Future Directions in 5G/6G Test & Measurement

Date: January 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM ET | 10:00 AM CT | 8:00 AM PT | 4:00 PM GMT
Duration: 60 Minutes

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Even as 5G’s global rollout continues, the test and measurement industry has begun looking toward cellular technology’s eventual evolution into its sixth generation. The low-hanging fruit in the transition is the enhancement of today’s 5G technology through links between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks. As these networks merge, proof-of-concept use cases are emerging in which satellites handle signal relays or emergency coverage.

The more challenging and ambitious work comes with the shift to sub-THz frequencies in the D-band and higher for implementation of extended and augmented reality technologies. The sheer amount of data required to represent a person with any resolution points toward over-the-air (OTA) data rates of 1 TB/s.

Those who design test and measurement equipment are some of the world’s finest engineers, but even they will find challenges on the road to a 6G future. Here are some of the issues that may be discussed during this webinar:

• With 5G operating in both sub-6-GHz and mmWave (24 GHz and up) bands, how will T&M equipment keep up with the upward spiral in frequency?
• Measuring the performance of massive-MIMO arrays requires highly specialized test gear. How will T&M suppliers stay apace with the difficulties of assessing and calibrating these arrays for optimal performance?
• What can we look for in test technologies to assess beamforming and adaptive antenna systems, which requires dynamic measurements with real-time adjustments to track beam shifts?
• What advances are coming in test of virtualized network segments, which serve varying service requirements such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive IoT deployments, and low-latency applications?
• 5G and 6G networks demand ultra-low latency, especially for autonomous systems, industrial IoT, and real-time communication. How will test setups evolve to accurately measure end-to-end latency in increasingly complex systems?
• 5G promises data rates up to 10 Gb/s; 6G is targeting rates of 100 Gb/s and higher. How will future test setups handle these speeds while simulating real-world user conditions?
• Dense small-cell deployments and spectrum sharing in 5G and 6G raise the potential for interference and coexistence challenges between networks and with legacy technologies like LTE and Wi-Fi. What is the plan to handle highly complex interference analysis to ensure reliable coexistence between heterogeneous networks?
• The 5G and 6G ecosystem will involve a mix of 5G NR, Wi-Fi 6, satellite communications, IoT, and legacy networks. How will test vendors facilitate end-to-end system testing across a heterogeneous environment encompassing different radio-access technologies and devices?

This webinar will examine the future of communications test and measurement as the industry evolves toward cellular’s fifth and toward its sixth generation.