6G technology global deployment projections

GSMA Intelligence projects that 6G technology will reach approximately 2.4 billion connections by 2035. While the technology is currently in research and standardization phases, commercial launches are expected to begin around 2030, initially representing a marginal 0.5% of total global mobile connections.

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

During the mid-2030s, mobile operators may manage three concurrent network generations: 4G, 5G, and 6G. While 6G adoption grows, it is not expected to replace 5G immediately; by 2035, 5G is forecast to still account for 60% of global connections, while 6G is projected to hold a 23% share.

China is expected to be a primary driver of this growth, potentially accounting for more than half of all 6G connections by 2035. Development is being guided by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) IMT-2030 framework, with potential use cases including the integration of artificial intelligence with communications and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC).

Parallel to these developments, the global 5G infrastructure market is projected to reach $122.64 billion by 2034, driven by government spectrum allocation, financial incentives, and rising demand from the Internet of Things (IoT) and enterprise sectors. India is expected to be the fastest-growing major market, with a compound annual growth rate of 32.4% between 2026 and 2034.