IMT-2020 Standardization: Lessons from 5G and Future Perspectives for 6G

Abstract

The evaluation of candidate IMT-2020 radio interfaces ended in February 2021, with three technologies being approved while another two were granted additional time to demonstrate their suitability. This marks a useful milestone at which the IMT standardisation process can be evaluated, and its implications for 6G explored. We argue that the relationship between IMT standardisation and identification is increasing problematic, with identification requiring the re-farming of spectrum already allocated to other services. Furthermore, as standardisation is largely done outside of the ITU, being part of IMT is largely a way to obtain more spectrum. While these developments question the value of the existing approach, we argue that changes are necessary to the IMT standardisation processes given the value to be gained from a single global mobile standard.

Keywords: IMT-2020, 5G, 6G, ITU, IMT-2030