Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) stock gained 1.29% to $51.26 during Monday’s trading session, an increase of $0.65. The advance followed the company’s expansion of its 6G Innovation Forum with nine additional technology companies. The initiative focuses on future wireless systems designed for edge computing, smart glasses, sensing technology, and advanced connected devices.

Verizon Expands 6G Forum With Major Technology Partners

Verizon added Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Intel, Keysight Technologies, MediaTek, NVIDIA, Palo Alto Networks, Rohde & Schwarz, and VIAVI Solutions to the forum. The companies join founding members Ericsson, Samsung, Nokia, Meta, and Qualcomm Technologies in Verizon’s wireless development program.

Together, the participants plan to develop an open 6G ecosystem while testing new technologies and network requirements. The expanded membership brings additional participation to work spanning cloud and network systems, semiconductors, security, testing, and connected devices. The forum covers new spectrum bands, network capacity, edge computing, security, device development, and advanced wireless applications. Members will also work toward compatibility with international standards developed through organizations including the 3GPP.

Verizon expects broader industry participation to support more practical testing before future commercial 6G networks reach customers. The company has linked advanced connectivity to growing demand from connected devices that generate substantial volumes of real-time data.

Smart glasses could require greater upload capacity because users may continuously send video, audio, and environmental information. As a result, future networks may require traffic designs that differ from traditional mobile systems, which have focused heavily on downloads.

Verizon Tests Network Sensing for Crowds, Drones and Vehicles

Verizon also highlighted recent Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) trials with Samsung and Qualcomm using current 5G Advanced technology. ISAC enables wireless infrastructure to detect movement and environmental changes while continuing to provide normal mobile communication services. The technology could eventually support public safety, event operations, transportation monitoring, and autonomous systems.

Verizon and Samsung tested crowd-density detection during an international soccer celebration in Dallas, Texas. The demonstration used one 5G base station, CBRS spectrum, Samsung smartphones, and edge-processing equipment. The system analyzed changes in wireless signals and generated real-time crowd-density information without relying on traditional camera systems.

Verizon and Qualcomm tested drone and vehicle tracking at Qualcomm’s San Diego campus. The system used millimeter-wave spectrum and synchronized transmission points to monitor airborne and ground targets. It also maintained high-speed 5G Standalone service while tracking movement, demonstrating how future networks could support multiple functions simultaneously.

Smart Glasses Trial Supports Verizon’s 6G Strategy

Verizon demonstrated an AI Sports Companion application built around edge computing and wearable devices. The prototype allowed users wearing Meta smart glasses to request statistics, scores, and game-probability information through voice commands. Verizon processed the requests through its edge network to reduce delays and improve real-time responses.

The project reflects Verizon’s broader focus on applications that could require stronger uplink performance and lower network latency. Wearable devices may continuously transmit information while receiving processed responses from nearby computing infrastructure. Verizon is therefore testing network designs intended to balance data uploads and downloads more efficiently than existing mobile architectures.

Verizon plans additional demonstrations involving robotics, digital twins, sensing systems, advanced wearables, and edge-based applications. The company views the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics as an important testing environment before commercial 6G deployment. Verizon already operates a dedicated 6G laboratory in Los Angeles to support development and large-scale network trials.

Source: Blockonomi