New Horizons of Technological Convergence in 2026: Digital Innovation Driven by Cloud-Edge Computing and 6G Networks
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The Advent of the Cloud-Edge Convergence Era and Market Trends
One of the most notable trends in the tech industry in 2026 is the emergence of a new hybrid architecture as the boundaries between cloud computing and edge computing dissolve. The global edge computing market is expected to grow by 22.7%, from $128 billion in 2025 to $157 billion in 2026, significantly outpacing the traditional cloud service growth rate of 15.3%. In particular, in the South Korean market, the adoption rate of edge computing increased by 41% year-on-year, driven by the government’s Digital New Deal policy and the K-Digital Platform construction project.
The backdrop to this growth is the surging demand for real-time data processing. Ultra-Low Latency services required by autonomous vehicles, smart factories, and metaverse applications were challenging to implement with the existing centralized cloud model. However, a hybrid model combining edge computing’s sub-millisecond latency with the infinite scalability of the cloud is addressing this issue. In fact, 38% of global companies’ workloads are already operating in a hybrid cloud-edge environment, and this proportion is expected to increase to 55% by 2027.
From a competitive standpoint, while Amazon Web Services (AWS) maintains its lead with a 32% share of the global cloud market, competition in the edge computing sector is intensifying. Microsoft Azure has captured a 24% market share with its Azure Edge Zones service, particularly strong in the enterprise market. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics (Suwon, Gyeonggi) has launched an integrated solution connecting IoT devices and edge computing based on its proprietary Knox Matrix platform, securing a 12% market share in the Asia-Pacific region.
In terms of investment trends, global venture investment in edge computing reached $14.7 billion in 2025, with 38% focused on network infrastructure and hardware. Notably, the South Korean government has allocated 3.2 trillion won for the K-Digital New Deal 2.0 budget in 2026, with 1.1 trillion won earmarked for edge computing and 6G network infrastructure construction. This represents a 67% increase from the previous year, demonstrating the government’s strong commitment.
Synergy with 6G Network Technology
The factor further accelerating the cloud-edge convergence trend is the preparation for the commercialization of 6G network technology. As of 2026, the standardization of 6G technology is in full swing, centered around South Korea, China, and Japan. Theoretically, it can achieve transmission speeds of up to 1 terabit per second (1Tbps) and latency below 0.1 milliseconds. This is 100 times faster than current 5G networks and offers one-tenth of the latency, enabling a truly real-time computing environment.
South Korea’s SK Telecom (Jung-gu, Seoul) completed the construction of a 6G testbed in December 2025 and began performance verification of a 6G modem chipset developed jointly with Samsung Electronics. Initial test results showed an average download speed of 850Gbps in the 28GHz band, capable of streaming 16 8K 360-degree VR contents simultaneously. More importantly, the average latency when connected to edge servers was measured at 0.08 milliseconds, making it viable for mission-critical applications such as remote surgery and autonomous vehicle control.
In terms of global competition, while China’s Huawei leads in 6G patent applications, South Korea and Japan are considered ahead in actual commercialization technology. Japan’s NTT Docomo successfully demonstrated a 6G-based hologram broadcast at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium in January 2026, showcasing impressive performance with an average latency of 0.05 milliseconds. Meanwhile, Qualcomm (San Diego, California) announced its Snapdragon X80 series of 6G modem chipsets, aiming for commercialization in the first half of 2027.
The emergence of 6G networks is also bringing fundamental changes to edge computing architecture. Previously, edge servers had to be physically located close to users, but the ultra-low latency characteristic of 6G has introduced the concept of a ‘Virtual Edge.’ This approach defines edge services based solely on network latency, regardless of physical distance, significantly reducing infrastructure construction costs. In fact, LG Electronics (Yeongdeungpo, Seoul) successfully utilized an AI server located 100km away as if it were an on-site edge server in its 6G-based smart factory solution.
According to the latest report by market research firm Gartner, the global edge computing market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 34%, reaching $420 billion by 2030, as 6G network commercialization becomes full-fledged from 2028. Particularly, South Korea aims for a 25% share of the global 6G market, backed by proactive government investment and the technological prowess of global companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom, representing a market opportunity of approximately $35 billion.
However, technical challenges are not insignificant. Due to the high-frequency characteristics of 6G networks, the signal coverage is shorter, and building penetration is weaker, requiring three times more base stations than existing 5G. This could lead to increased initial construction costs, posing challenges in bridging the digital divide in rural or mountainous areas. Additionally, the high data processing capability of 6G networks demands higher performance from edge servers, prompting GPU manufacturers like NVIDIA (Santa Clara, California) to accelerate the development of edge-specialized chipsets.
Looking at industry-specific applications, the utilization is particularly high in manufacturing. Hyundai Motor’s Asan plant is operating a smart factory system using a 6G test network, where all robots and sensors on the production line are connected in real-time to a central AI system. This has reduced the defect rate from 0.8% to 0.2% and improved overall production efficiency by 23%. In the medical field, Seoul National University Hospital is piloting a 6G network-based remote surgery system, successfully performing surgery with a surgeon controlling robotic arms from a branch 200km away.
From an investment perspective, 6G-related stocks have recently been on the rise. Samsung Electronics’ stock price has increased by 18% in 2026, with improved sales forecasts in the 6G chipset segment leading to upward revisions of target prices. SK Telecom’s stock also rose by 12% following its 6G infrastructure investment announcement, driving the overall telecommunications sector. Overseas, NVIDIA’s stock price has risen by 28% year-to-date due to increased orders for its Grace Hopper chipset for 6G edge computing, and Intel (Santa Clara, California) has attracted investor interest by announcing its entry into the 6G modem business.
Looking ahead, full-scale preparations for 6G commercialization are expected to begin in the second half of 2026. South Korea aims to start 6G pilot services in 2027 and commercial services in 2028, suggesting the possibility of becoming the first country globally to commercialize 6G. This technological advantage is expected to provide South Korean companies with opportunities to secure competitiveness in the global market and create new business models. The synergy created by cloud-edge convergence and 6G networks is expected to enable the birth of new services and industries that are currently unimaginable, leading to digital innovation across society.
*This analysis is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice or a recommendation of specific stocks. Investment decisions should be made at the individual’s discretion and responsibility.*
