6G will make smartphones obsolete, says Nokia CEO

Nokia CEO Pekka Lundberg, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022 said that 6G mobile networks, once operational, could make smartphones obsolete. 

Nokia CEO Pekka Lundberg believes that 6G will be available by 2030. The company’s top chief, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022, said that 6G mobile networks, once operational, could make smartphones obsolete.

“By then, the smartphone as we know it today will not be the most common interface. Many of these things will be built directly into our bodies,” Lundmark was quoted. He, however, did not specify which device would replace smartphones as the common interface.

Several companies like Neuralink are working on building and developing chips that can be embedded in the body. The Elon Musk-owned company, last year, released a video where a macaque was seen playing Ming Pong.

6G networks are still in their early stages. So early that there is no standard definition for 6G networks at the moment. While Lundberg did not dive deep into its claims and statements, he stated that the physical and digital worlds will grow together. This suggests that concepts like the metaverse could become popular with 6G. Devices that offer support for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) could also become more mainstream in the coming years.

While companies are already ambitious and looking forward to the widespread rollout of 6G networks, countries like India are yet to experience 5G. The 5G spectrum auction is expected to be held later this year and the commercial rollout could happen soon after that.

India’s PM Narendra Modi recently announced that a task force has already been created to ensure the 6G rollout is fast and smooth once the technology is available for commercial use. India’s IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced that the country is working on its indigenous 6G technology, which could be ready by 2023 or 2024.