This glossary defines recurring 6G terms in plain English. Definitions describe how the terms are used in standards and research; they do not imply that every capability is commercially available.
Standards and generations
3GPP: A partnership project that develops detailed specifications for mobile systems through numbered releases.
6G: The common name for the next mobile generation after 5G; formally associated with IMT-2030 in the ITU process.
5G-Advanced: Later evolution of 5G specifications, commonly associated with improvements beginning in 3GPP Release 18.
IMT-2030: ITU’s formal name for the development of the sixth generation of International Mobile Telecommunications.
Normative work: Standards work that defines implementable requirements or behavior, as distinct from exploratory studies.
Release: A coordinated set of 3GPP specifications and features.
Radio and spectrum
Air interface: The radio connection and protocols between a device and the network.
Bandwidth: The amount of spectrum used by a signal; wider bandwidth can enable higher capacity but is only one performance factor.
Massive MIMO: Antenna systems using many elements to shape and direct radio signals.
Millimeter wave: Frequencies roughly in the 30–300 GHz range, though mobile marketing sometimes uses the label more broadly for high bands.
Sub-terahertz: Frequencies below 1 THz and above traditional microwave ranges; studied for high-capacity or sensing applications under constrained conditions.
Spectrum sharing: Techniques or rules that allow different systems to use the same or adjacent spectrum resources.
Network intelligence and architecture
AI-native network: A research and design approach in which AI is considered as a foundational network capability rather than an added optimization tool.
Digital twin: A digital representation of a physical system or environment used for analysis, prediction or control.
Edge computing: Processing placed closer to users or devices to reduce delay, bandwidth use or data movement.
Network slicing: A way to create logically separated network behavior on shared infrastructure.
Semantic communication: Research on communicating task-relevant meaning rather than treating all transmitted bits as equally important.
Ubiquitous connectivity: An IMT-2030 scenario focused on broader access across locations and network layers.
Sensing, space and applications
Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC): Systems that use radio resources for both data communication and sensing aspects of the environment.
Non-terrestrial network (NTN): Connectivity involving satellites, high-altitude platforms or other airborne/spaceborne elements.
Extended reality (XR): An umbrella term for augmented, virtual and mixed reality.
Immersive communication: An IMT-2030 scenario covering richer interactive media and multi-sensory experiences.
HRLLC: Hyper-reliable and low-latency communication, an IMT-2030 usage scenario for demanding reliability and timing needs.
RIT/SRIT: Radio Interface Technology or a Set of Radio Interface Technologies submitted for IMT evaluation.
Requirement, target and demonstration
A requirement is a formal criterion in a standards or evaluation process. A research target is an objective used to guide investigation. A demonstration shows that something worked under stated conditions. None of those terms automatically describes everyday commercial performance.
Look for document status, test conditions and scope before comparing numbers from different sources.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: September 12, 2026. Standards and research programs change; follow the linked primary sources for the latest formal status.