The CEO of Qualcomm advised MWC that connectivity will stay the inspiration of 6G networks, however its design priorities will evolve as AI turns into central to digital providers and cell computing
In sum – what to know:
Three 6G pillars – Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon stated connectivity, distributed computing, and sensing will kind the inspiration of 6G networks and help AI-driven providers and gadgets.
AI infrastructure – Future telecom networks will combine computing from base stations to information facilities, successfully working as “AI information middle networks.”
Sensing functionality – 6G may use RF indicators and AI to detect objects and motion, enabling functions reminiscent of drone detection and environmental mapping.
At Cellular World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Cristiano Amon outlined a imaginative and prescient for future 6G networks constructed round three core constructing blocks: connectivity, computing, and sensing. Collectively, he stated, these components will help a brand new era of AI-driven providers, gadgets and digital experiences.
“The necessities for 6G are literally going to be constructed round three constructing blocks,” Amon stated in his keynote speech at MWC 2026. “One is connectivity. The opposite one goes to be the computing. After which the quantity three, which is totally new, is sensing.”
In keeping with the pinnacle of Qualcomm, these pillars mirror the shift towards AI-native communications infrastructure designed to help clever gadgets and real-time information processing.
Connectivity will stay the inspiration of future cell networks, however its design priorities will evolve as synthetic intelligence turns into central to digital providers and cell computing. “So it’s a connectivity that’s designed for steady context trade,” Amon stated.
Future networks might want to help fixed communication between gadgets, sensors, and functions working throughout smartphones, wearables, automobiles and different linked methods. In such an ecosystem, connectivity should ship each excessive efficiency and constant protection.
Synthetic intelligence may also play a task in how radio indicators are processed inside the community, the Qualcomm government added. “You utilize AI to course of quite a lot of the RF indicators,” he stated. “As a substitute of doing channel estimations, you’re going to make use of AI to do predictions.”
This strategy may assist keep dependable efficiency even when sign energy is weak and enhance how higher-frequency spectrum delivers protection.
The second pillar of 6G is computing, reflecting a broader transformation in telecom infrastructure. “The computing is the most important change within the infrastructure itself,” Qualcomm’s Amon stated.
The Qualcomm government defined that future telecom networks won’t solely present connectivity but additionally course of AI workloads instantly inside the community. Computing assets shall be distributed throughout a number of layers, together with base stations, edge infrastructure, and huge centralized information facilities.
“6G networks for the telecom sector are going to turn out to be AI information middle networks,” Amon stated.
This structure would enable operators to course of giant volumes of information generated by linked gadgets in actual time, supporting sooner automation, improved community optimization and new AI-driven providers.
In keeping with Amon, the shift may considerably change how telecom networks function. “I truly imagine that this modification goes to be as profound as going from a dial tone community, the place you simply make telephone calls, to immediately’s excessive efficiency broadband,” he stated.
The third pillar — sensing — represents a brand new functionality for wi-fi networks. “That’s a model new function of 6G,” Amon stated. Utilizing radio frequency indicators and AI processing, future networks may detect objects and motion throughout their protection areas, successfully turning the community right into a large-scale sensing system.
“A brand new functionality of the community, along with connectivity, is definitely to sense the setting,” Amon stated. This functionality may allow providers reminiscent of drone detection, monitoring of shifting objects, and real-time environmental mapping. “You’re going to have a 3D map of the complete metropolis, You’re going to have a 3D map of the complete nation,” he stated.
Such capabilities may help rising sectors together with drone visitors administration, robotics, and autonomous methods. In keeping with the corporate’s timeline, demonstrations of key applied sciences may seem inside the subsequent few years. “Our timeline is predicated on demonstration in 2028,” the Qualcomm CEO stated.
“We’re going to have infrastructure in semiconductor and gadgets towards the tip of 2028 for launching as early as 2029.”
