The global cellular industry has formally entered the next phase of its evolution. Standardization on 6G is now underway at the 3GPP. What was previously a future-looking vision is transitioning into structured requirements, architectural studies and the foundation of the first normative specifications.
For cable operators, particularly those expanding wireless footprints through mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) models, citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) deployments and Wi-Fi-first strategies, this moment is strategically important. Unlike mobile network operators (MNOs) who have ubiquitous licensed coverage, cable operators function in a different reality: heterogeneous accesses, limited macro footprint and a strong reliance on their Wi-Fi and wireline infrastructure.
The 6G networking standard doesn’t have to simply be “5G, but faster.” However, 6G has the potential to become the first generation where true multi-access convergence — through non-3GPP access integration and service continuity across various radio access technologies — is foundational rather than merely a collection of optional enhancements. Recent reports have suggested between 80–90 percent of mobile users’ data is carried over Wi-Fi, underscoring the importance of ubiquitous coverage, particularly in indoor scenarios, and uninterrupted connectivity during network transitions.
6G Timeline: From Vision to Standards Commitments
The ongoing 3GPP Release 20 is the first release studying 6G requirements, use cases and architecture, whereas Release 21 is expected to be the first normative 6G release, in which 6G moves from study into specifications. This is the transition from “studies and alignment” to “schedule and execution.” A set of foundational 6G Study Item Descriptions (SIDs) have been approved by 3GPP across its Service and System Aspects (SA) working groups (WGs). These studies establish the formal starting point for 6G definition work.
Some of the foundational 6G SIDs approved in WGs are as follows:
- SA1 WG — Study on 6G Requirements (FS_6G_REQ)
Defines the “why and what” of 6G: the service requirements, use cases, key performance indicators (KPIs) and high-level capabilities that will drive every downstream architecture and protocol decision. This is the foundation that aligns industry expectations and prevents architecture work from drifting.
- SA2 WG — Study on 6G System Architecture (FS_6G_ARC)
Translates requirements into the system blueprint: core architectural principles, functional decomposition, interface model and cross-domain integration approach (e.g., multi-access, identity, exposure, AI-native hooks). With a target completion date of March 2027, this is a multi-year effort that will shape the first normative 6G release.
- SA3 WG — Study on Security of the 6G System (FS_6G_SEC)
Establishes the security model from Day 1 (identity, authentication, key hierarchy, privacy, resilience, trust domains), which is critical because 6G is expected to expand into more heterogeneous access and more software-driven/AI-driven operations.
6G Study Areas Across Working Groups — Through a Cable Operator Lens
The newly approved studies span requirements, architecture, security, charging, operations and application enablement. Although the studies are broad in scope, several themes are especially relevant for cable operators pursuing converged service strategies.
- In 5G, Wi-Fi integration exists through several mechanisms, including untrusted non-3GPP access procedures and Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting (ATSSS) using the Non-3GPP Interworking Function (N3IWF). However, these mechanisms remain complex, minimally deployed and often secondary to cellular-first assumptions. The 6G technology can finally standardize seamless service continuity across broadband, Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite as a unified system, eliminating silos. Non-3GPP access integration is now explicit in the 6G architecture study scope (SA2 FS_6G_ARC).
- Correspondingly, non-3GPP security is being investigated early (SA3 FS_6G_SEC) to avoid retrofits. The SA3 WG’s 6G security study is explicitly scoped to define security and privacy architecture and procedures for 6G aligned with SA1 requirements and the SA2 architecture, reflecting a deliberate “security-by-design” posture as heterogeneous access expands. Given SA2’s stated need to coordinate with SA3 on authentication aspects for non-3GPP access, this is directly relevant for how Wi-Fi access will be secured in 6G.
- Non-3GPP sensing integration, which includes Wi-Fi-based sensing and sensing data fusion from multiple sources, has emerged as a critical use case within the broader 6G Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) requirements. Consequently, non-3GPP sensing has been included as an aspect for architecture study within the SA2 study (FS_6G_ARC).
Call to Action: Why Early Engagement Matters
Early engagement in the 6G study phase is critical because it’s where the “rules of the game” are written. Here, the foundational assumptions of the next generation of cellular networks are established, before architectures, interfaces and requirements become locked into normative specifications.
The decisions made now will shape how future networks integrate heterogeneous access technologies, support mobility, enforce policy and deliver a consistent user experience across cellular and non-cellular domains. If stakeholders wait until the first normative 6G release work is already underway, many of the core design choices may default to legacy deployment models, limiting flexibility in how multi-access connectivity is realized.
The 6G evolution represents more than a technology upgrade; it’s a strategic opportunity to shape the architecture of future networks around real-world deployment needs. The time to influence that direction is now, while the blueprint is still being written.
CableLabs’ Unique Position to Drive Member Interests
CableLabs has a unique role to play in this early phase by serving as a bridge between the standards ecosystem and the practical realities of broadband-centric operators. Through technical leadership, industry collaboration and active participation in standards bodies, CableLabs is helping to ensure that the emerging 6G framework reflects convergence, multi-access integration and cable operators’ priorities. By conducting research, proof-of-concept validation and coordinated contributions, CableLabs is shaping a future wireless architecture that supports seamless connectivity across technology domains, delivering meaningful value for the broader industry.
To stay informed and engage in this work, join the CableLabs Wireless Working Group (member log-in required) and help ensure that broadband-centric deployment models are reflected in the 6G standard.