine learning, XR, enhanced energy efficiency as well as low-latency capabilities.

The GSMA report says that the next phase of 5G development in China will see a more diverse set of interconnected devices and traffic types,” said the GSMA report. Examples include industrial cameras, wearables, connected vehicles, drones, and asset tracking devices

It is well to be noted that Nokia has linked 5G-Advanced positioning as well as RedCap functionality to enterprise uses like industrial automation, asset tracking, logistics, automotive and public safety.

The GSMA also gave examples of more dynamic resource allocation in 5G-Advanced. These consist of the premium service packages from China Mobile for high-density events, China Telecom and joint resource orchestration work by China Unicom across shared infrastructure, and China Telecom and ZTE’s AI-based network allocation initiatives.

GSMA Intelligence said that operators who are investing in 5G Standalone along with 5G-Advanced are progressively focusing on experience-based consumer offerings, such as differentiated services as well as service assurance, with AI and core network intelligence utilized to improve network performance.

The GSMA report also forecast mobile technologies and services to represent 7.2% of China’s GDP in 2025, or $1.5 trillion. It projected the mobile sector to add $2.1 trillion by the end of the decade, at a CAGR of 7%.

China will continue to build next-generation digital infrastructure and at the same time also promote research on 6G, chief engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, Zhong Zhihong, said at the opening keynote of MWC Shanghai 2026.

China needed to organize and develop new communications and computing networks including an evolution from dual gigabit networks to dual 10-gigabit networks, Zhong said. He also highlighted the continuing efforts in 6G core technologies, standards development and related industrial ecosystems.

The MIIT official additionally linked communications infrastructure to the implementation of AI in different sectors. He said they should be more integrated with sectors like agriculture, education and healthcare.

China Telecom names AI-native 6G

With the roll out of 5G-Advanced in China, future AI-native 6G networks will need to have tighter coordination of networking and computing resources, says chief technologist at China Telecom, Yue Wang.

Most telecom systems today are still built around deterministic architectures, Wang said at the Telco AI Forum from RCRTech. These systems are built on top of predetermined interfaces, rules-based logic, and control mechanisms.

AI-native networks should be considered spanning three layers, predominantly infrastructure and operations, as well as services, Wang said. The infrastructure layer comprises a network, compute, and storage as well as AI resources, whereas the operational layer is responsible for optimization as well as orchestration, and the service layer provides AI-driven services.

Connectivity alone will not be enough for future AI services, Wang said. They will also need compute resources along with latency adaptation to be handled along with the network.

There are limits to adding AI capabilities to present systems, since existing networks have not been built around AI workflows, added Wang. Current networks are not designed for AI-ready data, AI lifecycle management, closed-loop control, or real-time decision-making, she said.

Industry needs to be able to organize network and compute capacity together to promote new AI services, she said.

The GSMA gives instances of 5G-Advanced, such as dynamic network resource management, stronger uplink performance, and support for a more diverse mix of device categories. Wang’s 6G comments centered around the joint control over connectivity, intelligence, compute, and data as well as assurance capabilities.

Wang also said the shift will call for modifications from both the telecom and AI industries. Live carrier networks are essential infrastructure and cannot depend on uncontrolled decisions, so AI systems must satisfy telecom standards.

At the same time, she pointed out that telecom architectures must be adaptable enough to leverage AI-driven operations. This means making AI trustworthy enough to be used in telecom environments but also enabling network systems to provide more flexible control.

Wang pointed out the importance of AI-native 6G when it comes to future applications like robotics and industrial automation, which belong to physical AI systems. One of the first abilities needed for 6G networks will be the joint orchestration when it comes to communications and computing, she said.

Wang said the development of AI-native 6G will rely on whether networks are able to open up and integrate communication, compute, data, and intelligence as well as assurance capabilities for customers collectively.

Operators still struggle with 5G returns

China is still the largest 5G market in the world; however, the growth in revenue from mobile services is projected to be moderate, owing to structural as well as competitive pressures, added an analyst at GlobalData, Hrushikesh Mahananda, who told this to RCR Wireless News.

