What is 6G, and how close are we to its launch?
2023.03.04
What is 6G, and how close are we to its launch?
What has 6G to talk about so far, what might it enable, and when can we expect to benefit from its rollout?
No, you read that right - 6G. Considering that the full benefits of 5G have yet to be tapped and some devices are still locked to 4G, it seems premature to set our sights on the next generation of mobile network technology. But that's normal , And as one generation rolls out, the next generation is already being developed in the wings, ready to flex its muscles for years to come.
But what is there to talk about with 6G so far, what might it enable, and when can we expect to benefit from its rollout?
What does 6G mean?
6G will be the sixth generation of wireless mobile technology after 5G. 1G, introduced in the 1980s, was purely analog and was eventually replaced by the all-digital 2G in 1991. 3G -- which you'll probably still be connected to if you find yourself in the countryside -- came along with the new millennium in 2001, and 4G followed, fueling an explosion of smartphones and social media.
5G is still being introduced across much of the UK, and its international rollout has been mixed. As the latest generation, it delivers the fastest data transfer speeds to date, with low enough latency to support cutting-edge technologies including Augmented Reality (AR) and the ever-expanding Internet of Things (IoT).
Like previous network additions, 6G will improve on the capabilities of its predecessor, offering lower latency and higher throughput than its predecessor. But its exact shape remains uncertain.
Since 6G is still relatively early in the R&D cycle, its precise spectrum allocation and standards have yet to be determined. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has proposed that frequencies between 100 GHz and 3 THz should be used for 6G.
"Data rates of 100 Gbps or more will flourish at frequencies above 100 GHz, where the available spectrum is plentiful," IEEE said.
However, the same challenges encountered in 5G mmWave deployment must be considered here, i.e. very high frequencies face interference from materials such as walls and concrete. In order to realize the full potential of 6G, more work needs to be done in terms of precise allocation and rollout.
The U.S. and Japan have announced their intention to cooperate on international 6G standards, in part to prevent Chinese equipment makers and mobile network operators from expanding the market prematurely.
While the improvement in experience from 4G to 5G is noteworthy, especially for enterprises, the adoption of 6G could catalyze massive changes across the industry.
5G is already considered pretty fast, with a peak data rate of 10 Gbit/s, but 6G could be 10 times faster at a peak data rate of 100 Gbit/s. Some researchers believe that the theoretical peak of 6G could be even higher, reaching 1 terabit per second, or 1,000 Gbit/s.
In their 2021 white paper, "Extreme Capacity MIMO for Boosting Macro Cell Capacity in 5G-Advanced and 6G," Nokia stated that they expect the mid-band spectrum used for 6G networks will also be able to "provide approximately 20 twice the capacity of basic 5G".
What will 6G be used for?
In theory, 6G could be used to transmit data with a latency of 1 microsecond (0.001 millisecond). In addition to providing unprecedented stability of streaming connections for applications such as videoconferencing or gaming, this could have far-reaching implications for fields such as medical technology.
Such low levels of latency could be used to dramatically improve assistive tools such as prosthetics, or to facilitate systems that respond to inputs in near real time, enabling the exchange of data near the speed of human thought.
On top of that, this level of information transfer—propelled through the network—could lead to major advances in mobile artificial intelligence (AI), enabling phones to send and receive more packets of data to be processed in the cloud.
6G is also likely to build on the initial success of 5G to enable reliable operation of IoT devices and networks. With the aforementioned low latency and increased data loads compared to 5G, the arrival of 6G could also coincide with greater automation, as well as automation equipment such as warehouse robots spread across factories.
This technology can be used to stabilize supply chains, improve efficiency and real-time data transmission in transportation hubs and smart ports. The use of 6G in private networks, like the 5G private networks deployed by Nokia and Kyndryl, could also be key to Industry 4.0 and facilitate real-time data transfer at the scale required for big data analytics.
Workplaces are also likely to be transformed by 6G as new network standards are adopted. The promise of the Metaverse, which still lacks a clear business case, may finally materialize in a usable form through detailed 3D augmented reality (AR) conferencing powered by 6G bandwidth.
When can I get 6G?
Before you think about the excitement of being able to send 4K video faster than ever before, or never having to wait for your phone to download large files anymore, it's worth remembering that 6G is still very far away. Although the technology is currently being researched, it is still in its infancy and will take years of development and rollout before businesses can use it.
Don't plan for the company's 6G network just yet, as the technology is still being developed. In December 2022, Qualcomm outlined its goal of deploying 6G technology "in 2030 and beyond," and other organizations are working to make it happen.
Research on 6G technology continues, with the University of Oulu, Finland, stating that "basic research is 10 to 15 years ahead of industry standards".
6G projects funded by governments around the world are already grabbing headlines. China has reported a successful 100-200Gbit/s wireless test, Nokia is leading Germany's 6G-Anna project to advance end-to-end 6G architectures, and the governments of the UK and South Korea have provided financial support to companies developing 6G solutions.
