The first pilot 6G networks are expected to make their appearance in Europe and internationally around 2030, with the new generation of mobile networks also coming to Greece, according to OTE Group Chief Technology Officer, George Tsonis.Speaking at the Advanced Telecoms Summit 2026, which was organized at the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Center by Verticom, in collaboration with Content Intelligence, Mr. Tsonis explained that the 6G specifications are expected to be finalized in 2029, paving the way for the development of the first pilot networks.
"In 2029 the specifications are finalized, the first pilot networks in Europe and around the world, and they will also come to Greece," he stressed.
He also recalled that the Greek market was not delayed in adopting previous generations of mobile networks. "As you have seen in previous years, both in 4G and in 5G we were not delayed at all in introducing new technologies," he said.
What 6G will bring
According to Mr. Tsonis, 6G networks will be AI-native, with artificial intelligence being a core element of their operation. At the same time, among other things they will support sensing capabilities, humanoid robots, while improvements are expected in upload speeds and latency.
Until the arrival of 6G, the development of mobile networks will continue with the further expansion of 5G Standalone (5G+), whose population coverage has already exceeded 85%, as well as with the development of new services.
AI Calling in early 2027
Meanwhile, OTE is moving forward with the development of new AI Calling services, which leverage artificial intelligence in telephone calls.
These include live translation during a call, when the two participants speak different languages, as well as the creation of a summary of the conversation, which can be sent after the completion of the call, provided that both users have given their consent.
The third service concerns a live digital assistant during the telephone call, to which the two participants will be able to address questions with voice commands and receive information in real time.
As Mr. Tsonis revealed, the services are currently in testing, with the technical launch expected within 2026, while the commercial launch is scheduled for early 2027.
Greece and Germany are expected to be the first Telekom Group markets in which these specific services will be made available.
At a later stage, the use of large language models (LLMs) may pave the way for more voice-based applications, through the use of AI agents and digital assistants.