6G LAB

6G is not a marketing label somebody invented. The formal name is IMT-2030, and the ITU-R framework recommendation that defines it was approved in November 2023.

The division of labour is the same as every generation before it. ITU-R sets out what the generation must achieve — the usage scenarios and the capability targets. 3GPP then writes the actual specifications that meet those targets. Vendors build to the specifications, operators deploy, and the ITU eventually certifies the result as an IMT-2030 technology.

This matters when you read 6G news. A claim from a vendor lab, a study item in 3GPP, and an ITU requirement are three very different levels of certainty. Knowing which one you are looking at is most of the skill in following 6G before it exists.