The United States is enhancing cooperation in the next-generation mobile communication sector, 6G, with South Korea, Japan, and 24 other countries. This initiative aims to counter China's growing influence in the competition over 6G frequencies and international technology standards.
On July 27, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced the launch of the 'Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security.'
The participating countries include the U.S., South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, and others.
Over the next year, these nations will collaborate to enhance the security and stability of 6G networks, as well as interoperability between national and equipment systems. They will also develop strategies to ensure reliable network operations in the face of cyberattacks or disruptions. Discussions will include establishing a secure 6G supply chain.
A specific timeline has been outlined. Within a month, each government will designate 6G representatives and relevant agencies. In three months, they plan to gather input from the telecommunications industry and academia. Within six months, they will discuss cooperation strategies for the 6G supply chain, and a face-to-face meeting will be held within a year to review progress.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has also been identified as a key area of collaboration. The participating countries agree that trustworthy AI will play a crucial role in developing and operating a safe and innovative 6G network.
Ariel Ross, NTIA Administrator, stated, "6G will be significantly different from 5G, and to secure leadership, the U.S. and its allies need a different strategy. We will work with trusted partners to reflect shared security and competitiveness in the next-generation communication network."
This initiative follows a policy announced by President Donald Trump in December of last year, titled 'Winning the 6G Race.' At that time, Trump emphasized that 6G is a critical foundation for U.S. national security and economic prosperity, calling for diplomatic cooperation to secure technological leadership.
While official documents do not directly mention China, Politico, a U.S. political news outlet, analyzed that this initiative aims to counter China's influence in the telecommunications sector, particularly through companies like Huawei and ZTE, and to secure allies in international discussions on 6G.
The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, next year, will discuss frequency bands and usage conditions for future 6G applications. The conference is set to run from October 18 to November 12, 2027.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) refers to 6G as 'IMT-2030.' The ITU plans to accept candidate radio technologies from February 2027 to February 2029, followed by evaluations and intergovernmental agreements, with the goal of approving related standards by around 2030.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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