The race to 6G, the next generation of wireless technology, is on, and Southeast Asia is not planning on being left behind.
As countries like South Korea and Japan take the lead in shaping 6G standards, other nations in the region, such as Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines are ramping up their efforts to make a mark in the global 6G development landscape.
In Southeast Asia, some nations still lack full 4G and 5G coverage, raising concerns about premature 6G investment. While Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand lead in 5G rollouts, countries like Myanmar, Laos, and Timor-Leste still face rural connectivity gaps. The 6G push is currently being driven by conceptual, foreign investment from operators such as Nokia and SK Telecom. However, high infrastructure costs, spectrum challenges, and limited immediate use cases suggest that full 5G deployment should be prioritized first.
Quest for 6G
Despite this preconceived notion, Southeast Asian countries are recognizing the importance of contributing to 6G standardization efforts, as the technology is expected to launch commercially around 2030. Establishing their presence early in the standardization process allows countries to influence the development of the technology and ensure their local markets and perspective are not excluded.
Vietnam
Established in February 2022, the Ministry of Information and Communications, set up a steering committee to form orientations and policies to bolster 6G research and development (R&D). The committee monitors global standards, production, and commercialization trends in 6G, and devises roadmaps for Vietnam's own 6G equipment and service development.
Currently, Vietnam’s ‘Information and Communication Infrastructure Master Plan for the Period 2021-2030, with a Vision to 2050’ aims to develop high-speed internet, green data centers, and specialized IT parks, placing a strong emphasis on cybersecurity. The plan includes extending 5G coverage to 99% of the population by 2030 and transitioning to IPv6 technology by 2025.
Singapore
In September 2022, in preparation for Singapore’s 6G future, the Minister for Digital Development and Information of Singapore, Josephine Teo, launched Singapore University of Technology and Design’s (SUTD) Future Communications Connectivity Lab (FCCLab). This marked the first physical 6G lab in the region.
Indonesia
Indonesia is actively preparing for 6G by addressing spectrum management and new wireless technologies. At the 10th Asia Pacific Spectrum Management Conference (APSMC) 2024, officials discussed best practices for managing 6G and low earth orbit (LEO) satellite frequencies. Following the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2023, Indonesia secured a 100 MHz-wide band in the 7,025-7,125 MHz range for 5G and 6G deployment and received two new allocations for radiolocation and mobile services to support future innovations.
Malaysia
The 6G-SANDBOX project, funded by Horizon Europe, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaya to advance 6G research, trials, and demonstrations. The initiative aims to create fully configurable, end-to-end networks for validating next-generation technologies.
Thailand
ZTE and Thailand’s AIS have successfully trialed the Dynamic Distributed and Deterministic Extremely Large Antenna Array (D3-ELAA), introducing 6G cell-free concepts into 5G networks. The trial showed a 7x improvement in user experience (UX) at cell edges, ensuring stable connectivity during mobility. This milestone helped AIS shift from a cell-centric to a user-centric service model; thus, advancing 6G technology exploration.
The Philippines
The Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) actively participated in the ITU’s 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23), which set out to shape the future of 6G (IMT-2030) and mobile technologies through spectrum allocation and regulation updates. The conference revised the ITU’s Radio Regulations to enable spectrum sharing and innovation, approving 6G radio interface technologies and allocating new spectrum for broadband, safety, and space-Earth observation.
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Brunei, and Timor-Leste
Currently, there are no specific 6G initiatives or roadmaps in these countries. Instead, these countries are focusing on enhancing existing 4G and 5G infrastructures to meet current connectivity needs.
According to Mr. Lew Chuen Hong, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, the push for technological advancement hinges on continuous investment and forward-thinking innovation.
The innovations of today are not possible without constant investment and keeping our eyes on the next bound.
Challenges for Southeast Asian Nations
Despite the growing momentum, Southeast Asian countries face several hurdles in their pursuit of 6G leadership. One of the primary challenges is funding. Compared to Japan, South Korea, and even China, most Southeast Asian countries have relatively limited resources to invest in advanced R&D and infrastructure upgrades.
Spectrum allocation remains fragmented, and energy consumption concerns add sustainability challenges. Affordability issues and a digital divide may slow adoption, while geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks could impact technology sourcing.
Another roadblock is regulatory and policy hurdles. Policymakers in Southeast Asian countries often struggle with creating a clear and conducive regulatory environment that fosters innovation, industry collaboration, and R&D initiatives. Without streamlined policies, it becomes difficult for local telcos and tech firms to actively engage in the global 6G ecosystem.
To succeed, Southeast Asian nations must first expand 5G, develop regulatory clarity, and invest in skilled talent before committing to full-scale 6G deployment.
Collaboration as a Key Driver
One promising approach for Southeast Asian countries to strengthen their 6G prospects is through strategic collaborations, both locally and globally. Increasingly, telecom operators, technology firms, and academic institutions are joining forces to advance 6G research and development.
For example, Indosat’s AI-RAN deployment with Nokia and NVIDIA in Indonesia marks a major step toward AI-driven network efficiency, enhancing performance and energy consumption—critical for 6G readiness. Similarly, Vietnam’s decision to phase out 2G by 2026 aligns with a broader regional trend of modernizing infrastructure to support 5G-Advanced and future 6G networks. Meanwhile, Singtel is developing next-generation telecom solutions, integrating AI, network virtualization, and orchestration technologies to lay the foundation for 6G adoption.
In a topical virtual webinar hosted by Telecom Review Asia in 2024, Shanshil Shibly, Asia Technology Head of Telenor Asia, emphasized the rapid evolution of the ecosystem, sharing the imperative for collaboration with hyperscale companies and industries transitioning towards augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. He stressed the pivotal role of communication service providers (CSPs) in effectively delivering these services to customers, thereby advancing 5G and potentially paving the way for the transition to 6G.
Read More: Japan’s Full-Fiber Network Expansion
Speeding to the Finish
As the world inches closer to the commercial deployment of 6G, Southeast Asian countries have an opportunity to establish themselves as key players in the global 6G standardization process. However, realizing this vision will require a multifaceted approach involving increased government support, substantial investment in R&D, and fostering stronger industry-academia collaboration.
Additionally, these countries must identify niche applications or market segments where they can offer a competitive advantage. This could include focusing on industry-specific use cases such as smart manufacturing, telemedicine, or connected infrastructure, all of which are areas where 6G’s potential is expected to be transformative.
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