The 6G Global Summit opened in Hong Kong today, marking the first time for the summit to be held in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two-day summit is being hosted by the Communications Authority and has attracted hundreds of representatives of regulatory bodies, telecommunications operators and corporations from more than 80 countries to explore the potential of sixth-generation (6G) mobile communications technology in shaping the future.

In his keynote speech, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau said that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to play a leading role in 6G development, with the Government committed to fostering a conducive environment for technological advancement and preparing for the 6G era.

He noted that major mobile network operators in the city have actively commenced testing and successfully validating the 5G-Advanced network in various applications such as large-scale drone shows, world class sports events and more.

As regards the Government’s efforts in the relevant areas, Mr Yau said: “We are also proactively exploring further facilitation measures from a telecommunications perspective to support the development of a low-altitude economy.”

He also pointed out that the Government is conducting a study to streamline relevant licensing procedures for Low Earth Orbit satellites.

For his part, Director-General of Communications Chaucer Leung noted at the summit’s opening ceremony that Hong Kong is the first economy in the world to have auctioned a radio spectrum in the upper six gigahertz band.

The spectrum is suitable for the provision of 5G services now and 6G services in the future, he said, adding that the first set of technical standards for 6G is expected to be finalised in 2029 so that a commercial service can be introduced in the following year.

The summit features discussions on 6G developments, including standardisation, technological innovations, sustainability and potential applications as well as the strategic role of the Asia-Pacific region and the opportunities presented by a more connected and intelligent global network.

First held in 2022, this is the summit's fourth edition. The previous two editions were held in Bahrain in 2023 and the UK in 2024.