Now that 5G is just beginning to be implemented in some countries, many are already thinking about the next generation of communication networks - 6G. This is understandable because the development of technology and the increase in the number of devices connected to the networks require constant improvement in the speed, bandwidth, and reliability of the connection.
6G is the next generation of wireless communication, which will be an order of magnitude higher than the current 5G standard. This technology promises to overcome many issues that have so far limited data capacity and speed, as well as push the boundaries of existing technologies.
According to Gartner's "Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2021" report, 6G is still in its early stages of development and is not expected to become widely available until 2030. However, Gartner suggests that 6G can become an important factor in the development of the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles and other innovative technologies.
At Europe's largest mobile communications and telecommunications event, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona the other day already noted the progress of 5G and a look at 6G.
Although 5G has just begun its journey, many companies and institutes have already started to research 6G.
China is considered a major player in the development of 6G. The Chinese government has announced the creation of a national working group for the development of 6G. Chinese companies such as Huawei, ZTE, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have also already started working on 6G technology.
The U.S. is also a leader in 6G. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved plans by companies such as Google, SpaceX and Facebook to use satellite technology to provide communications for 6G. In addition, companies such as Qualcomm, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have already begun work in the U.S. to research and develop 6G.
Current 5G networks are capable of providing theoretical throughput of up to 20 Gbps. Future 6G systems are expected to allow data rates of up to 1 Tbps. This will make it possible to deploy next-generation services: telemedicine services, virtual, augmented and mixed reality projects, autopiloted transport platforms, robotic systems and others.
Although it will take several years, a sixth-generation (6G) mobile network will be essential in our increasingly interconnected world with potential applications including unmanned or flying autonomous vehicles, smart cities, virtual and augmented reality and space exploration.