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| 6G |
While you've barely had time to get used to your new 5G smartphone, researchers are already working to make it look like a relic thanks to a new technology: 6G.
A recent technology demonstration in Japan showed a prototype of 6G wireless hardware capable of blistering data transfer speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second, 500 times faster than the average 5G phone.
The state-of-the-art testbed, developed in collaboration by NTT, DOCOMO, NEC and Fujitsu, harnesses ultra-high-frequency radio waves in the terahertz spectrum to transfer more data than ever before. While 5G has a theoretical maximum of around 10 Gb/s under ideal conditions, this 6G system far exceeds this ceiling.
100 Gigabits per second, but for what?
To put these breathtaking 100 Gb/s speeds into perspective, you could download a two-hour HD movie to your device in less than two seconds. Current 5G connections from major operators, averaged around 220 Gb/s in 2023, which is barely enough to download the same movie in less than two minutes.
Ultrafast 6G technology in its current state does, of course, have its limitations and drawbacks. The ultra-high frequencies used can only go so far, meaning that the actual range was limited to around 100 meters during the demonstration. But this is exactly the kind of problem engineers will have to solve as the development of 6G networks accelerates over the next few years.
The good news is that while the initial equipment is highly specialized, the size and cost of 6G components will steadily decrease as the technology matures, as we have seen with previous generations of wireless technologies. Major operators have already begun to prepare the ground for 6G deployments as early as 2030, according to some analysts' forecasts.
6G could also open up new frontiers for technologies such as autonomous vehicles, which need near-constant, real-time data connectivity to operate safely. A revolution is also expected in telemedicine, cloud-based extended reality experiences and infrastructure monitoring for smart cities.