Dean Bubley

5G was overhyped. It still hasn't come close to meeting its initial expectations. The industry exaggerated the timelines, potential economic/social benefits and the capabilities. Policymakers took the bait, providing favourable terms for the mobile industry in areas such as spectrum access. Initial planning for 6G is already advancing quickly. What should telecom regulators and policymakers start thinking about *now*, even though 6G is a long way in the future? Spectrum is obvious, but there are plenty of other areas to consider as well. - What lessons to learn from 5G regulation & policymaking? - What is needed to ensure that 6G is "indoor-ready" from Day 1? - What KPIs / metrics will be needed for 6G? - What is the right industry structure for the 6G era? - Which rules (telecoms, AI etc) may need to be revisited? - How does geopolitics fit in? - Where should governments fund R&D or other activities? 6G offers an opportunity for a reset. Understand the priorities.

The telecoms world is changing. Demand and supply are shifting fast, and technology development in both mobile and fixed domains is accelerating. Current industry structures look fragile, especially with the failure of 5G to meet its expectations. What can operators, vendors, investors and policymakers expect in 10 years time? A continuation of the status quo? Or some major upheavals? This presentation looks into the future of telecoms, networking and adjacent areas like AI and cloud. Topics covered include: - Restructuring of the telecoms sector - The beginning of the end of the MNO model - The rise of wholesale and neutral players - Strategic balance of fixed vs mobile, FTTP vs 5G - The importance of location and regional focus - New network owners (private 5G, fixed-wireless, municipal networks, wholesale-only players etc) - Why 6G needs a reset - Where AI fits - B2B comms & network APIs - Geopolitical challenges - Inevitabilities vs. scenarios - Wildcards