By 2030, 6G is expected to be commercially available, with 2028 earmarked as the year of significant advancements, revolutionizing connectivity with unprecedented bandwidth, lightning-fast speed, and ultra-low latency.

However, there are significant hurdles we must overcome first – and in that light, the EU’s €104 million ($121m) initiative to accelerate 6G research, whilst positive, feels premature.

Structural issues remain unresolved, and without addressing them, funding alone is unlikely to yield meaningful progress.

5G must flourish first

Before we race toward the next generation, 5G must first become robust, reliable, and accessible to everyone. Currently, 5G coverage remains patchy, with demand unevenly met across urban and rural communities.

In France, for example, the rural-urban gap in 5G download speeds varies by region, with some rural areas experiencing speeds up to 27 percent slower than their urban counterparts.

The industry has moved too quickly, and infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Data from 5G Americas and Omdia shows that 5G has expanded four times faster than 4G LTE did in a comparable period, when LTE had just surpassed 500 million connections at the end of 2014.

This issue is likely to worsen as more users connect to networks like 5G because performance can degrade, especially during peak times or in densely populated areas.

Alarmingly, 6G will require denser tower placement closer to users to reduce latency, underscoring the urgent need for significant investment in advanced hardware, new spectrum, and energy-efficient systems.

We need to invest in telecommunications now, giving 5G a strong foundation before we take the technical leap to 6G. With 6G potentially delivering data rates up to 100 times faster than 5G and supporting vast numbers of connected devices, proactive investment is essential.

AI’s role in telecoms

At our recent event exploring the latest trends shaping the future of connectivity, the transformative role of AI in telecoms and the implications of 6G wireless technology for consumers, investors, and tech companies, Ivo Ivanovski, CEO of EuroTeleSites, reminded us that the telecommunications sector faces opportunities, with underappreciated companies in upgrading infrastructure having huge growth potential to scale.

In April 2025, Rescale, with its on-demand cloud simulation platform and an investor roster including Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Richard Branson, closed a $115 million Series D round.

Investment in companies such as these offers a compelling balance of stability and growth, especially in uncertain economic times. More broadly, as an essential service, telecommunications has demonstrated consistent performance-even during downturns, outpacing many other sectors in Europe thanks to its foundational role in digital infrastructure and its reliable dividend yields.

However, like other classes, investing is not homogeneous. While some regions, particularly in Africa, can leapfrog legacy networks and move directly to advanced mobile technologies, the broader industry faces tough monetization challenges with 5G, and the market is responding.

Much of today’s investment is being directed toward service platforms rather than large-scale infrastructure upgrades. Take Arrcus, for example – its software is transforming how major telcos and hyperscale data centers manage traffic for global giants like Verizon, Bloomberg, SoftBank, Apple, and Amazon.

The rural opportunity

Rural connectivity is a particularly promising, yet underexplored, opportunity.

Investments in rural broadband and tower infrastructure are increasingly supported by public and private funds, with projects often delivering double-digit internal rates of return-sometimes exceeding 20 percent, while also bridging the digital divide and enabling economic growth in underserved communities.

By targeting rural expansion, investors not only tap into high-return projects but also drive meaningful societal impact, supporting education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship where it’s needed most.

The path forward is clear: we must not run before we can walk. Closing the digital divide through investment – making high-quality internet accessible and affordable for all-should be the priority. Only then can we build a future where the full potential of 6G is realized on a foundation that’s truly ready for it.