The United States has launched a 6G technology alliance with 25 allied countries, including South Korea. Seoul joined the initiative as part of its broader 6G strategy. With the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) scheduled to take place in Shanghai next year, competition between the United States and China over 6G standards and supply-chain leadership is expected to intensify.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) officially announced on July 27 (local time) the launch of the global partnership, “Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security.”
The alliance includes 25 countries, including the United States, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Canada, Italy, Finland and Sweden.
A Ministry of Science and ICT official said the U.S. government proposed closer 6G cooperation to key allies in May and South Korea informed Washington of its intention to participate last month.
“Countries have pursued 6G development individually until now, but this initiative establishes a framework for sharing expertise and coordinating expert working groups across borders, making international cooperation more concrete,” the official said.
Participating governments pledged to strengthen cooperation over the next year to improve the security, interoperability and resilience of next-generation telecommunications networks. The initiative also includes establishing government coordination channels, sharing technical resources and laying the groundwork for commercial deployment. Participants agreed that trustworthy artificial intelligence will play a central role in the safe and innovative development and operation of 6G networks.
The alliance builds on the policy objectives outlined in the presidential memorandum, “Winning the 6G Race,” signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in December last year.
Foreign media reported that the U.S.-led alliance is intended to strengthen coordination among allied countries ahead of WRC-27, where key decisions on 6G standards are expected, while countering China's influence.
NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said 6G would be dramatically different from 5G and require a fundamentally different strategy to advance U.S. and allied leadership.
“We will work with trusted partners to ensure next-generation networks reflect our shared security interests while driving competitiveness and innovation,” Roth said.
South Korea is also viewed as joining the alliance to strengthen its position in the global 6G market. The government is accelerating preparations for commercial 6G services expected around 2030. The Ministry of Science and ICT is preparing to hold the 6G Vision Festa later this year to showcase domestic technology achievements and future industry and service visions.
Participation in the alliance gives South Korea a coordination channel with the United States and other partners ahead of WRC-27 discussions on 6G spectrum allocation and standards. The move is also expected to support the country's goal of securing more than 30% of global standard-essential patents related to 6G.
