XR Growth Driving 6G Wireless Innovation

The increasing use of immersive content is expected to heavily burden current wireless infrastructure, necessitating new innovations, according to a report by InterDigital and Futuresource Consulting.

The report, titled “Media over Wireless: Networks for Ubiquitous Video,” indicates that the growing accessibility of immersive and extended reality (XR) content requires current network architecture to adapt to meet demand. The paper examines the increasing demands and trends in consumer behavior regarding video and immersive experiences on wireless networks.

XR applications are placing new demands on wireless networks that, as they are, may not be able to handle the next generation of immersive entertainment. While entertainment demand over wireless is already high, the XR market is growing quickly. By 2031, XR device shipments are projected to be four times higher than 2025 levels, reaching 83 million units worldwide.

Without network upgrades, the market could face slower adoption of immersive devices, especially since 40% of consumers are already dissatisfied with network performance, even before the more intensive demands of XR. 5G-Advanced and 6G architectures will be vital for fully enabling immersive and XR content.

Futuresource anticipates that 6G deployment will align with the expected maturity of XR hardware and software ecosystems, projected between 2028 and 2032.

Milind Kulkarni, Head of Wireless Labs at InterDigital:

“The high demand for more immersive entertainment cannot be ignored. As XR devices become more accessible, we’ll move from simply watching video to stepping inside it—and future wireless systems need to be prepared for this staggering change”

Lionel Oisel, Head of Video Labs at InterDigital:

“The XR market is entering a pivotal phase, where immersive content is no longer a niche. As we get closer to 2030 and the release of the first 6G standards, XR entertainment is going to become an expectation, where we will see interactive digital sports venues to real-time augmented city guides and digital twins”

The success of these experiences depends on quality, including ultra-low latency, responsive interactivity, and consistent media synchronization, which are essential for unlocking XR’s full potential.