What is 6G?
July 2, 2026
6G refers to the sixth generation of mobile technology, an evolution of the existing 5G technology. It is expected to become available from around 2030.
Why do we need 6G?
With the growing need for mobile data, mobile networks need to be continually improved to meet this increasing demand. There are over 30 million mobile services in operation and mobile data usage continues to grow. In the 10 years to 2024, mobile data usage grew by a factor of ten.
6G will:
- Be more efficient at delivering mobile data than 5G. 6G will deliver more data in the same radio frequency channel compared to 5G.
- Be more power efficient than previous generations.
- Be optimised to handle applications like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
- Support efficient machine-to-machine communications, augmented reality, fully networked vehicles, smart factories and more.
- Provide more precise location and sensor positioning (1–10 cm), allowing further automation and productivity gains.
- Be better integrated into satellite networks, improving the quality of services provided under the Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO).
How will it be introduced?
6G will need new spectrum bands, which are the invisible radio channels that carry mobile, broadcast television and radio.
6G is likely to be first installed in spectrum above the current channels employed by 5G, which is deployed in spectrum below 4 GHz. Like all mobile technologies, 6G will be eventually introduced into the existing spectrum bands used by 4G and 5G technologies, just as 3G spectrum was repurposed for 4G and 5G.
The introduction of 6G will need at least a 200 MHz contiguous wide channel per mobile operator to meet the performance standards set for the new technology. The most likely spectrum band for the introduction of 6G in Australia will be in the upper 6 GHz band, expanded into the lower part of the 7 GHz band (6585 MHz to 7250 MHz).
6G will be constructed on the same base-station site footprint as current 5G services. While higher in frequency than the 5G service, the technology improvements will result in very similar radio wave propagation characteristics.
Like all new generation technologies, 6G will likely be introduced in areas of high demand, in the cities, and then gradually expanded out to regional and rural areas. Low band spectrum will be needed to support 6G in rural and regional areas. Our expectation is that some 600 MHz band spectrum will be recovered from broadcast TV. By updating digital broadcast encoding standards that were introduced more than 20 years ago, broadcast television can deliver the same feature rich content using less spectrum.
Will it be safe?
Yes, 6G will be safe.
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) set the Electromagnetic Energy (EME) safe limits for mobile technologies in Australia. The mobile industry ensures that all mobile transmissions in Australia are well within the safe limit. The telecommunications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), has a program that measures EME levels in the community from mobile transmitters, called base-stations. The results are published as a percentage of the ARPANSA safe limit in their online EME Checker tool. Most sites measured by the ACMA are 1% or less of the ARPANSA safe limit.
When new mobile technologies have been introduced, such as the transition from 3G to 4G and from 4G to 5G, the level of EME present in the community has remained largely unchanged.
This is because newer technologies are more efficient, requiring less power to deliver faster mobile data speeds and a better mobile experience.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts has resources such as factsheets and videos that can assist in understanding EME. This includes three short videos by Dr Karl (Kruszelnicki) explaining EME, busting some wireless connectivity and safety myths and explaining the benefits of wireless technology.
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