Price competition, market saturation, and regulatory demands in order to keep connectivity cost-effective keep affecting average revenue per user, Mahananda said. The operators are thus increasingly focusing on enterprise 5G applications as well as industrial digitalization.

Chinese carriers are also transitioning into private 5G networks, cloud computing, and edge services as well as AI-enabled platforms. Hrushikesh Mahananda says there are more obvious enterprise use cases when it comes to 5G capabilities like low latency, network slicing, etc. in areas such as mining, manufacturing, ports, and healthcare as well as transport, Mahananda said.

On May 14, 2026, the regulator announced modifications to its Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024, in order to introduce an increasingly granular nine-level rating system, enabling under-construction projects to be awarded connectivity certifications in phases, and to increase transparency during the evaluation of telecom infrastructure.

The move comes on the back of comments provided by builders, digital connectivity rating agencies, and telecom operators, as well as property managers, during the initial deployment of the framework that pointed out shortcomings in rating differentiation and challenges in evaluating projects under construction in addition to the requirement for pre-rating infrastructure audits.

The modifications were required as a growing percentage of the country’s digital consumption happens within buildings, and the use of advanced construction materials and dense building designs frequently impedes telecom signals, particularly in higher-frequency 4G and 5G bands, TRAI said.

In its explanatory memorandum, the regulator stated that the digital connectivity rating framework is anticipated to incentivise property developers and managers to include sufficient digital connectivity infrastructure at the planning and building stages.

One of the most significant updates is the addition of half-star ratings, which takes the existing five-star system to a nine-tier one. The finer gradation will allow for greater distinction between properties and incentivise incremental enhancements in digital connectivity infrastructure as well as service quality, TRAI said.

The altered digital connectivity rating system for buildings rules also introduce a phased evaluation mechanism for projects under construction. In the process, Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies – DCRAs – may provide a Designed For certificate determined by authorised telecom infrastructure plans throughout construction and then a Installation Completed For certificate once the deployment of in-building telecom systems takes place. Then final ratings will be given only if telecom services are fully operational.

It is well to be noted that the mechanism will enable prospective buyers and tenants to evaluate the telecom readiness of a project prior to possession and enhance responsibility between the promises of developers as well as actual execution, said the regulator.

TRAI also introduced optional digital connectivity inspection for current properties so that managers of properties may review their existing telecom infrastructure, detect gaps and make necessary upgrades before officially applying for ratings.

The regulator also banned exclusive telecom arrangements between property managers and in-building solution providers as well as telecom operators, in order to ensure non-discriminatory access to telecom infrastructure and to enhance consumer choice in buildings.

Apparently, the revised framework encompasses commercial buildings, residential complexes, hospitals, hotels, airports, educational institutions, railway stations, highways, and metro corridors as well as stadiums, among many others.

The amendments have already entered into force from 13 May 2026.

The advent of silk into strong plastic-like materials with 6G potential is also lightweight but more potent than many metal alloys and traditional plastics made from fossil fuels. Their mechanical characteristics could make them suitable for sports equipment, shipping containers and certain specialised packaging. In ballistic testing, the new materials were resilient to puncture, as carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers are utilised in the bodies of aeroplanes and automobile chassis. And the material degrades gradually when implanted in mice, which makes it potentially useful for temporary medical implants.

The scientists are especially excited about the way the material can twist, or polarise, terahertz frequencies of light. The 6G band extends to terahertz frequencies and can carry data much faster than 5G networks, hence making it especially appealing for high-speed internet in rural areas. Another way to encode the data is with a standard polarisation, and it might open up more channels, but the elliptical polarisations observed with the silk material are by no means usually so simple. By altering the temperature and pressure at which they pushed the silk into the plastic-like material, the team could optimise the amount of twist.

Says Nick Kotov, the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering at U-M and a co-corresponding author of the study published in Nature Sustainability, “It’s difficult to engineer a material with terahertz optical activity that can rotate light while also being nearly transparent. This composite is unique in that it can do it for the frequencies that are essential for multiple future technologies. Typically, such bio-derived materials absorb terahertz light very strongly, so you get very little light out.”

