6G technology projected to reach 2.4 billion connections by 2035

GSMA Intelligence projects that 6G technology will reach 2.4 billion connections by 2035. Commercial launches are expected to begin in late 2030, initially representing a marginal 0.5% of total global mobile connections.

The rollout is expected to follow a two-phase trajectory. Between 2030 and 2032, the technology will focus on ecosystem construction and limited experimental deployments. A transition to global mass-market exploitation is anticipated around 2033, when connections are expected to surpass one billion.

During the mid-2030s, mobile operators will likely manage three concurrent network generations: 4G, 5G, and 6G. China is expected to be a primary driver of this growth, potentially accounting for more than half of all 6G connections by 2035.