Benefiting from Innovation in Future 6G

This chapter takes a wider perspective on profiting from innovation and discusses firm, ecosystem, industry, and policy-level aspects relevant for developing 5G/6G. To date, mobile communication networks have been seen as enabling technologies, the innovations potential of which can be characterized by looking at technology complementarity, standardization, and intellectual property issues. With 6G, especially in combination with artificial intelligence, the mobile network will gain features of a general-purpose technology platform with specificities regarding the appropriability of value. This chapter will discuss the potential value appropriability and conditions in the context of 6G, as well as the instruments, processes, and outcomes of value appropriation in 6G, reflecting those against earlier developments. The chapter concludes with implications for innovation policy, regulatory authorities, firms, and entrepreneurs.