The publication outlines the NGMN perspective on how AI-related requirements should be addressed in the evolution towards 6G. It consolidates mobile network operators’ views on how AI may impact 6G standardisation and provides guidance to support ongoing 6G studies within 3GPP. It examines three key dimensions: the impact of AI-driven traffic on networks, the network capabilities required to support AI-based services, and the role of AI as an enabler for future network architecture evolution.

This publication consolidates key messages from NGMN as an operator view perspective, ensuring alignment, readiness, and a strong presence covering major 3GPP milestones. It serves as a foundation for engaging with the broader industry, driving collaboration, innovation, and strategic direction in the evolving 6G landscape by considering benefits of end-customers.

NGMN believes that the continuing evolution of the mobile industry, and the underlying technologies, need to be beneficial to both end users and operators, creating value through new services, supporting a healthy ecosystem, and fulfilling the needs for a society that is increasingly relying on ICT. 6G standards must be globally harmonised. It is expected to be built upon the features and capabilities introduced with 5G, alongside new capabilities to deliver new services and value.

As the new chairman of the NGMN Alliance, Laurent Leboucher, Orange’s group CTO and senior VP of Orange Innovation Networks, highlights the ongoing importance of the industry organisation’s focus on green future networks, 6G and mastering the route to disaggregation. He also outlines some of the new areas of focus for the NGMN in the coming years.

Deutsche Telekom’s Arash Ashouriha, who has been chairman of the NGMN Alliance for more than four years, is handing over the reins to Laurent Leboucher, group CTO and SVP of Orange Innovation Networks. The perfect time, then, for Arash to reflect on the progress that has been made during his period at the helm and to look ahead to future challenges and opportunities.

He covers the three major strategic pillars that were established during his tenure – Green Future Networks, Operating Disaggregated Networks and 6G – and emphasises the need for ongoing industry collaboration.

Consensus, time and a focus on continuous improvement will be key elements for guiding the evolution of mobile networks towards 6G and beyond, building on the solid foundation of 5G. The Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance (NGMN) revealed this today while publishing a proposed framework to guide the evolution of network architecture towards 6G.

The “Network Architecture Evolution towards 6G” publication builds on NGMN’s “6G Position Statement – An Operator View”, published in 2023. It advises that the future 6G network architecture should address 5G gaps, support new scenarios and requirements, adapt to RAN changes, and embrace emerging technology trends. NGMN emphasises the importance of allocating sufficient time in the standardisation process to ensure industry-wide collaboration, enabling a smooth and continuous evolution of mobile networks towards 6G and beyond.