Vision 2040: The Economic Benefits of 6G

6G can add $1.24 trillion to the global economy in 2040 if the right amount of spectrum is made available.

Each generation of mobile technology has increased mobile’s socioeconomic impact by reaching new sectors and enabling new use cases. 6G is expected to continue this evolution as an AI-native network that not only carries data but senses, reasons and acts. This shift will enhance what mobile connectivity contributes to the economy – but realising these benefits starts with ensuring there is enough spectrum to power the world’s mobile networks.

This report outlines how, with the right regulatory tools, 6G can become a central pillar of economic development strategies worldwide. It estimates, at the global and regional levels, the socio-economic benefits that sufficient spectrum assignments can deliver.

Key findings of the report include:

• 6G is set to contribute $1.24 trillion to the global economy in 2040, equal to 0.7% of GDP
• 6G can uplift the economy through new and enhanced use cases
• Constrained spectrum could cause 42% of the benefits to be lost
• To realise the potential benefits, countries must meet low- and mid-band needs in harmonised ranges, including 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 3.5 GHz, 4.5 GHz, 6 GHz and 7 GHz, and set clear, timely spectrum roadmaps so operators can plan investment and scale up networks ahead of demand.