Forget 5G, 6G is on the way and will be on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

6G technology and the ability to connect regular mobile phones with low-orbiting satellites will feature in Barcelona next week at the Mobile World Congress.

An Ericsson booth at 2022’s Mobile World Congress in Shanghai. Picture: Bloomberg News

Futuristic 6G technology and the ability to allow regular phone users to connect through low-orbit satellites are among initiatives under the microscope at the world’s premier telecommunications conference in Barcelona next week.

Mobile World Congress is where the telecommunications industry showcases cutting-edge technologies such as 5G Advanced, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance 5G connectivity, the continued push towards 6G, networking developments, quantum communications technology and security.

The AT&T/AST Mobile deal in December is the latest between US telcos and low-orbit satellite providers. T-Mobile has teamed with SpaceX’s Starlink, while ­Verizon has been working with Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

It is claimed phone users could access some hybrid earth-based satellite networks with existing handsets, despite their limited power. Apple last year announced emergency connectivity with satellites, but it offers only limited texting at a low bitrate.

The telecommunications industry, meanwhile, has been ­debating how to safeguard encrypted mobile communications, given that coming Quantum technology could unravel it.

Accenture, a “knowledge partner” at Mobile World Congress, said we would see more examples of 5G being implemented as low-latency stand-alone networks in industry, such as is occurring in Europe and North America.

“The focus will be very much on the IoT (Internet of Things), virtual reality and industry cases for it,” said Emma Neil, communications, media and technology lead at Accenture ANZ. “Here in Australia, we’re only starting to delve into some of that.”

Ms Neil said the recent popularity of chatbots, including ChatGPT, could result in personalised versions quickly become available on phones – such as a chatbot beauty consultant on a person’s phone as they walk through a department store.

The MWC is expected to showcase concepts around the metaverse. Picture: Getty Images

She said there was a view Wi-Fi’s future might have a limited lifespan as more users connected to open 5G hot spots and seamless 5G networks to link to IoT devices rather than discrete Wi-Fi.

Much effort was being put into extending the reach of 5G beyond the current 80 per cent coverage to 95 per cent.

Ms Neil said 6G was predicted to be rolled out by 2030 and would offer about 100 times the speed of 5G, with autonomous driving a likely application.

“It would enable autonomous cars to drive themselves across the bulk of Australia,” she said.

MWC is expected to further showcase concepts around the metaverse such as digital twins that can simulate the operation of buildings using a virtualised twin. VR will expand its capability as a tool for immersive learning.

Telstra, Optus, Ericsson and Nokia are among companies expected to make Australian-relevant announcements at MWC. Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady is a keynote speaker at the global event.

Energy-efficient and secure Open RAN (radio access networks) also will be discussed, with many of Europe’s telcos on board through the O-RAN Alliance. Vodafone is a key proponent of the move to make equipment from varying suppliers capable of being used by different telcos across networks.

Indications are that China network supplier Huawei will field a strong presence at MWC to shore up markets, following the decision of some countries to stop using its networking equipment, citing its close ties with China’s government.

Chris Griffith is attending the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona courtesy of Oppo.