Keeping the best elements of silk

It is well to be noted that the properties of the materials arise from the chemical structure of the silk. There are alternate areas of order and disorder. The fibers consist of long chains of a variety of amino acids. In some parts of the chain the amino acid sequence is random and goes on to form a distorted tangle. The amino acids in other parts of the chain also link in a pattern that repeats, and the chain folds neatly into twisted, crystalline sheets. Silk is durable and flexible, a blend of crystalline and unruly features.

According to Chunmei Li, a research assistant professor in biomedical engineering at Tufts University and a co-corresponding author of the study, “It’s surprisingly strong for something so flexible. By processing it, we can go beyond the capabilities of many other biomaterials.”

Heating the fibers to between 257 and 419 degrees Fahrenheit and 1900 and 9800 atmospheres of pressure goes on to evaporate water from the silk and fuses the tangled regions together in a single sheet without destroying the clean folds that occur inside the fibers.

Opines associate professor in multifunctional and sustainable polymer composites at Imperial College London and a lead author of the study, Emiliano Bilotti, silk has very interesting properties due to its hierarchical microstructure, with crystalline domains embedded in a complex multiscale architecture. We wanted to save as many of the pristine fibers as possible.”

In contrast to that, earlier attempts to make plastic-like materials derived from silk required dissolving the silk in a chemical solvent and processing it into a powder. Heating and pressing the powder generates materials more durable than traditional plastics, but much of the crystal structure is eliminated.

Minimizing waste in chemical and textile industries 

One of the reasons the team is working on this is to help cut waste within the fashion and textile industry.

“If you can retrieve very long threads, you can weave again, but when the fibers get shorter and shorter, there is no other way to recycle them than to dissolve them into a powder,” says Bilotti. He adds that “I never believed that was a sustainable solution.”

The new method does not need huge quantities of chemical solvents, salt and water, but just the boiling of the silk to eliminate the natural protein, known as sericin, that binds the fibers into threads. Even small fibers may be pressed into plates.

Says Li, “It can be a very simple, one-step process.”

The team is now looking into how to grow their production procedure to larger, more intricate shapes and lifecycle evaluations in order to measure the full environmental advantages. The researchers are also looking at how to include the fused silk into sensors and various other applications, while they are also seeking industrial and commercial partners in order to assist in scaling up the process and bringing the materials to market.

This research was backed by the U-M Center for Complex Particle Systems – COMPASS, a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, as well as the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and also Tufts Launchpad Accelerator funding.

The OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation offers an important means to most effectively direct OCUDU development in support of 5G and initial AI-native 6G services by industry vendors.

NextNav will also work alongside the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation community as a member to help mould the design, approval, and implementation of the 3GPP Positioning Reference Signal – PRS – within the Foundation’s OCUDU Technical Project codebase, enabling the open source RAN stack to fully support Integrated Sensing and Communications – ISAC – and PNT use cases in 5G as well as future 6G networks. NextNav brings almost 20 years of PNT technology creation, which includes field-proven experience from operating the first 5G PNT network in the world, launched in Santa Clara, California.

According to NextNav’s vice president of product development, Santanu Dasgupta, “Resilient PNT is a national security imperative. We’re excited to partner with the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation and the Department of War’s FutureG office to make ISAC and PNT built-in features of wireless networks. Scaling this requires an open, trusted foundation the whole industry can build on. Joining OCUDU brings NextNav’s technology into a broader community, ensuring PRS-based ISAC and PNT become native capabilities in open source 5G and 6G networks.”

NextNav and the OCUDU Technical Project have integrated PRS features into an open source foundation to speed up a triple-purpose vision when it comes to public cellular, private wireless, as well as hybrid terrestrial/satellite networks as an alternative and backup to GPS.

SVP and general manager, Networking, Edge and IoT, the Linux Foundation, Arpit Joshiura says that “OCUDU EF was created to bring the industry together around open, secure, and interoperable CU/DU implementations for open source RAN. We’re pleased to welcome NextNav to the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation and look forward to their contributions as we continue building a collaborative, vendor-neutral ecosystem that can accelerate real-world adoption of open source RAN infrastructure.”

