Ericsson has unveiled its vision for the spectrum strategy that will underpin future 6G networks, highlighting the need for a broader and more advanced spectrum framework to support next-generation wireless connectivity. As digital experiences become increasingly immersive and data-intensive, the company believes that realizing the full potential of 6G will require not only the continued use of today’s low-, mid-, and millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum, but also the introduction of new frequency ranges in the centimetric wave (cmWave) and sub-terahertz (sub-THz) bands. According to Ericsson, these additional spectrum resources will be essential for delivering the capacity, bandwidth, and performance required for commercial 6G deployments expected around 2030.
Ericsson explains that future 6G networks will be built on a multi-layered spectrum architecture that combines existing spectrum assets with new frequency bands. The company envisions today’s low-, mid-, and mmWave spectrum continuing to provide broad coverage, while new cmWave frequencies will deliver enhanced capacity and coverage. Complementing these will be sub-THz frequencies, capable of supporting extremely high data rates and very wide bandwidths for demanding applications.
Although spectral efficiency is expected to continue improving through 5G and 5G Advanced, allowing many markets to delay migration to new 6G spectrum, Ericsson notes that increasing network densification by 2030 will make additional spectrum inevitable. Ensuring the right amount of spectrum across different frequency ranges at the appropriate time will be critical for enabling a smooth transition from 5G Advanced to fully realized 6G networks.
The company states that early 6G spectrum planning is being driven by anticipated requirements beyond the capabilities of 5G Advanced. Future applications are expected to demand significantly greater capacity, broader coverage, and improved network performance. At the same time, exponential growth in mobile data traffic continues to create pressure on existing spectrum resources. Ericsson cites projections from its Mobility Report indicating that global mobile data traffic is expected to grow by a factor of 3.5, reaching 329 exabytes per month, or 472 exabytes per month when Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services are included, by 2028. Additional spectrum, the company says, will be crucial to maintaining cost-efficient mobile broadband services well beyond the current generation of wireless technology.
Ericsson identifies six major use case categories that are expected to shape spectrum requirements for 6G. These include immersive communication, global broadband, omnipresent Internet of Things (IoT), integrated sensing, critical services, and compute-AI services, each placing unique demands on future wireless infrastructure.
Immersive communication is expected to drive one of the largest increases in bandwidth demand. Ericsson believes the commercial emergence of holographic communication will require very high data rates combined with wide-area coverage. The gradual evolution toward the Internet of Senses, incorporating touch, taste, smell, and other sensory experiences into digital communication, is also expected to significantly increase network capacity requirements.
Global broadband services are projected to remain one of the largest contributors to overall mobile data growth. Ericsson notes that expanding mobile broadband, Fixed Wireless Access, and mixed reality applications will require additional spectrum to sustain network performance and cost efficiency beyond the capabilities of 5G Advanced.
The company also expects omnipresent IoT to become a defining characteristic of future smart cities. Massive digital twins relying on continuous sensor data collection will require networks capable of supporting enormous numbers of connected devices. While individual sensors may generate relatively small amounts of data, their combined bandwidth requirements will create substantial demands on available spectrum.
Integrated sensing represents another key capability expected to emerge with 6G. Ericsson explains that future radio networks will possess inherent sensing capabilities, enabling them to gather and provide spatial information about surrounding environments. These capabilities are expected to support advanced applications such as autonomous vehicles and other intelligent transportation systems.
Critical services are also expected to become increasingly important as 6G extends beyond traditional communications. Ericsson believes future networks will support smart manufacturing with collaborative robots, remote operations, public safety, and other mission-critical applications. These services will require extremely low and predictable latency, guaranteed quality of service, high availability, and strong resilience against network disruptions.
The company further highlights compute-AI services as another major driver for expanded spectrum resources. Future applications combining immersive communication with distributed computing will require efficient processing and workload offloading, enabling advanced AI-powered experiences on lightweight devices while maintaining high capacity and reliable connectivity.
To accommodate these growing demands, Ericsson proposes building on today’s spectrum grid rather than replacing it. Reusing existing spectrum infrastructure will help minimize deployment costs, reduce power consumption, and limit the need for additional network sites. However, the company estimates that approximately 3 GHz of additional wide-area spectrum will be required for future 6G services, a requirement that cannot be fully met using today’s frequency allocations alone.
Ericsson identifies the cmWave spectrum between 7 GHz and 15 GHz as the optimal complement to current mid-band frequencies. According to the company, cmWave combines favorable propagation characteristics with relatively large bandwidths, making it well suited for applications requiring both high capacity and extensive geographic coverage.
For applications demanding extreme data rates and ultra-low latency within localized environments, Ericsson points to the sub-THz frequency range between 90 GHz and 300 GHz. These frequencies provide vast amounts of available spectrum capable of supporting advanced use cases such as high-resolution holographic communication and machine-to-machine interaction. However, the company expects sub-THz deployments to be limited to specific scenarios where their unique performance advantages are required.
Ericsson also emphasizes that allocating spectrum for 6G will require close collaboration among network equipment vendors, service providers, regulators, and research organizations. The company stresses that globally harmonized spectrum allocations and technical standards remain essential for ensuring worldwide interoperability, service continuity, and economies of scale. It identifies the International Telecommunication Union‘s World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) process as the preferred mechanism for achieving this harmonization.
According to Ericsson, the roadmap for 6G spectrum began with agenda discussions at WRC-23, followed by ITU studies leading up to WRC-27, where decisions on International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) identification for preferred 6G frequency bands are expected. Following those decisions, national regulators will determine which spectrum bands to release and begin licensing processes. Early deployments using newly allocated 6G frequencies are anticipated around 2030, coinciding with the first implementable 3GPP 6G specifications.
As research into 6G accelerates across industry and academia, Ericsson continues to advocate an open, collaborative approach to standards development and spectrum planning. The company believes that combining today’s spectrum assets with carefully selected new frequency ranges will create the foundation for a future wireless ecosystem capable of delivering immersive communication, intelligent automation, AI-powered services, and ubiquitous connectivity on a global scale.