Summary
While many 5G business applications are still in their infancy, the geopolitical race for leadership in 6G development and research has already begun, especially as mobile technologies are seen as one of the drivers of digital innovation.
The starting point for the development, distribution and use of the latest radio-based mobile technologies varies greatly around the world. While major network suppliers come from Europe and Asia, providers of cloud infrastructures, whose core networks are being increasingly used by mobile network operators due to the virtualization of the networks, very often come from the USA.
The outcome of the race will be determined by a large number of structural variables and their development. In particular, strategic fields of action such as standards and patents, sustainability and cyber security must be increasingly addressed by global technology leaders with regard to 6G in order to exert an influence on standardisation in the future.
Towards the introduction of 6G, not only the demand for mobile data services will change. Likewise, a change in the supply of the upstream and downstream mobile markets can be observed. Virtualisation in mobile communications reduces market entry barriers for new providers whose infrastructures and services are required by new, innovative business models. Due to these developments, mobile network operators face new challenges in their ambitions to open up new markets in business applications. However, these developments could also lead them to focus on the core business of providing connectivity to the mass market.
Overall, a high level of dynamism in innovations can be observed in the areas of Open RAN and 6G projects, which means that the established market players are facing constant pressure to adapt to new market conditions.