One of the primary goals of the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation is to develop a public-private commercial and research ecosystem and open-source stack for open source CU and DU, which is a part of the open source RAN targeting the delivery of the open source RAN infrastructure which will power AI-native networks of the future. This is exactly where the physical world and AI come into contact. As AI systems grow more dependent on accurate understanding of where and when things happen in the physical world, robust positioning and timing are rapidly evolving into a fundamental system. That reality is reflected in the OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation’s AI-native Open Source RAN roadmap that has in it open source 5G and 6G networks. The incorporation of PRS is an ideal match for enabling physical AI and integrated sensing, as well as AI-driven optimisation capacities that will safeguard public safety, national security, and the economy.

The agreement was formalized at the Mobile World Congress 2026 that was held in Barcelona, with participation from Turkish government officials and Ericsson leadership.

The focus areas of the partnership shall revolve around shaping emerging 6G standards, enhancing network reliability, and also driving next-generation connectivity benchmarks across Türkiye.

As far as the scope of collaboration is concerned, it includes national and international R&D projects and bilateral research initiatives along with scientific publications on transformative 6G technologies.

The fact is that through this strategic research collaboration, both companies look forward to actively contributing towards defining global 6G standards and also reinforcing their technological leadership.

According to the chief executive officer of Türk Telekom, Ebubekir Şahin, “This collaboration is a testament to our dedication to driving the digital future and pushing the boundaries of a more connected and technologically advanced future. We are continuing our strategic efforts to strengthen the 6G ecosystem and contribute to 6G international standardizations. We are pleased to partner with Ericsson on exploring 6G and its future network evolution.”

The general manager of Ericsson Türkiye, Mehmet Oğul, says that “we have embraced a proactive approach to 6G research. In Türkiye, the era of 5G is beginning to unfold, paving the way for transformative advancements in mobile connectivity. Through close collaboration with Türk Telekom, we are leveraging our combined expertise to accelerate progress in 6G development to position Türkiye as a leader in technological innovation and connectivity for the future.”

So what is the accelerated impact that can be expected out of this partnership? One can indeed expect rapid deployment of dependable and intelligent networks. The collaboration is sure going to offer a competitive edge and upgraded customer trust, and it will also offer support for applications such as smart cities and mission-critical communication, along with immersive digital experiences.

6G innovation in Türkiye is sure going to bring in a step change merging digital and physical worlds, enabled by a secure, intelligent 6G/AI fabric, thereby contributing to sustainability and efficiency.

Notably, this announcement was made at the Mobile World Congress conference, and the list of global telecom providers of Nvidia looks star studded – BT Group, Booz Allen, Cisco, Ericsson, MITRE, Deutsche Telekom, Nokia, OCUDU Ecosystem Foundation, ODC, SoftBank Corp., SK Telecom, and T-Mobile. Initial trials as far as 6G are concerned are expected to begin as early as 2028, and the new network is most likely to get a commercial launch around 2030.

According to the senior vice president of telecommunications at Nvidia on a conference call with the tech media, Ronnie Vasishta, “Unlike 5G, 6G is being born in the AI era, and the networks of today simply aren’t ready for the use cases of tomorrow. Remember, AI did not exist when 5G was being defined. So using AI to even improve the networks wasn’t possible in that definitional phase.”

As per the company, this initiative goes on to represent a shared commitment so as to make sure that 6G infrastructure is open, intelligent, and resilient and also speeds up innovation and, at the same time, protects global trust. 6G wireless networks are going to become the fabric for physical AI, thereby helping billions of autonomous vehicles, machines, sensors, and robots to operate at scale.

It is well to be noted that 6G wireless networks are getting built so as to accelerate the advancements when it comes to physical AI, hence enabling autonomous machines, vehicles, sensors, and robots to go ahead and interact with the real world.

