Even more than 5G was, 6G is becoming a politicized race between various countries to achieve the lead in intellectual property. There are rational motivations for this behind the jingoism and the hype. Taking an early lead in contributing to standards, amassing essential patents, and testing advanced technology can translate into competitive suppliers and platforms in future, and into jobs and national wealth. In a time of intensifying geopolitical tensions, there are also concerns about one powerful country or another becoming too dominant in critical technologies, potentially holding others to ransom. The vision of global platforms that draw on innovations everywhere, as set out by the original GSM developments, seems far away. In particular, the early 6G efforts are becoming…