Telecommunications innovation – when will 6G revolutionize our world?
In the world of telecommunications, new technologies emerge at a colossal pace, introducing more and more advanced solutions that have the potential to support humans in many spaces, as well as open up entirely new paths of development. An example? Although we are only at the stage of implementing 5G, many companies are already developing and testing the next-generation technology.
How will the 6G communications standard be of use? How will it stand out, and when can we expect it to be implemented for commercial use? You can read about it below.
The 6G standard – what will it entail?
The 5G network is already considered a solution that significantly facilitates operations and communications, thanks to sizable speeds and data transfers at levels not available in previous standards. Everything will change even more once the 6G network is deployed.
What is it exactly? It’s the next standard for telecommunications, which numerous laboratories and global giants like Samsung, LG, and Nokia are already working on. Scientists are convinced that 6G technology will revolutionize the communications space, but also our daily lives. All this thanks to predicted data transfer speeds of 8 thousand gigabits per second and minimal transmission delays of 0.1 ms. Such a solution will transform not only the world of communications and entertainment but will also affect security, health, and all branches of the economy.
The greatest benefits of 6G for different areas of life
How will 6G technology help us? According to experts from Ericsson, the solution will bring multi-level benefits and support development in various areas, including enabling close cooperation between humans and intelligent machines, as well as building a multidimensional Internet of Senses, closely connected to reality.
It is anticipated that such advanced communication technology, will erase the limitations of physical distance, introducing many conveniences in their place and creating a cohesive space for the physical and digital worlds to intermingle for the benefit of humans.
In what areas is 6G already seen as a particularly beneficial solution? From an economic perspective, the new technology will give almost unlimited opportunities for digital twins, or virtual mock-ups of real objects. The lightning-fast data flow will provide a chance to fully synchronize the digital replica with its physical counterpart to more efficiently transmit key information (from sensors, Internet of Things-connected machines, satellites, etc.). This will serve as a way to detect potential threats faster and respond better to them. Not only will this be useful in the production of various items – at every stage (from design and modeling to testing and modification of already existing objects), but it will also provide functionality for smart cities (managing public transportation, traffic, or municipal management) or develop smart agriculture (precise crop management based on information from sensors, satellites or drones).
Another innovation that is likely to come into widespread use thanks to 6G is the Immersive experience – a completely new quality of communication, developing issues in the field of video calls. The new technology is expected to enable us to feel the presence of a caller who is not in the room with us, thanks to the use of advanced avatars – responsive in real time, with a realistic appearance. There is also mention of incorporating other senses into the communication experience.
And let’s not forget the range of benefits that 6G could bring to modern medicine, using real-time remote examinations. The use of digital twins and sensors monitoring biometric data could provide timely warnings of potential health problems, or alert the appropriate services in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
Technology has the potential to become truly central to various aspects of daily life – enhancing users’ comfort, implementing solutions fully tailored to individual needs and expectations, giving them security and improving their existing living conditions.
6G technology – when will it be implemented?
Research on the 6G standard is already underway, and many companies are outdoing themselves in publishing the latest reports on the subject. Samsung Electronics has unveiled its vision of a corporation using global frequency bands for the technology. Meanwhile, Ericsson is actively exploring paths for 6G use.
The company has been involved in projects such as Hexa-X, and the Next G Alliance, where it is conducting extensive research on the new standard together with other entities (including Nokia). Exploration is also underway at LG, which is boasting successive test results and record-breaking data transfers, exceeding previous capabilities.
So when can we expect to see the new standard implemented? Researchers unanimously conclude that we will have to wait for it a little longer. The year 2030 is accepted as a realistic caesura, although it will be a gradual introduction of the standard in countries that are already developed and have a solid infrastructure for 5G technology.
6G – technology of the future or technological science fiction?
The truth is that the full potential and capabilities of 6G are still unexplored. The next few years will surely reveal their next aspects. In addition to the search for more areas to utilize the 6G standard, software and telecommunications companies will also face another challenge in the coming years. The extended network, which so closely connects the real world, people, and machines, will require a very high level of security to ensure the confidentiality of data and to give control over all elements of the new digital-physical sphere of life. What solutions will be used? Time and the technological developments of the coming years will tell us.