InterDigital warns new waveform would be 'disruptive' in 6G

InterDigital, a major patent holder in 5G, is pushing back against calls to introduce a new waveform for 6G. The company argues that proposed 6G sensing features can run on the existing 5G-style waveform, and that changing it would upend how networks are designed and built.

According to InterDigital, a fresh waveform would not just be a technical tweak but a disruptive shift for equipment makers, operators and standards bodies. The firm’s position underscores a split in early 6G discussions: some researchers see new waveforms as key to unlocking advanced sensing, while others, like InterDigital, want to extend current technology rather than reinvent it.