Through embedding AI all across the radio access network – RAN, edge, and core, 6G networks should first help with secure integrated sensing as well as communications, intelligence, and decision-making while at the same time supporting interoperability, resilience in supply chains, and much faster innovation.

Nvidia has also gone ahead and announced new AI-RAN collaborations with partners T-Mobile US and SoftBank as well as Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison. It is worth noting that all of them have taken the test systems live.

Adds Vasishta, “Software-defined AI-RAN is no longer just a concept. It’s moving to live networks. T-Mobile, Nokia, and Nvidia have completed the first live AI-RAN call using Nokia’s CUDA-accelerated software running on Nvidia at their outdoor trials on live networks.”

2026 MWC is going to witness three times the number of AI-RAN innovations vis-à-vis 2025, with 26 out of 33 AI-RAN Alliance demonstrations built through using Nvidia AI Aerial along with a software-defined architecture.

Rohde & Schwarz invite attendees to the Mobile World Congress 2026 which will be held in Barcelona. One can make a pit stop at the booth of the company to connect with experts and also dig in to solutions when it comes to the next generation of wireless technologies. Notably, the portfolio of the company is going to be on display under the motto – Enabling Connections, Empowering Innovations at Fira Gran Via, hall 5, booth 5A80 starting March 2 to 5, 2026.

The road from 5G to 6G

In order to have a very carefree and seamless evolution from 5G to 6G, Rohde & Schwarz provides future-ready test solutions, particularly for mobile devices along with networks. Of the many innovative solutions, CMX500 one-box signaling tester is a class apart throughout many demos, thereby addressing the barriers that are experienced today and are expected tomorrow.

• Charting the path for 6G, Rohde & Schwarz goes on to highlight carrier aggregation mixing FR1 and FR3 frequency ranges with its CMX500 one-box signaling tester. The showcase goes on to validate end-to-end device behavior throughout the aggregated spectrum. FR3 (7.125 to 24.25 GHz) has gone on to get identified by the industry and research as a perfect ally for combining the wide-area coverage that has high capacity. Equipped with the new and also upgradeable RFU18 board for the CMX500, the tester has a capacity to cover almost 18 GHz, hence offering users required headroom for the FR3 evolution and also a future-ready path so as to test the next-generation networks.
• One more setup points to virtual signaling testing. Based upon CMX500, Rohde & Schwarz showcase a new approach when it comes to shift-left testing, hence enabling the R&D engineers to pinpoint any sort of design flaws much earlier in their mobile radio modem chips before silicon fabrication, which is pretty costly. This early SDR-based validation by all means is going to significantly cut the time-to-market as far as 6G devices are concerned.
• Ray tracing goes on to simulate real-world signal propagation environments, therefore making it quite a valuable technique when it comes to AI receiver testing for the future 6G devices. Rohde & Schwarz are going to demonstrate the CMX500 since it creates a digital twin related to signal propagation within the test environment by way of making utmost use of the VIAVI™ ray tracing engine. This helps a very controlled and reproducible validation of scenarios that are intricate with high measurement accuracy, thereby helping with site-specific optimization of radio links and at the same time decreasing the requirement for field tests that are very burdensome.
• Rohde & Schwarz also makes advancements in the 5G and emerging 6G testing due to the AI Workplace for the CMX500, which is its AI-based toolset, therefore phenomenally enhancing the testing productivity.  TechAssist makes use of natural language in order to control the CMX500, helping with fast test-scenario setup along with addressing the status/configuration queries, while ScriptAssist, which stands upgraded due to its new interface, simplifies and speeds up scripting when it comes to R&D protocol and also application testing along with instrument automation. Visitors can go on to experience these AI-powered tools very much in action within a range of setups with Rohde & Schwarz at MWC Barcelona 2026 looking to make an unmatched presence.

