The race for 6G is heating up. The two main players, Qualcomm of the United States and MediaTek of Taiwan, are now focused on developing and standardizing this next-generation technology.
As the main competitors in the market of chipsets for mobile devices, they are working on a common goal – the formation of future 6G networks at maximum speeds.
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Qualcomm and MediaTek drive 6G innovation
Samsung and Arm announced their 6G efforts last year, and now Qualcomm and MediaTek have started making big steps in this direction.
Each of these companies actively cooperates with different partners, offering their own innovations in the development of the latest technology.
What about Qualcomm’s 6G networks?
At MWC 2025 in Barcelona, Qualcomm representatives confirmed their commitment to 6G. The company is working closely with Nokia Bell Labs and Rhode & Schwarz to refine its vision for the next generation of mobile communications.
Artificial intelligence is a key focus. Qualcomm expects future networks to be trained and adapted using AI-based protocols. These smart grids will adjust their parameters in real time to increase efficiency.
In addition, Qualcomm predicts that 2025 will be the beginning of 6G standardization worldwide.
What about MediaTek’s 6G networks?
The Taiwanese company demonstrates several breakthrough technologies in the field of 6G. These include hybrid computing, the NR-NTN Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband test, full duplex subband mode (SBFD), and the new M90 5G Advanced modem.
In addition, MediaTek is making progress in 6G. At the same MWC 2025, company president Joe Chen emphasized their focus on connectivity and AI. He stressed their goal is to improve daily life with the help of innovative technologies.
To accelerate its 6G efforts, MediaTek has partnered with NVIDIA, Intel, and G REIGNS. This collaboration will enhance hybrid computing, a critical component of future networks. This system combines a cloud of devices and a radio access network (RAN) into an edge cloud, forming a key element of the 6G infrastructure.
One of MediaTek’s outstanding technologies is Subband Full Duplex (SBFD), which is applicable to both 5G-Advanced and 6G.
MediaTek developed SBFD together with Keysight to solve the problems with intrinsic interference that occur in smartphones due to the proximity of transmitting and receiving antennas.
6G Prospects
So, with the beginning of 2025, 6G is becoming a bigger reality. Qualcomm and MediaTek are leading the way here with their technologies based on artificial intelligence and hybrid computing.
Their innovations will determine how we connect in the future. With faster, smarter, and more reliable networks, the world is ready for a major technological shift.