Geotech: The 5g Rollout and Planning for 6G
In Geotech competition, one of the most important areas of concern is leadership in 5G and 6G technologies. Current and future 5G networks, as well as future 6G technologies and standards, provide the connectivity underpinning digital societies and connected technologies of the Internet of Things (IoT).
As policymakers have increasingly focused on Geotech competition and the importance of 5G networks, we have seen efforts to speed the rollout of 5G networks and invest in future 6G leadership—yet legislative efforts have also been stalled. Rapid build outs of 5G networks have come after FCC streamlining of regulation and billions of dollars of infrastructure investments and spectrum purchases by telecoms, yet the rollout in the United States was marred by the poor coordination regarding interference with aircraft—something that was not an issue in other high-tech countries where 5G rollouts took place.
Analyses of the players in 5G and 6G, as well as government policies, continues to illustrate the importance of the broader innovation ecosystem that we have discussed in our previous Geotech reports. The disruptions of the pandemic and resulting shocks to supply chains have illustrated the fragility of one part of this ecosystem, while also raising concerns about our dependence on foreign suppliers. These security concerns must be balanced with the realities, revenues, and benefits of a globally connected supply chains and American and allied companies leading the way in cutting edge technologies. Policies ranging from R&D support to immigration policy, from intellectual property rules to STEM in education all affect this innovation ecosystem. Intellectual property rules are an area of particular concern for 5G innovation leadership. Paradoxically, the Biden administration has encouraged leadership in international standards-setting organizations (SSOs) by weakening protection for standards-essential patents (SEPs)—patents vital for an innovation leader to participate in setting an international standard.
Throughout 2021 and early 2022, CSPC continued its Geotech engagement with policymakers, private sector leaders, and academic experts regarding strategically critical technologies, policies to promote innovation leadership, geopolitical and strategic competition, and trends in commerce, trade, and technology. A major segment of this research has included 5G networks and related supply chains such as semiconductors and other microelectronics. This report reflects, and respects, the off-the-record nature of these discussions, combined with open-source research and the analysis of CSPC staff, advisors, and fellows.
The report finds promise in the efforts underway, but concern about their slowing pace. Decisions made now have an impact years in the future when it comes to the shape of these innovations and the nature of technology leadership. Given the importance of 5G networks and future 6G leadership, the challenge is urgent, but we must be careful in our choices, focusing on the security and reliability of a critical technology.
publication details
Authors:
The Hon. Glenn Nye, The Hon. Mike Rogers, Dan Mahaffee, Joshua Huminski, Erica Ngoenha, Hidetoshi Azuma
Ethan Brown, Samantha Clark, Robert Gerber, Andy Keiser, James Kitfield, Zaid Zaid
Publication date:
April 2022
Pages:
14