• Mobile XR, along with personal AI devices such as smart glasses and wearables, is indeed a major element for 5G-Advanced and 6G-enabled immersive 3D communications.  Delivering a very compelling and low-latency experience is going to require strict and realistic testing. Rohde & Schwarz are going to showcase an end-to-end testbed, which is going to be centered around CMX500, thereby addressing AI on RAN and also XR testing challenges due to its capacity to emulate 4G, 5G, and Wi-Fi networks, hence applying both RF and also IP impairments in order to reproduce the real-world conditions like that of interference along with congestion.
• 6G ISAC, or Integrated Sensing and Communication, which makes optimal use of mobile networks when it comes to object detection, is also gaining traction rapidly. Rohde & Schwarz are going to demonstrate new capabilities of the R&S AREG800A, which includes the emulation when it comes to micro-Doppler signatures besides distance, speed, and also RCS so as to support the object classification, like drones.
• So as to test the base stations along with the network infrastructure, Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the PVT360, which meets the requirements for testing FR1/FR2 along with small cells as well as O-RU, and that too in a single box. In terms of verification of frequency converting the antennas that are made use of in SATCOM, NTN, or even 5G and 6G applications, visitors can actually have in-depth know-how about CATR-based over-the-air test chambers, hence helping with fast OTA testing when it comes to phased antenna arrays.
• With first off-the-shelf commercial mobile devices that are now available for 5G broadcast, Rohde & Schwarz helps the visitors to explore a very seamless and rich data distribution transmission across the mobile devices, innovative applications such as venue casting and emergency alerts, and advanced solutions in terms of terrestrial positioning, navigation, and timing.

From the ground to up there with NTN

As terrestrial as well as satellite-based networks blend, it becomes all the more intricate to simulate the real-world conditions while at the same time meeting 3GPP requirements, for example, in terms of handovers within the orbits, between the orbits, or even from space to the ground. As the NTN technology shows maturity alongside 5G and towards 6G, coming through the significant technical glitches is indeed the key to realizing the potential of NTN.

• Rohde & Schwarz has also upgraded its CMX500 one-box signaling tester, thereby supporting NR-NTN and NB-NTN as well as Direct-to-Cell (D2C/DTC) technologies on a single platform. The tester builds a digital twin of the sky, simulating the orbits and bands and also certain impairments such as Doppler shifts and even fading. Mixed with smart features such as the Constellation Insights Tool, it helps the engineers to go ahead and visualize the satellite constellations, evaluate any coverage gaps, and also take a thorough notice of the trajectories.
• Rohde & Schwarz also supports the NTN conformance along with carrier acceptance testing, thereby offering the highest number of validated test cases when it comes to NR-NTN as per 3GPP Rel.17. In partnership with Samsung, validations have already been conducted throughout all three test domains, which are RF, RRM, and PCT. At the MWC Barcelona 2026 visitors are not only going to be able to have a feel of these test cases, but they are also going to witness a demonstration of the test plan for NB-NTN from Viasat that covers protocol and performance along with the RF test scenarios.

Industry collaborations to speed up the AI-RAN

It is well to be noted that AI is indeed becoming an integral part of RAN, helping with performance optimization, enhanced energy efficiency, and also a more self-driven operation.  Rohde & Schwarz, being a member of the AI-RAN Alliance, goes ahead with industry collaboration and also offers very dependable test equipment when it comes to navigating the interoperability across a landscape that is evolving by the day.

• Rohde & Schwarz, along with Nokia Bell Labs, has also partnered on an AI/ML-based 6G base station radio receiver, which makes use of Digital Post Distortion – DPoD in order to recover the distorted uplink signals. DPoD enhances the link budget, helps preserve the coverage, and decreases the requirement when it comes to dense site rollouts, thereby lowering costs. DPoD also decreases mobile device intricacy and also power consumption. The testbed located at the Rohde & Schwarz booth, comprising the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator and also the newly launched FSWX signal as well as the spectrum analyzer, is ready to showcase the enhanced performance of the AI receiver from Nokia for uplink signals that have varied distortion levels.
• In partnership with NVIDIA, Rohde & Schwarz are going to exhibit the very latest proof-of-concept that again makes use of digital twin technology along with high-fidelity ray tracing. This kind of an approach builds quite a strong framework when it comes to testing the AI-enhanced base stations for 5G-Advanced along with 6G in the realistic propagation scenarios. This integration looks forward to bridging the gap between AI-driven wireless simulations along with real-world deployment, hence helping with more efficient and precise testing of receiver architectures that are indeed next-generation.

