Remember when you would load videos or websites on your phone and it would take forever? Videos would constantly buffer, and loading websites felt like watching paint dry. Thankfully, we no longer have to live like savages, thanks to 5G wireless technology that makes everything feel so zippy. Thanks to Qualcomm, who are already developing 6G wireless technologies, we will be looking at 5G in our rearview mirror.
The problem with 5G
At MWC Barcelona 2025, chipset maker Qualcomm revealed the first real steps toward making 6G a reality. While it won’t be available for a few more years, the foundation is already being laid.
Right now, 5G has become the new standard of mobile connectivity. It is a massive upgrade from 4G LTE—allowing for faster internet, clearer video calls, and smoother online gaming. Is it perfect? Hardly. 5G coverage still has a long way to go, especially in more remote locations. 5G also suffers from network congestion—ever tried getting a strong 5G connection while in a crowded stadium? We think not. Then, there is the issue of limited bandwidth.
These problems are only going to exacerbate the more we use high bandwidth applications, such as AI, cloud gaming, and VR/AR. However, these are issues Qualcomm wants to solve by developing standardized 6G technologies, which the company is doing this year.
Qualcomm dreams of 6G
One of the changes from 5G is that AI will be integrated into 6G across multiple layers of the network.
We know it sounds like Qualcomm is crossing off a lot of industry buzzwords, but there’s a real use to it. Right now, networks are fixed—they broadcast signals at set power levels, regardless of how many people are using them. With AI, 6G will be able to adjust in real time, ensuring that you always get the best signal possible.
Qualcomm also imagines AI being used in “digital twins” 6G networks. “Digital twins” are virtual models of real-world networks. 6G’s AI will do the same for wireless networks, preventing issues like slow speeds or dropped connections before you even notice them by predicting and anticipating them as they come.
So, what does all of this mean for the end user like yourself? It means we can look forward to faster and smoother internet streams. No more interruptions, lag that feels imperceptible, and even potentially better battery life on your mobile devices. Since AI will optimize network efficiency, your phone won’t waste power searching for signals.
But don’t hold your breath just yet. It will take a while before 6G becomes as ubiquitous as 5G. Countries like South Korea are predicting that it will launch 6G only in 2028, but it’s good to see that companies like Qualcomm are wasting no time working on it.
