At its Snapdragon 2025 summit, Qualcomm laid out a comprehensive roadmap for 6G, predicting that the first pre-commercial devices could be available by 2028. This accelerated timeline challenges the industry’s consensus for a 2030 launch, positioning Qualcomm as a frontrunner in the next wireless revolution. The company’s vision moves beyond simply increasing speed, centering on an “AI-native network” where artificial intelligence is integrated into every layer of the system. This approach aims to transform devices into intelligent agents that can sense and interpret the environment, with AI acting as the new user interface.
Qualcomm is not working alone; it has partnered with key players like Verizon, Ericsson, and Nokia to establish the Verizon 6G Innovation Forum, a collaborative effort to develop foundational technologies, explore new use cases, and ensure global standards and interoperability. The company’s strategy is built on key technical principles, including the use of new sub-terahertz (THz) spectrum bands, advanced signal processing, and massive MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) antenna technology. By driving this evolution, Qualcomm aims to enable a future where connectivity and intelligence converge to create a seamless, pervasive digital experience. While some analysts have cautioned against rushing into 6G before fully leveraging the potential of 5G, Qualcomm’s leadership in the cellular standardization process gives its 2028 timeline significant weight. The company’s previous experience with 5G, which it introduced in 2018 ahead of its initial 2020 rollout plan, adds credibility to its latest forecast.
This vision of a hybrid AI model, where processing is balanced between the device and the cloud, is a cornerstone of Qualcomm’s 2025 strategy. It aims to empower devices to handle real-time tasks while safeguarding user data, which is essential for new applications like smart glasses, robotics, and connected vehicles. The collaboration with partners like Meta on smart glasses and Google on merging smartphone and PC operating systems further highlights this ecosystem-driven approach.
The new technology will also enable “integrated sensing and communication,” allowing devices to use signals as a radar to map their surroundings, opening up possibilities for precise indoor navigation and gesture recognition. Ultimately, Qualcomm’s blend of hardware prowess and strategic foresight is reshaping the mobile landscape, promising a future where connectivity and intelligence converge seamlessly.