Next-Generation Wi-Fi Feel

Wi-Fi 8 indeed sets novel expectations when it comes to consistent, ultra-high dependability and also quality connectivity. Crafted to handle a number of connected devices that are growing by the day and also demanding applications such as XR or industrial IoT, IEEE 802.11bn goes on to employ ever more intricate MIMO – Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output conditions. Rohde & Schwarz helps the manufacturers due to its solution portfolio, which ranges from R&D to production.

• The CMX500 one-box signaling tester comes equipped now with comprehensive Wi-Fi 8 capacities. The flexibility and embedded IP test capabilities of the tester go on to make it a very flexible solution when it comes to a wide range of Wi-Fi 8-specific tests like that of dRu – distributed resource unit, introducing the distributed resource allocation, and also UEQM – unequal modulation where certain varied MIMO layers make use of different modulation schemes, along with 320 MHz channel bandwidth.
• In order to pass through the technical complexities when it comes to Wi-Fi 8 all across the overall device lifecycle, right from development to production, Rohde & Schwarz are going to showcase the CMP180 radio communication tester, which is crafted for testing in the non-signaling mode and has advanced capabilities along with broad bandwidth support. The CMP180 goes on to mix two analyzers and generators so as to conduct efficient testing of 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi 8 devices.
• When it comes to high-end MIMO signal generation and analysis tasks within the R&D setup, Rohde & Schwarz are all set to display the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator along with the newly launched FSWX signal and also the spectrum analyzer. Due to its outstanding standard EVM performance and also in combination with the cross-correlation feature that it has, the FSWX explored the details of Wi-Fi 8 signals, which apparently have been hidden up till now, and offers margins for optimization. The multichannel architecture that it has makes the FSWX pretty well suited for evaluating complex scenarios such as multi-user MIMO – MU-MIMO.

Automotive connectivity evaluation 

Notably, the vehicle manufacturers are going ahead and integrating growing levels of wireless connectivity in order to help with user experiences and safety features, as well as higher levels when it comes to autonomous driving. Rohde & Schwarz go on to offer accurate test solutions that cover all the wireless technologies that are used across the automotive sector, right from 5G and ultra-wideband to C-V2X as well as GNSS.

• As NG eCall becomes mandatory across vehicles that are sold across Europe starting in 2026, Rohde & Schwarz are going to showcase compliance testing capacities by way of using the CMX500 one-box signaling tester as well as the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. The test solution also goes on to support the upcoming Chinese automotive GNSS test standard – GB/T 45086.1 2024, which is anticipated to be compulsory for the Automotive Emergency Call System in 2027, along with automated testing.
• Non-terrestrial networks have the capacity to offer automotive connectivity that’s all over and need upgrades to major components like the chipsets and TCU as well as antennas. Trade show visitors can also discover at the MWC Barcelona 2026 how the comprehensive NTN test solutions by the company can enable the automotive industry to create always-connected vehicles.

Solutions for mission-critical communications and spectrum tracking

Mission-critical communications – MCX helps with public safety and first responders along with emergency services through offering extremely dependable, low-latency, as well as secure communications even in the most adverse conditions. Rohde & Schwarz is going to showcase its integrated solutions when it comes to testing devices along with mobile networks, hence helping with the ongoing migration when it comes to 3GPP-compliant broadband mission-critical services.

• The QualiPoc platform is going to be demonstrated as having new capabilities when it comes to MCX testing. This smartphone-based solution enables a detailed performance evaluation of MCX private as well as group calls, such as measurement in terms of 3GPP-defined MCX KPIs. New features include the likes of direct MCX app control along with the ability to measure quality of service -QoS and quality of experience – QoE so as to avail public safety communications. The R&S LCM, which is an autonomous tracking probe, along with the R&S TSMS8, which is the fastest network scanner, is also going to be on display, thereby further expanding the capacities for both business as well as mission-critical networks.
• Rohde & Schwarz is also going to showcase a protocol conformance test solution in order to verify that MCX devices as well as client software executions do adhere to the 3GPP specifications.
• Broadening its spectrum monitoring portfolio, Rohde & Schwarz is going to launch two new products at the MWC Barcelona 2026. These solutions are going to help regulatory authorities and network operators, along with public services in more than 100 countries, to go ahead and actively safeguard the electromagnetic spectrum and, at the same time, address the evolving monitoring hurdles. Apparently, the new devices are going to elevate the capabilities in interference hunting along with regulatory compliance.

