Experts at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have agreed on the performance requirements for IMT-2030 or 6G.
The draft requirements were consented to by the ITU expert in February 2026. The development is seen as a key event marking another significant move for the next-generation technology.
The requirements were finalized by the Working Party 5D, part of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R).
The working party’s draft new report, “Minimum requirements related to technical performance for IMT‑2030 radio interface(s),” has outlined 20 technical performance requirements for 6G.
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6G performance requirements
The 6G performance requirements are based on six key use scenarios given below:
- Immersive communication (IC);
- Hyper reliable and low‑latency communication (HRLLC);
- Massive communication (MC);
- Ubiquitous connectivity (UC);
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and communication (AIAC); and
- Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC).
The 6G requirements evolve from the framework ITU published in December 2023. This also bases the next-gen technology on the following criteria:
- Sustainability.
- Security and resilience.
- Connecting the unconnected.
- Ubiquitous intelligence.
In a gist
ITU aspires for 6G to be affordable, resilient, and energy-efficient with wide applications in health, education, agriculture, and disaster response.
Expected to start rolling out as early as 2028, 6G will bring next-level data rate, lower latency, and reliability. It will succeed the current 5G technology and further help with digital inclusion across the underserved areas.