Telecom Industry Faces Challenges with 5G and Beyond

During a live television appearance, former President Donald Trump expressed confusion about the term 6G while speaking alongside Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. Trump questioned, 'What does [6G] do? Give you a little bit deeper view into somebodys skin?' This comment highlights a significant disconnect between the understanding of telecommunications technology and the public discourse surrounding it.

Trump also reminisced about his role in advancing 5G, stating, 'I was a leader on 5G, getting that done, and now theyre up to 6.' He seemed to conflate 6G with improved video quality, demonstrating a lack of clarity on the subject.

Trump's previous contributions to 5G include approving the T-Mobile and Sprint merger, appointing FCC commissioners that weakened net neutrality, and facilitating spectrum allocation to carriers. His administration also moved to eliminate consumer protection measures like broadband nutrition labels, further complicating the landscape of telecommunications.

This incident underscores the challenges the telecom industry faces regarding public understanding and trust as it transitions from 5G to future technologies like 6G, which aims to provide faster and more reliable services, rather than just enhancing video resolution, as Trump implied.

The Verge reported on this story, emphasizing the implications of such misunderstandings in the industry.