The recent Connected Futures Festival was more than just a glimpse into the next decade of telecoms: it was a deep dive into the intersection of innovation, investment, and infrastructure. As the telecoms sector looks ahead to develop a common vision for 6G, the festival showcased a mix of cutting-edge research, industry debate, and real-world applications that could shape the networks of tomorrow.
Simon Fletcher, CEO of Real Wireless, took part in a lively discussion about the future of telecoms and 6G, debating how it will evolve and what barriers must be overcome. Here’s what we learned.
The Evolution of Connectivity
The event, live-streamed across multiple UK locations, was marked by a historic milestone: the first-ever quantum-secured video call. This achievement underscores the shift from merely talking about the “future of telecoms” to actively building a more secure and efficient digital ecosystem.
Chris Bryant MP highlighted the UK’s commitment to digital inclusion and sustainability. With 1.6 billion people worldwide still offline, digital accessibility remains a priority. However, connectivity must align with net-zero goals, ensuring that growth is sustainable. The UK Government continues its investment in “advanced connectivity” R&D, with nearly £60 million earmarked for telecoms R&D investment in 2025.
The Debate: What Will a Connected Future Look Like
The debate led by Catherine Page of DSIT allowed industry experts to share their perspectives on the forces shaping 6G:
- Reliable connectivity: Ros Singleton advocated for improved Wi-Fi on trains and stronger international collaboration, warning that the UK market alone cannot sustain large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Seamless roaming & market fairness: Simon Fletcher stressed the importance of keeping networks open for both large and small players. He warned that the telecoms market is maturing in a way that benefits only major corporations, limiting competition. Simon also pointed to AI’s role in software and chips s as a key driver of change.
- AI and digital infrastructure: Magnus Frodigh sees AI, augmented reality, and robotics as key to the UK’s digital future but warns of an uneven distribution of advancements.
- Sustainability & adaptability: Dr Dan Warren called for networks to be built with greater flexibility to ensure they can adapt to future developments.
- Consumer-focused innovation: Bo Olofsson emphasised the need for technology to align with user needs rather than just pushing technical potential.
A common theme emerged: balancing technological advancements with economic viability. How do we ensure that the telecoms sector can innovate while remaining profitable?
Lessons from 5G: What Must Change for 6G?
The discussions at Connected Futures made it clear that 6G must be:
- Simpler and more accessible than its predecessor.
- More adaptable to critical national infrastructure challenges, requiring carefully targeted investment.
Balanced in cost vs. ROI to ensure telecoms remain a viable industry. - Prepared for quantum networks to meet next-generation computing needs.
- Built with security by design, leveraging AI as a “technological immune system”.
One of the biggest questions remains: where will the investment come from? Many operators are struggling to generate returns on 5G, this could make them hesitant to fund 6G development. Alternative deployers, including neutral hosts and private network providers, may play a bigger role in financing the future of connectivity.
Moving from Research to Reality
The festival showcased a range of UK-born innovations, including:
- Spectrum innovation supported by JOINER.
- Optical wireless communications for 6G (REASON).
- High-speed, laser-based secure connectivity.
But how do we transition these breakthroughs from the lab to commercial deployment? One potential solution lies in softwarisation and open APIs, allowing new entrants to develop applications and services that build on existing infrastructure. Investors are showing strong interest in AI, but the UK VC environment remains hesitant to fund hardware-based ventures. Overcoming this challenge will be critical to sustaining innovation.
A Future Defined by Collaboration
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the festival was the need for collaboration. The path to 6G will not be driven by traditional mobile operators alone. Instead, success will depend on a broader ecosystem, including private networks, shared spectrum initiatives, and new business models that allow for faster adoption of emerging technologies.
As Simon noted, the telecoms industry should rethink its approach. The dominant players in both network operations and equipment manufacturing have created bottlenecks that slow innovation. Standards is a good example of where the dominant market players control the agenda. Opening the market to alternative providers and investing in new deployment models could unlock a more dynamic and sustainable future.
The festival closed with a strong message: innovation must serve people. As we look to the next decade, the industry must focus on delivering practical, impactful connectivity. This could be through AI-enhanced automation, quantum-secured networks, or ensuring universal coverage at an affordable cost.
The future of advanced connectivity is being shaped now. The question is, who will lead the charge and how will we ensure no one is left behind?
