The start of 6G is being portrayed, with some credibility, as a race between the USA and China, bound up with their political and trade wars. Other countries, too, regard 5G and 6G prowess as an important way to increase their broader global power, as well as building up local industry and wealth, and reducing reliance on foreign technology. As well as the two superpowers, India, South Korea and the European Union fall into this category, as do some smaller players that happen to have strong mobile assets, notably Sweden and Finland; and others that have more ambition than real technology firepower (from the UK to Russia). One country is a constant power player in each mobile generation. As…