The 6G@UT Forum, held on April 3, 2025 at UT Austin, brought together industry leaders and experts to explore the future of wireless communication and 6G technology. With pre-standardization activities underway, the Forum examined the key innovations that will define 6G, including global coverage via satellite-to-handset communication, the transformative role of generative AI, and new spectrum opportunities. As 6G nears its global rollout, the Forum emphasized the technological breakthroughs that will reshape communication.
The first keynote was presented by by Erik Dahlman and Stefan Parkvall, Senior Experts in Radio and Cellular Radio Access at Ericsson. Their talk “6G is Happening: Something New or More of the Same?” analyzed the potential of 6G and its core differences from previous generations. They highlighted the convergence of AI and wireless technologies, emphasizing how 6G could revolutionize industries beyond connectivity.
The keynote was followed by a fireside chat moderated by 6G@UT Director Jeff Andrews and Head of Ericsson Research Magnus Frodigh gave further context. Andrews noted, “Erik Dahlman and Stefan Parvall [are] two of the most influential architects of the LTE and 5G standards who are now leading Ericsson’s nascent 6G standardization efforts. Their thoughtful and frank assessment of the key priorities for 6G, such as focusing on maximizing efficiency and usability over new exaggerated peak KPIs, resonated with me and I’m sure with most attendees.”
Nokia VP Peter Merz delivered an invited talk titled “A w/o B – Harnessing the Transformational Nature of AI for 6G?” where he considered AI’s role in shaping 6G standards. Samsung Senior VP Charlie Zhang followed with an afternoon keynote on AI-driven solutions for 6G, while WNCG Director Todd Humphreys provided insights into direct-to-cell (D2C) communication.
Huiwen Yao, CTO of AST SpaceMobile, shared insights on their groundbreaking satellite and wireless system design and its potential to expand coverage through space in the afternoon keynote. Todd Humphreys said of Yao’s talk, “For my interest in LEO direct-to-cell communications, it was a special treat to have Huiwen Yao give one of the afternoon keynote talks. It was astounding to see Huiwen lay out their full bold vision for D2C."
The Forum also featured two engaging panels. In the morning, Ted Rappaport (NYU) led a conversation on The Foundations of 6G: Spectrum and Technology Innovations. Panelists from Princeton University, Notre Dame, AT&T, and Keysight Technologies reviewed significant innovations in spectrum management. The event concluded with Ericsson VP Mischa Dohler’s panel “Generative AI: Creating New Opportunities for 6G,” featuring leaders from Qualcomm, UT Austin, InterDigital, and Ericsson.
Kaushik Chowdhury of UT Austin reflected on the panels: “Seeing world renowned, expert panelists debate and discuss both opportunities and limitations of spectrum sharing and AI for 6G and beyond was exciting. I could identify concrete application areas where wireless domain expertise will be absolutely needed ahead, and conversely, where data-driven approaches may surpass human intuition and experience.”
For more insights from the forum, including videos, photos, and presentation slides, visit the event’s official website.