The 6G Symposium, held from April 9-11, 2024, in Levi, Finland, brought together a diverse array of stakeholders from across the telecommunications industry to grapple with the critical issues shaping the development of 6G technology. With over 186 on-site visitors and more than 800 joining online, the event served as a crucial forum for dialogue and debate at a pivotal moment in the evolution of next-generation networks.

Hosted by 6G World in cooperation with the University of Oulu’s 6G Flagship programme and Business Finland, the 6G Symposium convened a who’s who of the telecoms world. Key figures from industry giants like Nokia, Huawei and NTT DOCOMO shared the stage with policymakers, academic researchers and visionaries, all seeking to chart the best path forward for 6G. The agenda tackled thorny questions around reconciling conflicting 6G concepts, supporting industrial transformation, building a viable business case, spectrum allocation, and the role of standards and regulation.

Underlying the discussions was a recognition, as noted on the event website, that “there are drastically different visions for what 6G needs to do and to be, and interests pulling stakeholders in many different directions.” Only by fostering a deliberate evolution of mindsets, business relations, strategies and industry processes, alongside technological and policy advancements, can the industry hope to deliver the commercially successful, societally impactful 6G services of the future.

The 6G Symposium provided a crucial platform for grappling with these complexities through a mix of keynotes, panel debates, technical deep dives, and networking activities. As the telecoms world looks ahead to the 6G era, events like this are essential in forging a shared understanding and cooperative spirit to navigate the challenges that lie ahead.