Dr. Badlishah Ahmad from Universiti Malaysia Perlis presented estimates suggesting that 5G will add roughly US $13.2 trillion to global economic activity by 2035. He explained this figure accounts for gains in industry productivity, infrastructure expansion, IoT deployment, and enhancements to connectivity.
Dr. Ahmad described how 5G is already being used to support device control in manufacturing plants, telecom infrastructure, and urban mobility. The technology allows lower latency and higher bandwidth compared to earlier mobile networks, which enables new use cases across automation, remote control, and smart sensors.
He added that networks are becoming platforms for data collection and analytics, enabling near-real-time feedback in logistics and industrial operations—this contributes directly to increased economic throughput, captured in the $13.2 trillion projection. So, now let us look into 5G’s Economic Contribution and 6G Prospects along with RantCell’s LTE RF drive test tools in telecom & RF drive test software in telecom and RantCell’s 5g tester, 5G test equipment, 5g network tester tools in detail.
What’s Next: 6G Networks
Dr. Ahmad outlined characteristics expected in 6G:
- Data rates in the terabytes-per-second range
- Built-in AI and machine learning for predictive network behavior
- Low latency suitable for extended reality (XR), autonomous systems, robotics, and smart factories
- Integration of sensing and communication (networks that detect and adapt to environment)
He said 6G will transform networks from passive data transport systems into active, adaptive platforms.
He also noted that Zigbee, with its low-power, secure, and mesh-friendly design, will continue to have a role in local communication systems—helping connect IoT devices without depending on cellular links.
India’s 6G Push and Patent Goals
In a recent meeting of the Bharat 6G Alliance, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated India aims to generate 10% of global 6G patents.
Engineering teams at IIT-Kanpur and elsewhere are shaping research on AI-native networks, energy efficiency, security, and blended terrestrial/non-terrestrial coverage (including satellite links). They emphasize alignment with international standards bodies like 3GPP and ITU.
Technical Breakdown
5G Economic Impact Drivers
- Industry Digitization: Factories and logistics chains are using 5G for robot control, drone management, and real-time analytics.
- Consumer Adoption: Widespread use of streaming, cloud services, and mobile apps continues to expand mobile data needs.
- IoT Growth: Smart meters, connected sensors, and edge devices generate data and control needs that rely on reliable, low-latency connectivity.
- Network Expansion: Telecom operators are investing in 5G infrastructure, extending coverage into rural areas and dense urban zones.
6G Technical Aims
- Terabit Speeds: Targeting 1 TB/s throughput, far higher than 5G’s gigabit range.
- Ultra-Low Latency: Sub-millisecond latency aiming to support surgical telepresence, instantaneous XR interactions, and critical automation systems.
- Embedded AI: Network functions and routing decisions will use AI models running within core and edge clouds.
- Adaptive Networking: Networks will detect changes in environment (user density, interference) and automatically shift resource allocation.
- Sensing Features: Integrating RF-based sensing to detect obstacles, crowding, or signal quality in real-time.
Zigbee’s Role
Zigbee serves as lightweight mesh networking for devices that do not need full-scale cellular access. It will remain relevant for building-level device connectivity, particularly when ultra-low power and secure message passing are required.
Roadmaps and Standards
- ITU-R IMT-2030 is guiding 6G standard framing, with input from industry groups such as 3GPP, ETSI, and NGMN.
- India’s Bharat 6G Alliance coordinates research between academia, industry, startups, and government agencies, aligning national innovation efforts with global standards.
Summary
- 6G introduces new design principles: terabit speeds, AI-driven management, sub-millisecond latency, and built-in sensing and adaptation.
- Zigbee remains valuable for low-power local networking, supporting IoT where full cellular is overkill.
- India plans to take a leading role in 6G R&D and standard setting, aiming for a notable share of global patents and research influence.
About RantCell
By using ordinary Android smartphones, RantCell allows organizations to conduct drive tests, indoor walk tests, and remote monitoring across multiple networks and geographies—without the need for specialized hardware.
Enterprises, regulators, and mobile operators leverage RantCell for continuous QoE/QoS measurements, private 5G/4G network validation, test automation, crowdsourcing, and detailed reporting dashboards. Its flexibility makes it suitable for both large-scale monitoring projects and focused deployments. Also read similar articles from here.
