2026 MWC Shanghai Observations: 6G Moves from 'What to Do' to 'How to Do', Satellite Enters Large-Scale Networking Cost Reduction Phase
Recently, MWC Shanghai 2026 kicked off on schedule. Unlike the warm atmosphere of last year when 5G-A commercial orders were densely landing, this year's exhibition hall exudes a cautious pragmatism: the '6G Industry Ecosystem Zone' and 'Future Constellation' satellite zone, set up independently for the first time, were bustling with visitors, but the industry is more eager to calculate when technologies can turn into real money.
Blue Whale Technology reporters found that in the 6G direction, the three major paths of integrated sensing and communication, AI native, and space-air-ground integration are uncontroversial, with chipmakers even starting pre-research stockpiling in advance. In the satellite internet field, the 'land grab' for orbit and frequency resources has basically ended, with large-scale networking and cost reduction becoming new themes. However, consensus stops at the technical level—terminal manufacturers and investment institutions generally remain on the sidelines, with the former waiting for killer applications and the latter unable to calculate return cycles. Even international satellite players that have achieved profitability struggle with early-stage cultivation of the civilian market.
With the financial accounts of 5G investments not yet fully settled, 6G and satellite internet are collectively entering a transition period where 'vision is clear, but execution is difficult.' Technology paths narrow, while commercial exits widen. Under the constraints of real investment returns, the industry needs a more pragmatic answer than 'grand narratives.'
6G Technology Paths Converge, Business Closure Still Being Explored
Entering the 6G Industrial Ecosystem Zone in Hall N3 of MWC Shanghai, five zones—the Beijing 6G Lab General Zone, Communication Enhancement, Integrated Sensing and Communication, Computing-Intelligence Integration, and Space-Air-Ground Integration—clearly showcase the core technological vision of 6G. A staff member on site told Blue Whale Technology that this is the first time MWC Shanghai has set up a dedicated hall for 6G, sending a clear signal: 6G has moved from conceptual discussion to the critical stage of system verification.
"If last year people were debating what 6G should do, this year the debate is how to do it and what trade-offs to make," said a technician from the Beijing 6G Lab General Zone. Currently, the three enhancement paths—integrated sensing and communication, AI native, and space-air-ground integration—have largely formed industrial consensus, and key technologies such as terahertz communication and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces have entered prototype verification phases.
The pace of upstream industry chain layout is clearly accelerating. At this exhibition, Qualcomm demonstrated an end-to-end 6G prototype system, Galaxy Space publicly displayed its self-developed second-generation direct-to-phone phased array antenna for the first time at the 6G Industry Ecosystem Zone, and vivo exhibited its 6G pre-research prototype and technology roadmap. It is understood that unlike Xiaomi focusing on underlying transmission algorithms and OPPO on communication paradigm innovation, vivo's exhibition direction leans more toward end-to-end systems and application implementation—its complete 6G test system covers the full chain including MR terminals, 6G UE prototypes, 6G base stations (RAN), and core networks.
A domestic chip maker representative on site told reporters that the company's internal 6G pre-research team has doubled in size compared to last year, citing clear reasoning: "Waiting until the standard is frozen is too late; we must have technology reserves ready in advance."
However, compared to upstream enthusiasm, terminal manufacturers remain cautious. When Blue Whale Technology reporters asked multiple phone brands about their 6G terminal plans at the 6G zone, most responses were 'closely monitoring,' with few consumer-grade product demonstrations. A 6G pre-research director from one of the world's top five phone vendors said in an informal exchange that it is still difficult to present a clear 6G phone commercialization roadmap. The core reason is not insufficient technical capability, but the unclear conversion path from user demand to application scenarios at the terminal side. In his view, the 5G experience dividend has not been fully released, and 6G's envisioned immersive holographic and multi-dimensional sensory scenarios remain far from mass consumer market.
The investment community is similarly cautious. A TMT-focused early-stage investor met at the exhibition, after watching multiple demonstrations at the 6G zone, said that while the technology direction is impressive, from an investment perspective, the capital returns of 5G are still in the digestion cycle, and the subsequent R&D and network deployment costs for 6G are enormous, with exit cycles and profit expectations currently lacking sufficient data support. He acknowledged that at the current stage, it is more about tracking and observing, waiting for clearer commercial signals before making a move.
'Future Constellation': Initial Structure Established, Profit Path Yet to Validate
Unlike the atmosphere of key technology verification in the 6G zone, the newly established 'Future Constellation' satellite industry zone presents a different industry rhythm—the orbital structure is taking shape, and participants are entering a stage of refined resource and cost management.
Domestic LEO broadband and narrowband constellation operators such as Galaxy Space, Guodian High-Tech, and Yuanxin Satellite, along with international players like Iridium, all set up sizeable booths. Galaxy Space demonstrated real terminal equipment for LEO satellite internet targeting deep-sea vessels, desert mining areas, etc.; Guodian High-Tech focused on promoting the Tianqi constellation's IoT application cases; Yuanxin Satellite's engineers even connected live to play video call test footage via the 'Qianfan Constellation.'
"The scramble for orbit and frequency resources for satellite internet has come to an end; the key now is large-scale deployment and cost control," said a representative from Guodian High-Tech. He revealed that the batch production cost of the company's narrowband communication payloads continues to decline, but also noted that the user scale of satellite internet services has not yet reached breakeven. At least for the next few years, government and industry orders will still support the revenue base.
In the formation of profit models, terminal cost is a notable link. Blue Whale Technology reporters discussed satellite communication terminal material costs with antenna and module manufacturers, who generally indicated that costs are rapidly decreasing and are already capable of integration into mainstream phone designs, but most did not disclose specific figures.
An Iridium booth business manager told reporters that Iridium has achieved positive cash flow through narrowband voice and low-speed data services, but traditional markets are nearing saturation. The next growth step requires expansion into IoT and emergency communications. Domestic LEO broadband constellations, however, are still in a catch-up phase prioritizing scale, and breakeven will take time and user accumulation.
