Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The next generation of mobile technology — sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks — is projected to connect more than 5 billion devices worldwide by 2040, according to a comprehensive industry analysis by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). The forecast highlights the rapid transformation that digital infrastructure is expected to undergo as 6G moves from concept to commercial deployment over the next decade.
In its Vision 2040 study, the GSMA — a leading global mobile industry body representing operators and stakeholders — outlines a long-term roadmap for the evolution of mobile connectivity and spectrum planning to support future demand. The report anticipates that 6G networks will begin commercial rollout around 2030, with significant adoption expected through the 2030s as enhanced digital services that leverage ultra-fast speeds, artificial-intelligence-driven features, and new application paradigms come online.
By 2040, the GSMA projects that 6G connections will exceed five billion globally, accounting for roughly half of all mobile connections worldwide. This milestone reflects not only widespread consumer adoption but also the proliferation of new use cases — ranging from immersive extended reality and autonomous systems to integrated sensing and distributed machine-type communications that go beyond what current 4G and 5G networks can deliver.
The forecast indicates that, even as 6G expands, 4G and 5G technologies will remain important, with an estimated two billion 4G connections and three billion 5G connections still operational in 2040 as part of a heterogeneous global network ecosystem. Such a layered landscape reflects the gradual nature of technological transition, particularly in regions where infrastructure and investment timelines differ significantly.
Achieving this scale of connectivity depends on regulators and industry players addressing critical policy and technical challenges, especially the allocation of sufficient radio spectrum — the airwaves that mobile networks rely on to transport data. According to the GSMA, ensuring that countries secure adequate mid-band spectrum (which balances capacity and coverage) will be essential to avoid network congestion and support the lofty traffic and service demands anticipated in the 2035–2040 period.
Industry analysts note that 6G’s arrival will be shaped not just by technical advancements but also by collaboration between governments, telecom operators and standards bodies. The move toward 6G builds on the lessons of previous generations — particularly the rapid global expansion of 5G — and is expected to underpin emerging digital economies by enabling ultra-reliable connectivity at unprecedented scale.
As global mobile traffic sets new records and data consumption trends continue their steep ascent, the push toward 6G offers a strategic blueprint for managing future growth in connectivity, innovation and digital inclusion.
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