6G is the sixth-generation mobile communication standard, characterized by the maximum possible data transfer speed. It currently exists only as a concept.
6G
6G networks will be able to transmit data hundreds of times faster than 5G, with data transfer speeds reaching up to one terabit per second.
Another significant difference from previous standards will be the shift from the gigahertz to the terahertz range. This will allow 6G to expand coverage areas by several hundred times. For example, communication will be possible underwater, at high altitudes, and even in space. At the same time, transmitters and other network equipment will have low power consumption.
According to preliminary forecasts, the 6G standard will become widespread around the 2030s.
Nuances
6G technologies will enable real-time operation with such volumes of data and at such speeds that it will be comparable to the functioning of the human brain.
The sixth generation of communication will offer new possibilities for creating a connection between the brain and computers. One example of such development is an electronic chip implanted in the brains of people with central nervous system disorders. These technologies will require data transfer speeds that are three orders of magnitude higher than those of 5G networks.
Thanks to 6G, drones used for monitoring forest fires and searching for missing persons will be able to immediately report their coordinates (if there is network coverage in the areas where the drones are located). Currently, all coordinates are recorded on a memory card.
Significant changes are also expected in healthcare. It is anticipated that 6G will enable remote surgery and optimize healthcare workflows.
6G networks will be able to provide a quality connection while the user is moving at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h — whether on a high-speed train or traveling by plane.
Fact
The Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo has published a document explaining the use cases and technological evolution of 6G. The document also sheds light on how mobile network technologies have developed over the past decades: with the emergence of 3G in the early 2000s, 4G in 2010, and 5G in 2020.
