As 5G networks begin to move into a deployment phase, developers and scientists are already moving focus to the potential of 6G communication.

The truth is, 5G offers faster download and upload speeds, and has created accessibility for a broad range of applications. For example, autonomous vehicles, health care, and IoT devices will be revolutionized through 5G as data sharing happens in real-time at top speed without any noticeable latency.

However, A 6G chip can transmit waves at more than three times the frequency of 5G.

Source: https://5gversus4g.com/

The 1 TBPS speeds will be perfect for threat detection, behaviour recognition, and monitoring pollution, amongst other applications.

With 5G only just on the horizon, 6G would not expect to be seen in any commercial aspect until the next decade.

In this post, we will look at what 6G could be like and what it might mean to you. All of this is assumptive in a fast-moving world, but seeing as how the former President, Donald J. Trump has already made it clear how he feels about 6G, we better start talking!

What is 6G?

6G is the next generation of telecommunication technology, and will eventually supersede 5G. Research is already underway using a range of technologies such as AI, Extended Reality (XR), blockchain, and robotics.

In comparison to 5G, 6G will require some massive performance improvements. For example, 5G will achieve peak speeds of 20 Gbps and frequencies up to 100 GHz. However, it is an expectation that 6G will achieve up to 1000 Gbps and frequencies up to 3 THz.

Source: https://telecoms.com/502027/ntt-docomo-says-what-it-thinks-6g-should-be-all-about/

There are no official standards for 6G yet as it is still in the research phase; however, some of the technologies needed to achieve the requirements above are:

• Antenna technology – massive MIMO technology that has been developed for 5G will have to be improved further
• Duplex technology – With 5G, TDD is part of duplex flexibility, but more work needs to be done to remove the restriction that downlink and uplink must use mutually exclusive time-frequency resources
• Network topology – the use of non-terrestrial network components like satellite and high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS)
• AI – artificial intelligence will be able to optimize system performance fully
• High precision networks (HPN) – a HPN helps to achieve a higher quality of interactive services through high data rates and low latency requirements

Some of the technology required for 6G may not even exist yet, and more will become apparent during the forthcoming decade.

To put the speed of 6G into context, where one mobile on Netflix downloads within a few seconds, a 6G connected service will download 142 hours in the same timeframe. For the end-user, it may start to feel like they are part of a sci-fi movie, as wearable devices can support human thought and actions like never before. The NTT DoCoMo report talks about science fiction becoming science fact.

Samsung has already written a paper proposing what 6G could look like that you can download here.

The current state of 6G

Along with Samsung, other large enterprises are working towards 6G. At the start of 2020, Japan announced a strategy to draw up a comprehensive plan for the launch of 6G by 2030. In China, there is already a research team dedicated to 6G. Finland has a 6G flagship project that is backed by Nokia, with a vision that our society is data-driven and enabled by almost instant, unlimited wireless connectivity in 2030. The flagship project has a clearly defined mission for 6G.

Nokia, SK Telecom, and Ericsson are also in collaboration with a 6G research project. Being such innovative operators in the industry, it will likely be a partnership that is worth keeping on top of.

6G and Blockchain

It is thought that blockchain technology will be a requisite for the success of 6G. The speed and accuracy of the data being shared over 6G networks will need incredibly robust and reliable architectures. Blockchain ensures that data is anonymous and untraceable while preventing any private data leakage. Businesses and governments will need to move from centralized to decentralized networks, where the nodes cannot all be accessed by a single person or machine.

6G and Artificial Intelligence

AI will likely play a significant role in the evolution of 6G communications. For example, machine learning algorithms could allocate resources and optimize the performance of resources. Environments may become smart using interconnected wireless technology and apply custom changes to radion waves. Deep learning models will provide the potential for a fully automated infrastructure when combined with 6G.

Summary

With many years of research ahead of us and 6G still in its infancy, the potential for 6G communications is still somewhat unknown. However, we do know if it will bring us closer to a fully wireless, connected society that can operate at speed. 5G will be a great testing ground for its successor, and it will be exciting to see what the next decade has in store.

Disclaimer:  The author of this text, Jean Chalopin, is a global business leader with a background encompassing banking, biotech and entertainment.  Mr. Chalopin is Chairman of Deltec International Group, deltecbankstag.wpengine.com.

The co-author of this text, Robin Trehan, has a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s in international business and finance, and an MBA in electronic business.  Mr. Trehan is a Senior VP at Deltec International Group, deltecbankstag.wpengine.com.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this text are solely the views of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of Deltec International Group, its subsidiaries, and/or its employees.