Qualcomm Targets 2028 for Pre-Commercial 6G Devices

Malaysia’s 5G rollout only began in 2021, and in just four years the network already covers almost every populated area nationwide. While most of us are only beginning to enjoy the benefits of stable 5G, the global race toward the next generation — 6G — is already heating up. China and South Korea have been pushing hard to be the first countries to launch 6G, with timelines set for the end of this decade.

At the Snapdragon Summit 2025 in Hawaii, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed that the company is preparing to launch its first pre-commercial 6G devices by as early as 2028. That’s two years ahead of China’s 2030 target for commercial rollout, marking Qualcomm’s intent to lead in the next major shift in wireless technology.

During his keynote, Amon also offered a glimpse into how Qualcomm sees the future of computing and connectivity. According to him, the rise of artificial intelligence will reshape everything from how we interact with devices to how networks themselves are designed. In Qualcomm’s view, AI will no longer just be a feature — it will become the primary user interface. The company expects AI agents to handle tasks on behalf of users, while new hybrid models will balance on-device and cloud processing to make systems more efficient.

Beyond AI, Amon spoke about how future networks will tie together not just phones but also cars, AR glasses, earbuds, and other connected devices. These networks will be context-aware, drawing from an array of sensors to provide users with recommendations and actions in real time. It’s a vision of a world where digital assistants aren’t just apps on a screen, but ever-present systems embedded into daily life.

With 6G development still in its infancy, Qualcomm’s roadmap sets the stage for the next wave of competition in mobile technology. If the company can hit its 2028 goal, it could push the industry forward faster than expected — and shape how billions of people connect in the decade ahead.