Press Release

Brussels – March 7, 2022.

The 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA)[1] participated in the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) [2] launch event “On the road to 6G”, that took place at MWC Barcelona on March 1, 2022.

As the the global race towards 6G has started, Europe is timely taking a leading position through the implementation of the Smart Networks and Services (SNS) partnership. The SNS Joint Undertaking builds on two pillars: 6G research and innovation and 5G deployment actions funded by European or national funding programmes.

The event included two sessions and was opened by Colin Willcock, Chairman of the SNS JU Governing Board and Chairman of the 6G-IA Governing Board, and by Pearse O’Donohue, Vice-Chairman of the SNS JU Governing Board and Director Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission.

During the first session, moderated by Colin Willock,  speakers from industry and academia (i.e., Nishant Batra, CSTO, Nokia, Gerhard Fettweis, Vodafone Chair Professor at TU Dresden and CEO of the Barkhausen Institut, and Anita Döhler, CEO, NGMN), highlighted the 6G technologies and how these can be used to improve the performance of key network indicators (e.g., throughput, delay, reliability). These technologies will enable the design, deployment and operation of new advanced applications and services, such as real-time automation or extended reality (“Internet of Senses”) sensing, collecting and providing the data for a digital twin of the physical world.

The second session, moderated by Peter Stuckmann, Interim Executive Director of the SNS JU and Head of Unit, Future Connectivity Systems at the European Commission, was an opportunity for two EU Member States representatives (i.e., Sarmīte Mickeviča, Vice-Chair of the States Representatives Group of the SNS JU, Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia, Arturo Azcorra, Director General, Telecommunications and Audiovisual Services at Spanish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation), and for Marja Matinmikko-Blue, Research Director of the Infotech Oulu Institute and Director of Sustainability & Regulation at 6G Flagship at the University of Oulu, Finland, to present their national initiatives and discuss their complementarity to the SNS JU.

The event attracted a big audience and provided a good insight on how 6G technologies are expected to revolutionize and support the provision of future digital services towards 2030 with significant positive impact on multiple business sectors as well as the everyday life of citizens.

About 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA)

The 6G-IA is the voice of European Industry and Research for next generation networks and services. Its primary objective is to contribute to Europe’s leadership on 5G, beyond 5G and SNS/6G research.

The 6G-IA brings together a global industry community of telecoms & digital actors, such as operators, manufacturers, research institutes, universities, verticals, SMEs and ICT associations.

The 6G-IA welcomes membership applications from organisations active in the 5G, beyond 5G and SNS/6G research domains.

Further information is available at https://6g-ia.eu/about/5g-ia-membership-application/.

Website: https://6g-ia.eu

Twitter: @5GPPP

Media contact: Alessandro Bedeschi, Head of Office, alessandro.bedeschi@6g-ia.eu

[1] https://6g-ia.eu

[2] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/smart-networks-and-services-joint-undertaking