BARCELONA, Spain - Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon (크리스티아노 아몬) pointed to the evolution to the 6G era as a key element supporting the era of artificial intelligence (AI). He said 6G, based on its value as high-connectivity and computing infrastructure, will also be effective in creating new communications services.

Amon explained the role and vision of 6G in a keynote at MWC26 in Barcelona, Spain, on March 3 (local time). In the speech titled “Architects of the AI Age,” he said, “The mission of 6G is to become wireless technology for AI everywhere,” and stressed that “6G is an irreversible trend for the AI revolution.”

Amon forecast this year will be the year of AI agents. He said agents that understand human intent, beyond smartphones, will become a core element of communications. He added that the importance of the edge, which interacts with computers in this process, will grow further.

According to Amon, 6G will be designed around 3 components: connectivity, computing and sensing. As demand for AI use surges, data uplink for training and inference is also rising rapidly.

Global cellular traffic is expected to rise by up to 7 times by 2034, with about 30 percent projected to be accounted for by AI. In that trend, Amon said 6G will play a pivotal role in connectivity, based on wider uplink coverage and capacity and faster speeds.

A 6G network will also serve as computing infrastructure supporting AI data centres. 6G will be applied across the entire path, from base stations and core networks to large data centres. Amon stressed, “This is a change as big as the transition from dial-tone networks to broadband networks.”

6G can also implement national-level 3D maps by detecting drones, managing the aerial economy, and identifying roads, vehicles and pedestrians. He said this offers new opportunities in industrial sites while also carrying the potential to expand into next-generation communications services.

Amon said, “These capabilities change not only the user experience but the very concept of the network itself,” and again stressed, “6G networks will evolve into computing systems and become core infrastructure for various industries.”

He said full-scale commercialisation of 6G will begin from 2029, following demonstrations in 2028. Qualcomm launched a strategic cooperative body at this MWC with major global industry partners for 6G development and global expansion. Amon said, “We will build wireless technology for AI everywhere together.”