Endpoint security, network visibility, and network solutions that are secure 

Strong security solutions roll out experiences that are absolutely seamless and dependable when it comes to communications. Rohde & Schwarz subsidiaries are also going to present their innovative solutions that support the wireless spectrum.

• The Rohde & Schwarz Networks & Cybersecurity division, which comprises the subsidiaries Rohde & Schwarz Cybersecurity as well as LANCOM Systems, goes on to offer endpoint security, networks that are secure, and also high-quality cryptography. Because of the products being engineered in Germany, they make sure of trustworthy, dependable, and secure data transfer and specialize in the public, critical infrastructures, retail, defense, health,
  as well as SME verticals. Rohde & Schwarz at MWC Barcelona 2026, with their cybersecurity domain, are going to demonstrate the Layer 2 encryptor R&S SITLine ETH NG along with the R&S ComSec solution, thereby helping with secure mobile working along with sensitive data, especially in iPhones as well as iPads. LANCOM Systems are going to give out an overview of the Wi-Fi 7 access point portfolio, having the latest 5G router models as well as firewalls.
• The fact is that as networks go on to become more distributed and encrypted as well as dynamic, network visibility also becomes quite indispensable.  At the Rohde & Schwarz booth, visitors will have an experience on how the ready-to-deploy, DPI-powered R&S Probe Observer would deliver deep network visibility, real-time traffic analytics that are accurate, and also actionable intelligence. Developed by ipoque, which is a Rohde & Schwarz company, this deep packet inspection – DPI software probe evaluates the network traffic, and that too at the application level, hence helping the operators to gauge, optimize, and even control their networks while at the same time supporting much faster detection, diagnosis, and also resolution of issues related to network and service.
• Rhode & Schwarz will demonstrate its complete portfolio of tests along with measurement and industry solutions at the Mobile World Congress 2026 to be held at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona at hall 5, booth 5A80. Trade magazine editors along with press representatives that are going to be a part of the event are also invited to set briefings with their press contact at Rohde & Schwarz.

For more information, visit: www.rohde-schwarz.com/mwc

The agreement, finalized on November 5, 2025, aims to guide the future of 6G network research and move real-world innovations closer to deployment. The partnership builds on Nokia and KDDI’s long-running collaboration, drawing on each company’s strengths, KDDI Research’s advanced communications R&D and Nokia Bell Labs’ long-standing leadership in telecom innovation.

Together, the companies are working on two main areas of 6G network research. One focuses on mMIMO energy efficiency, with teams developing new ways to cut base-station power use while improving communication performance in the proposed 6G spectrum. The second centers on distributed programmable core network services, which aim to build mobile core technologies capable of maintaining continuous communication even during infrastructure failures or natural disasters. Their initial work on mMIMO energy efficiency will be demonstrated at the Brooklyn 6G Summit taking place from November 5 to 7.

“Tackling the inherent challenges in a new generation of networking requires close collaboration in the industry. Working side by side, KDDI Research and Nokia Bell Labs can advance the state of the art in networking thanks to different perspectives on the problems and possible solutions. Ultimately, the joint outcomes will make 6G a more resilient, efficient and intelligent technology.” said Peter Vetter, President, Core Research, Bell Labs, Nokia.

“Through our strategic and close collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs, we aim to accelerate R&D initiatives and further strengthen the ‘Power to Connect’ toward 6G. We strive to continuously deliver new value to our customers and make meaningful contributions to societal progress,” added Satoshi Konishi, President and CEO, KDDI Research.