Verizon is forming a coalition of major telecommunications companies to define 6G capabilities and the practical use cases it should support.
The US carrier has unveiled its 6G Innovation Forum, an alliance intended to prevent 6G development from becoming fragmented and instead guide its evolution through coordinated industry collaboration.
Verizon’s 6G alliance includes leading network equipment makers—Ericsson, Samsung, and Nokia—along with chip and device innovators such as Qualcomm and Meta.
The goal of this industry group is straightforward: determine the most valuable applications for 6G. By ideating devices and compelling services now, the alliance aims to ensure that when 6G technology matures, it can immediately support transformative use cases.
Joe Russo, EVP & President, Global Networks and Technology at Verizon, said: “We were the first in the world to turn up 5G and continue to enhance our best, most reliable and fastest 5G network in ways that open the door to possibilities far beyond what we can imagine today.”
Russo emphasized that ongoing advances in 5G Advanced are laying groundwork for the next generation.
“5G Advanced lays the foundation for the 6G future,” he explained, “whether that’s new wearables, AI experiences, or entirely new use cases we haven’t even thought of yet, and that’s what excites me the most.”
At its core, Verizon’s 6G initiative is about creating the network architecture to support the next wave of technology, with a particular focus on AI-driven services. Verizon has long used AI to optimize and maintain network performance, and 6G aims to extend that capability further.
The ambition is to develop networks fast and responsive enough to enable real-time AI at scale—enabling smarter cities, more dynamic business operations, and new consumer experiences that rely on ultra-low latency and massive data throughput.
Charlie Zhang, SVP of Samsung Research America, said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Verizon to revolutionize the future of wireless communication with 6G and AI technologies, building on the large-scale vRAN capabilities developed together to unlock innovative user experiences in the 6G era.”
The forum will move quickly from planning to experimentation. Members will test new radio bands and work to align emerging technologies with international standards so devices operate seamlessly across regions—from London to Los Angeles.
To support that work, Verizon is launching dedicated 6G Labs, beginning with a hub in Los Angeles. These labs will provide collaborative environments where partners can prototype, test, and refine early 6G technologies in realistic conditions.
Verizon and its partners are clearly committed to turning futuristic concepts into practical solutions, preparing for a future in which 6G networks are more intelligent and enable a wide range of innovations.
See also: EE deploys world-first solution for slow 5G speeds in crowds
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