library
Image generated using ChatGPT. Image of a futuristic city powering personal tech devices with 6G. Later retouched. November 4, 2025.
Large leaps of innovation in telecommunications happen approximately every 10 years. These innovation cycles are known in the industry as ‘Generations’ or ‘Gs’ — you’re likely familiar with the ‘5G’ icon that sometimes appears at the top of your phone screen. We are currently at the mid-point of the ’5G’ innovation cycle and by around 2030, the industry is expected to shift to ‘6G,’ ushering in a new era of capabilities — not just for consumers, but also for Internet of Things (IoT), industry, and government.
Each generation of the wireless mobile networks has been accompanied by a ‘Killer App’, a software or service that defined that generation. In 2G through 4G, these Killer Apps were consumer-focused and easy to identify, but mid-way through the 5G technology cycle, there is still debate over "What was the Killer App for 5G?" and "What will be the Killer App for 6G?"
To kick off this two-part blog series, we’ll explore what defines the Killer App for 5G and what’s on the horizon for 6G. In Part 2, we’ll examine why digital sovereignty in wireless networks is critical for national security and fosters continued economic development.
Defining Killer Apps For 5G and Beyond
A Killer App is any software or service that is so necessary or desirable that it defines the core value of some larger technology. Killer Apps in telecommunication are necessary to drive revenue growth for the operator to justify the investment in new technology innovations. Throughout the generations of mobile wireless communications, Killer Apps have disrupted markets and even created new economies. 2G’s digital cellular technology introduced text messaging, 3G brought affordable mobile internet, and 4G’s high-capacity mobile multimedia enabled the mobile application ecosystem for smartphones.
These innovations drove market saturation of consumer mobile devices, expanded revenue for network providers, and transformed consumer behavior. However, with 5G, the leaps in performance and creation of new business and services haven’t been as clear as its predecessors for consumers or enterprises. Does 5G have a Killer App, and if so, what has enabled it?
5G’s breakthrough innovation is the transition from hardware-defined to software-defined networks, which increases network flexibility and control through software applications and programmability. With the transition to a software-defined network, operators are now able to quickly deploy customized solutions, allowing them to address new markets in weeks to months instead of in months to years. This shift gives operators flexibility to serve customers that were previously out of reach and allows enterprise and government customers to more easily integrate mobile devices into their existing IT infrastructure.
While the impact of 5G may be less visible to everyday users, it’s already enabling new services and expanded business models that include:
- Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), providing over 5.6 million subscribers access to broadband Internet at home and enabling greater competition with existing Internet Service Providers (ISPs);
- Wholesale 5G, enabling the creation of affordable Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) like Mint Mobile; and
- Private 5G, delivering secure, high-speed connectivity for enterprises and government.
Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC): The Convergence Shaping 6G
5G has struggled with clearly articulating its Killer App to customers — whether it’s end consumers, entrepreneurs seeking to develop new business opportunities, or businesses aiming to increase their operational efficiency. Rather than repeating 5G’s rollout missteps, 6G development and deployment should focus clearly on the Killer App from the outset. Where 5G brought computing and communications together, 6G will add sensing capabilities — transforming communications networks into distributed sensor systems. This evolution is called Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC). It allows the same wireless infrastructure to both transmit data and sense the environment using shared hardware and spectrum.
Why ISAC, and Why Now?
ISAC will unlock long-awaited applications. The dual capability of ISAC enables innovation across industries — from autonomous vehicles to smart factories — by enabling real-time awareness while reducing complexity and improving cost. From IQT’s unique perspective at the intersection of startups and government, we identify the following use cases as likely applications of ISAC:
- Autonomous Vehicles
Vehicles can use the same mmWave hardware for both communication and radar-like sensing, reducing system complexity and improving safety. - Smart Factories
ISAC enables real-time monitoring of machines and human activity while maintaining ultra-reliable, low-latency control systems. - Aerial and Maritime Surveillance
Drones and ships can use ISAC to maintain connectivity while simultaneously mapping terrain or tracking objects. - Indoor Sensing
Wi-Fi and 5G signals can detect occupancy, gestures, and even health metrics — all without additional sensors.
Traditionally, sensing (e.g. radar and lidar) and communication systems have evolved separately. ISAC merges them, improving spectrum efficiency with reducing hardware costs — a necessity as the number of connected devices continues to grow.
Key Technologies Powering ISAC
At IQT, we believe that the U.S. has a critical role to play in the development of strategic technologies for the future of 6G. These advances need to be agile and include leapfrog innovation in hardware and software combined with a trusted supply chain. To make 6G and ISAC a reality, several technologies require advancement and investment:
- Radio Frequency (RF) Front Ends: RF Frontends will need to span greater frequency ranges and have increased flexibility for reconfigurability.
- Edge AI Algorithms: Lightweight, energy-efficient algorithms are needed for real-time sensing and communication under tight power constraints.
- Energy Solutions: Innovations like wireless power, energy harvesting, and low-power design will support edge deployments.
- Beamforming & Antennas: Phased arrays, metasurfaces, and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) will enable precise, adaptive signal control.
- Device-to-Device (D2D) Communication: As ISAC systems grow, D2D links will reduce latency and enable collaborative sensing.
- Standardization: Bodies like ETSI and 3GPP are laying the groundwork for 6G ISAC standards, but much work remains. Engagement with standards bodies is key to leadership in the next generation of wireless.
The Road Ahead & Why Now Is the Time to Engage
The road to 6G represents more than a technological milestone — it is a strategic inflection point. While ISAC promises to redefine what wireless networks can do, it also introduces critical challenges around interoperability, supply chain trust, and digital sovereignty.
While 6G is still being defined, now is the ideal time for companies to begin shaping the technologies, standards, and specifications that will underpin its future — and for policymakers to sustain support for the technical innovation and open ecosystems that will make it possible. From setting standards to developing use cases, early engagement from industry and government will determine who leads in this next wave of wireless innovation.
In Part 2 of this series, we will explore how innovation from industry and policy support from government can support digital sovereignty in wireless networks, which is essential not only for national security, but also for long-term economic leadership.