As 3GPP prepares for its Release 20 [1.], the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) has issued a 6G Key Messages statement saying that 6G can’t be just “another generational shift” and that lessons must be learned from “the mistakes of 5G.”  NGMN says that 6G must demonstrate clear, tangible benefits within a realistic techno-economic framework. Network Architecture needs to meet MNOs criteria for modularity, simplicity, openness, operational simplification, compatibility and interoperability, and trustworthiness while delivering economic and social sustainability. These factors are crucial to enable fast deployment and to support the development of market-aligned services that meet user demands.

“6G standards must be globally harmonized. It is expected to be built upon the features and capabilities introduced with 5G, alongside new capabilities to deliver new services and value. Such technological evolutions should be assessed with respect to their benefits versus their associated impact. 6G standards must learn from the mistakes of 5G, including multiple architecture options, features that are never used and use cases that have no market pull.”

NGMN insists that the introduction of 6G should not cost network operators more than necessary:

“The introduction of 6G should not necessitate a forced hardware refresh.  While new radio equipment is required for deployment in new frequency bands, the evolution toward 6G in existing bands should primarily occur through software upgrades, ensuring a smooth transition.”

Note 1.  According to 3GPP’s current planning, Release 20 will include a study phase, gathering technical input on potential 6G features, use cases, and architectural shifts. These discussions are intended to inform later specification work, likely in Release 21, aligned with the IMT-2030 submission process.  See Editor’s Note below for relationship between 3GPP’s 6G work and ITU-R IMT 2030.

THE NGMN 6G KEY MESSAGES PUBLICATION HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE NGMN BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN JUNE 2025:

Laurent Leboucher, Chairman of the NGMN Alliance Board and Orange Group CTO and EVP Networks, explained “6G should be viewed as a seamless evolution — fully compatible with 5G and propelled by continuous software innovation. The industry must move beyond synchronised hardware/software ‘G’ cycles and embrace decoupled roadmaps: one for hardware infrastructure, guided by value-driven and sustainable investments, and another — faster and demand-led — for software-defined business capabilities addressing real needs from society.”

“Along with presenting this consolidated view to 3GPP, this publication serves as a foundation for engaging with the broader industry, driving collaboration, innovation, and strategic direction in the evolving 6G landscape,” said Anita Döhler, CEO of NGMN . “A core tenet of our message is that 6G is not treated as another generational shift for mobile technology – it must be evolutionary.”

“Network evolution is essential for addressing ever-changing societal needs. To achieve this, we need to work collectively as an industry to ensure all future networks are secure, environmentally sound, and economically sustainable,” said Luke Ibbetson, Head of Group R&D at Vodafone and NGMN Board Director.

Key Categories:

• Enhanced Human Communications includes use cases of enriched communications, such as immersive experience, telepresence and multimodal interaction. Voice services must evolve in a business sustainable manner.

• Enhanced Machine Communications reflects the growth of collaborative robotics, requiring reliable communication among robots, their environment and humans.

• Enabling Services gather use cases that require additional features such as high accuracy location, mapping, or sensing.

• Network Evolution describes aspects related to the evolution of core technologies including AI as a service, energy efficiency, and delivering ubiquitous coverage.

Requirements and Design Considerations:

• Sustainability: Minimising environmental impact, securing economic viability, and ensuring social sustainability is the key goal of 6G design.
• Trustworthiness: Ensure that security and privacy are intrinsically embedded in the 6G system to protect against threats and provide solutions that measurably demonstrate this attribute.
• Innovation: A new radio interface should demonstrate significant benefits over and above IMT-2020, as mentioned in the Radio Performance Assessment Framework publication, while considering the practical issues related to deployments in a realistic techno-economical context. It is also critical for innovation that the entirety of the upper 6 GHz band would be available to mobile networks.

Radio Performance Assessment Framework (RPAF) includes guidance for new 6G Radio Access Technologies (RAT). It emphasises that any proposed solutions must be assessed against a reasonable baseline to demonstrate meaningful performance gains.

Editor’s Note:  ITU-R WP5D is the official standards body for 6G, which is known as IMT 2030. Like for 5G (IMT 2020), WP 5D sets the requirements while 3GPP develops the Radio Interface Technology (RIT and SRIT) specs which are then contributed to WP 5D by ATIS.

About the MGMN Alliance:

Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance – is a global, operator-driven leadership network established in 2006 by leading international mobile network operators (MNOs). Its mission is to ensure that next-generation mobile network infrastructure, service platforms and devices meet operators’ requirements while addressing the demands and expectations of end users.

NGMN’s vision is to provide impactful industry guidance to enable innovative, sustainable and affordable mobile telecommunication services. Key focus areas include Mastering the Route to Disaggregation, Green Future Networks and 6G, while continuing to support the full implementation of 5G.

As a global alliance of nearly 70 companies and organisations—including operators, vendors, and academia—NGMN actively incorporates the perspectives of all stakeholders. It drives global alignment and convergence of technology standards and industry initiatives to avoid fragmentation and support industry scalability.

References:

https://www.ngmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2506_NGMN_6G-Key-Messages_An-Operator-View_V1.0.pdf

NGMN calls for harmonised 6G standards to drive seamless mobile evolution on behalf of global MNOs

NGMN Radio Performance Assessment Framework

NGMN issues ITU-R framework for IMT-2030 vs ITU-R WP5D Timeline for RIT/SRIT Standardization

ITU-R WP 5D reports on: IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements; Evaluation Criteria & Methodology

ITU-R: IMT-2030 (6G) Backgrounder and Envisioned Capabilities

ITU-R WP5D invites IMT-2030 RIT/SRIT contributions

Highlights of 3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 (6G) Use Cases

https://unidir.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/241211_ITU-R-Update-on-WRC-and-IMT-2030.pdf

https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/m/R-REC-M.2160-0-202311-I%21%21PDF-E.pdf

Draft new ITU-R recommendation (not yet approved): M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]