Key elements to drive innovation and leadership in North America towards 6G
The organization highlights that North America leads in 5G adoption with 339 million connections and is driving the development of autonomous networks based on artificial intelligence (AI).
The organization emphasizes that spectrum policy is not a parallel track, but the key enabling factor for the capabilities that will define 5G-Advanced today and 6G in the future.
North America's Leadership in Innovation North America has consolidated its innovation trajectory, demonstrating how 5G networks can become programmable, AI-ready, and open to integration with non-terrestrial technologies.
The region is shaping how next-generation networks are built, deployed, and monetized, covering everything from AI-orchestrated Radio Access Networks (RAN) and energy-conscious operations to seamless experiences between terrestrial and satellite connectivity.
The 5G Americas team concluded by reiterating its mission to ensure North America has the spectrum, policies, and innovation environment needed to maintain its leadership in 5G-Advanced and set the pace for 6G development in the coming years.
This advance is considered a practical step towards AI-native connectivity, where intelligence is integrated into the core of the network.
The Urgency of the Spectrum Pipeline Despite this technological progress, 5G Americas warns that the evolution of networks is not guaranteed without an adequate spectrum foundation.
Globally, 5G connections have surpassed 2.6 billion, representing a 37% year-over-year growth, with projections putting the total number of connections at nearly 9 billion by 2030.
North America, for its part, continues to set the global pace, reaching 339 million 5G connections and 88% population coverage in the second quarter of 2025, with the expectation of exceeding 100% coverage before the year ends.
The Path to Autonomous Networks In this context of accelerated adoption, 5G Americas published a new technical report, 'Enabling Intent-Based Autonomous Networks,' which emphasizes the necessary shift from manually designed systems to networks capable of interpreting intent, automating operations, and adapting in real-time.
The need for a durable mid-band and high-band spectrum pipeline is becoming increasingly urgent as operators prepare for advanced automation, AI-driven services, and tighter integration between satellites and terrestrial networks.
