Recently, several major Japanese telecommunications giants jointly announced the successful development of the world’s first high-speed 6G wireless device, marking a substantial step forward in the exploration of next-generation communication technology.
According to the latest information, this wireless device can transmit data at speeds of up to 100 Gbps, which is 10 times the peak speed of 5G and 500 times the download speed of conventional 5G.
So, how does 6G technology differ from the increasingly widespread 5G network, and what unprecedented changes will it bring?
01
The difference between 6G and 5G is a comprehensive upgrade led by speed.
From 4G to 5G, and now to the emerging 6G, each iteration is not just a numerical leap but also a profound transformation in technology and application scenarios. For the general public, the most noticeable difference lies in data transmission speeds.
5G has already achieved speeds tens of times faster than 4G, with peak download rates reaching dozens of Gbps. Meanwhile, 6G has set a new standard, with Japan’s latest 6G device showcasing an incredible speed of 100 Gbps. In a 6G environment, downloading an ultra-high-definition movie would take just seconds.
This speed boost will provide a more robust foundation for ultra-high-definition video streaming, large-scale IoT connectivity, and instant cloud services.
While 5G can already support connections to millions of devices per square kilometer, 6G aims to make an even bigger leap, not only increasing the number of connections but also optimizing connection quality, allowing a wider variety of more complex devices to be online simultaneously.
This will greatly enhance the efficient collaboration of devices in smart cities, smart homes, and Industry 4.0, realizing true intelligent connectivity.
Although 5G has reduced network latency to a few milliseconds, it remains insufficient for some advanced applications like remote medical surgery and autonomous driving.
The goal of 6G is to further reduce latency to sub-millisecond or even microsecond levels, enabling near-real-time data transmission and feedback. This will offer safer and more reliable support for these applications and accelerate the practical use of such technology.
02
From 3G to 6G, what innovations have each generation brought?
① 3G: Ushering in the Mobile Internet Era
3G technology was the first to enable mobile devices to access the internet smoothly, providing significantly improved data transmission speeds over 2G. This made mobile data services like web browsing, video calls, and multimedia messaging possible.
It supported richer multimedia applications, including audio, video streaming, and basic internet services, offering mobile users a new way to consume digital content.
② 4G: The Leap to Mobile Broadband
4G networks, based on an all-IP architecture, provided more flexible and efficient network management, laying the foundation for seamless integration of internet applications.
It brought a true mobile broadband experience, with data speeds significantly surpassing 3G, making high-bandwidth applications like high-definition video streaming, real-time online gaming, and high-quality video calls the norm.
③ 5G: The Foundation of the Internet of Everything
5G not only drastically improved data transfer rates but also significantly reduced network latency, enabling low-latency applications like autonomous driving, remote healthcare, and smart cities.
The introduction of network slicing made it possible to customize network services according to different business needs, promoting large-scale IoT applications.
④ 6G: Towards a New Era of Intelligent Integration
6G is expected to achieve seamless global network coverage with dramatically faster transmission speeds, integrating space, sky, land, and sea communication.
It will deeply incorporate artificial intelligence, making holographic communication and immersive experiences a reality while providing higher levels of security and reliability. It will establish a highly intelligent, ultra-low-latency, and ubiquitously connected digital world, opening a new stage of development for human society.
03
If the 6G network is implemented, will it require changing supporting infrastructure?
In an interview, Huang Yuhong, president of the China Mobile Research Institute, explained the progress of 6G technology research in China. He mentioned that by around 2029, 6G standards will be finalized, and commercial use of 6G could be achieved around 2030.
This news sparked online discussions about whether existing infrastructure and equipment would need to be replaced when 6G networks become operational. Here’s a breakdown from the perspectives of infrastructure and devices:
① Infrastructure Will Inevitably Need Upgrading
6G networks will use higher-frequency radio waves, which generally means new base stations and upgraded network equipment will be required to support high-frequency signal transmission.
Base stations will likely need denser deployment because high-frequency signals have different propagation characteristics (such as lower penetration ability and range) than 5G and earlier networks.
To support 6G’s ultra-high-speed data transmission, backhaul links from base stations to the core network will need upgrades, potentially involving further expansion and optimization of fiber networks to handle higher data flows.
② Consumer Devices Will Also Need Upgrading
Common devices like smartphones and tablets will need hardware-level support for 6G to experience the network’s benefits.
Devices will need to integrate modems that support 6G bands, as well as potential improvements in antennas or battery technology to meet the demands of 6G networks.
Based on how smartphones support 5G networks via embedded modems in CPUs, 6G cannot be enabled through software upgrades alone and will require physical replacements.
③ User Storage May Face New Challenges
With 6G speeds, a full ultra-high-definition movie could be downloaded in just a few seconds. This rapid transmission represents a new speed “thrill” but also poses a serious challenge for user device storage.
For instance, starting storage for smartphones and tablets has increased from 16GB to 128GB, but the rate of network development has outpaced storage growth.
In a 6G environment, it could take less than 20 seconds to fill a smartphone or tablet’s storage, potentially impacting user experience.
Currently, in the 5G era, portable hard drives have become the go-to external storage for smartphones, tablets, and desktops. In the future, if storage capacities don’t undergo revolutionary upgrades with 6G’s commercialization, portable hard drives may become an essential accessory for consumers.
04
In Conclusion
In short, the difference between 6G and 5G is not just about faster speeds; it also lies in 6G’s ability to reshape the entire communication ecosystem. From the technical foundation to the application level, it signals a comprehensive evolution that heralds a more intelligent, efficient, and integrated future society.
Although 6G is still in the early stages of technological development, the potential it has shown already fills us with boundless imagination and anticipation for the upcoming digital age.
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