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Exploring the path to 2030 at the 6G Global Summit 2024

27 June 2024

The 6G Global Summit 2024 was a pivotal event that convened top-level industry leaders, policymakers, and visionaries from around the world. Held as a hybrid event, both in-person at the Pullman St. Pancras in London and virtually, the summit explored the path to 2030 and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the realm of 6G connectivity.

 

We were delighted to host over 150 of you in person, with more than 400 attendees joining us online. See a detailed breakdown of the organisation types that took part below.

 

Representation by Organisation Type

 

Representation by Organisation Type

 

Event Recap

 

The conference got underway with a series of keynote presentations from David Willis, Group Director, Spectrum, Ofcom, Philip Marnick, General Director, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority - Kingdom of Bahrain, Anil Kumar Lahoti, Chairman, TRAI India, Erzsébet Fitori, Executive Director, Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, European Commission, and Charles Cooper, Associate Administrator, NTIA.

Following the keynote presentations, ‘Shaping the 6G reality’ was discussed in Session 2, swiftly followed by ‘Moving from a 6G vision to a global 6G standard’ in Session 3. The summit emphasised the need to shape a better future with 6G, considering sustainability as a core principle.

Speakers in Session 4 delved into the transformative potential of 6G alongside emerging technologies, exploring how it will revolutionise industries and impact our daily lives. The convergence of technology, business, and policy approaches was a central theme.

Session 5 of the summit addressed the critical issue of Securing the Required Funding and Investment for 6G research, development, and deployment. Policymakers and industry experts shared insights on financing strategies.

Day one concluded with a keynote address from Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State for DSIT.

 

Erzsébet Fitori, Executive Director, Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, European Commission

 

Mario Maniewicz, Director of the radiocommunications bureau at ITU, opened the second day with a keynote address, followed by our sixth session of the event focussing on 6G, NTNs, and the Evolving Connectivity Ecosystem where discussions centred around the evolving connectivity landscape, including the role of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) in shaping 6G. 

Experts presented the 6G Spectrum Roadmap: Key Bands and Strategies during Session 7, highlighting key frequency bands and strategies for efficient spectrum utilisation. 

The afternoon session of day two moved onto our four 6G shorts, opened by Harald Haas, Van Eck Professor of Engineering, Cambridge University with an introductory presentation. In the first short, the panel discussed Spectrum Allocation in the 6G Era: Time for a Re-think? Examining existing spectrum allocation practices, and emphasising the need for innovative approaches to allocate spectrum efficiently for 6G services.

6G Short ii considered Delivering Safe, Secure, and Resilient 6G Networks. Security and resilience were paramount. Speakers discussed strategies to ensure that 6G networks are robust, secure, and capable of withstanding emerging threats. This was followed by a discussion in 6G Short iii looking at how developing regions will harness the power of 6G.

With sustainability at the heart of 6G, the summit closed with a 6G short on ensuring a Sustainable Future for (and with) 6G, exploring how this technology can address global challenges. Building an ecosystem that contributes to solving pressing environmental & green issues was a recurring theme throughout the event.

 

Re-live the Best Moments

 

Enjoy some of the highlights from the summit and hear from Amjad El Nayal, Manager of Technology, TRA Bahrain, Claire Lyons, Head of European Spectrum Policy & External Affairs, Ofcom, Ulrich Dropmann, Vice President, GSA, and Isabelle Mauro, Director General, GSOA.

 

 

High-Level Speakers

 

The summit featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including...

 

High-level speakers at the 6G Global Summit 2024

  

  • Julia Lopez MP: Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
  • David Willis: Group Director, Spectrum, Ofcom.
  • Mario Maniewicz: Director, Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU.
  • Philip Marnick: General Director, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Bahrain.
  • Charles Cooper: Associate Administrator, NTIA.
  • Erzsébet Fitori: Executive Director, Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking, European Commission.
  • Artur Coimbra: Commissioner, ANATEL Brazil.
  • Anil Kumar Lahoti: Chairman, TRAI India.
  • Isabelle Mauro: General Director, GSOA.
  • Robert Mourik: Chairperson & Commissioner, ComReg Ireland.
  • Konstantinos Masselos: President, Hellenic Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT).
  • Dimitra Simeonidou: Co-Director of the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and Director of the Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol.
  • Simon Fletcher: Board Member, WWRF.
  • Katrin Sjöberg: Technical Advisor, Volvo.
  • Matthew Baker: Head of 3GPP Standardization, Nokia.

 

The 6G Global Summit provided a unique platform for global leaders to collaborate, share insights, and collectively shape the future of 6G. As we move toward hyper-connected networks, the summit’s discussions will continue to influence the trajectory of 6G development worldwide.

For more details, you can visit the 6G Global Summit website.

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