In addition, the University of Sheffield will open the UK's first 6G research institute. Due to open in January 2024, it will support companies and academics to advance research on 6G and develop world-leading equipment to facilitate its rollout.
No, you read that right - 6G. Considering that the full benefits of 5G have yet to be tapped and some devices are still locked to 4G, it seems premature to set our sights on the next generation of mobile network technology. But that's normal , And as one generation rolls out, the next generation is already being developed in the wings, ready to flex its muscles for years to come.
But what is there to talk about with 6G so far, what might it enable, and when can we expect to benefit from its rollout?
What does 6G mean?
6G will be the sixth generation of wireless mobile technology after 5G. 1G, introduced in the 1980s, was purely analog and was eventually replaced by the all-digital 2G in 1991. 3G -- which you'll probably still be connected to if you find yourself in the countryside -- came along with the new millennium in 2001, and 4G followed, fueling an explosion of smartphones and social media.
5G is still being introduced across much of the UK, and its international rollout has been mixed. As the latest generation, it delivers the fastest data transfer speeds to date, with low enough latency to support cutting-edge technologies including Augmented Reality (AR) and the ever-expanding Internet of Things (IoT).
Like previous network additions, 6G will improve on the capabilities of its predecessor, offering lower latency and higher throughput than its predecessor. But its exact shape remains uncertain.
Since 6G is still relatively early in the R&D cycle, its precise spectrum allocation and standards have yet to be determined. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has proposed that frequencies between 100 GHz and 3 THz should be used for 6G.
"Data rates of 100 Gbps or more will flourish at frequencies above 100 GHz, where the available spectrum is plentiful," IEEE said.
However, the same challenges encountered in 5G mmWave deployment must be considered here, i.e. very high frequencies face interference from materials such as walls and concrete. In order to realize the full potential of 6G, more work needs to be done in terms of precise allocation and rollout.
The U.S. and Japan have announced their intention to cooperate on international 6G standards, in part to prevent Chinese equipment makers and mobile network operators from expanding the market prematurely.
While the improvement in experience from 4G to 5G is noteworthy, especially for enterprises, the adoption of 6G could catalyze massive changes across the industry.
5G is already considered pretty fast, with a peak data rate of 10 Gbit/s, but 6G could be 10 times faster at a peak data rate of 100 Gbit/s. Some researchers believe that the theoretical peak of 6G could be even higher, reaching 1 terabit per second, or 1,000 Gbit/s.
In their 2021 white paper, "Extreme Capacity MIMO for Boosting Macro Cell Capacity in 5G-Advanced and 6G," Nokia stated that they expect the mid-band spectrum used for 6G networks will also be able to "provide approximately 20 twice the capacity of basic 5G".
What will 6G be used for?
In theory, 6G could be used to transmit data with a latency of 1 microsecond (0.001 millisecond). In addition to providing unprecedented stability of streaming connections for applications such as videoconferencing or gaming, this could have far-reaching implications for fields such as medical technology.
Such low levels of latency could be used to dramatically improve assistive tools such as prosthetics, or to facilitate systems that respond to inputs in near real time, enabling the exchange of data near the speed of human thought.
On top of that, this level of information transfer—propelled through the network—could lead to major advances in mobile artificial intelligence (AI), enabling phones to send and receive more packets of data to be processed in the cloud.
6G is also likely to build on the initial success of 5G to enable reliable operation of IoT devices and networks. With the aforementioned low latency and increased data loads compared to 5G, the arrival of 6G could also coincide with greater automation, as well as automation equipment such as warehouse robots spread across factories.
This technology can be used to stabilize supply chains, improve efficiency and real-time data transmission in transportation hubs and smart ports. The use of 6G in private networks, like the 5G private networks deployed by Nokia and Kyndryl, could also be key to Industry 4.0 and facilitate real-time data transfer at the scale required for big data analytics.
Workplaces are also likely to be transformed by 6G as new network standards are adopted. The promise of the Metaverse, which still lacks a clear business case, may finally materialize in a usable form through detailed 3D augmented reality (AR) conferencing powered by 6G bandwidth.
When can I get 6G?
Before you think about the excitement of being able to send 4K video faster than ever before, or never having to wait for your phone to download large files anymore, it's worth remembering that 6G is still very far away. Although the technology is currently being researched, it is still in its infancy and will take years of development and rollout before businesses can use it.
Don't plan for the company's 6G network just yet, as the technology is still being developed. In December 2022, Qualcomm outlined its goal of deploying 6G technology "in 2030 and beyond," and other organizations are working to make it happen.
Research on 6G technology continues, with the University of Oulu, Finland, stating that "basic research is 10 to 15 years ahead of industry standards".
6G projects funded by governments around the world are already grabbing headlines. China has reported a successful 100-200Gbit/s wireless test, Nokia is leading Germany's 6G-Anna project to advance end-to-end 6G architectures, and the governments of the UK and South Korea have provided financial support to companies developing 6G solutions.
In addition, the University of Sheffield will open the UK's first 6G research institute. Due to open in January 2024, it will support companies and academics to advance research on 6G and develop world-leading equipment to facilitate its rollout.