Apple is already hiring for the generation of mobile networking that will follow 5G. According to MacRumors, the company has posted a job listing for a "6G Cellular Modem Systems Engineer", a sign that its in-house wireless team is looking several years down the road.
What the listing says
MacRumors, which spotted the posting on Tuesday, says the role is meant to help "define and build the next generation of cellular technology" as Apple moves toward 6G. The report does not say where the position is based, and the quoted language from the listing is the only description of the work that was published.
Why it matters
Apple now designs its own cellular modems rather than relying entirely on outside suppliers, so it has to prepare for each new network standard itself. That makes early hiring for 6G a logical step. MacRumors notes that Apple has been signaling interest in the technology for years, pointing to a 2021 report that the company was already recruiting engineers for 6G work.
Where 6G stands
The standard is still a long way from reaching phones. MacRumors says 6G is expected to be ready around 2030, that spectrum bands have not yet been settled, and that official performance requirements are expected to be approved later this year. Goals cited in the report, which credits Wired, include faster upload speeds, lower latency and better power efficiency. The report also expects fixed wireless home internet, which already runs on 5G, to grow further with 6G.
Apple is a founding member of the Next G Alliance, an industry group formed by ATIS to advance 6G in North America. Other companies researching the technology include Qualcomm, Nokia, Samsung and Ericsson.
What to take from it
A single job posting does not reveal a product plan, and Apple has not commented on the listing. It does fit a pattern of long-lead investment in connectivity hardware, and it suggests Apple intends to keep control of its modem technology as networks evolve. Any 6G iPhone is, on current expectations, still years away.
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