Today, in the 21st century, we are standing on the threshold of a new technological revolution. Imagine standing on the streets of Tokyo with a device thinner than a credit card in your hand, but transferring data at the speed of downloading 5 HD movies per second. This is not the plot of science fiction, but a true portrayal of Japan's latest 6G technology.
"5G is not yet popular, 6G is coming?" may be the first reaction of many people. But the truth is, technology is evolving much faster than we think. The wave of 5G has not yet completely swept the world, and the dawn of 6G has already emerged. This is not only a leap forward in technology, but also a bold prediction of the future of life.
In Japan, a 6G device jointly developed by several telecom giants has successfully achieved an astonishing transmission speed of 100Gbps per second. This speed is 20 times that of current 5G technology, and even more than 500 times the average download speed of T-Mobile 5G phones in the United States. This is not only a digital leap, but also a deep insight into the future of communication technology.
"Isn't this too fast?" You may wonder. But in Japan, this is already a reality. The prototype is the result of a collaboration between major Japanese telecommunications companies such as DOCOMO, NTT, NEC, Fujitsu, and others, which have achieved transmission speeds of 100 Gbps per second in the 100 GHz indoor band and have demonstrated excellent performance in the 300 GHz band outdoors.
Imagine that the wireless communication technology in our life is like a highway, and different communication technologies are like different levels of highways. 5G technology is like a new highway, it is wider and straighter than the previous 4G road, allowing more vehicles (data) to pass through quickly, and the speed can reach hundreds of kilometers per hour.
And 6G technology is like a more advanced magnetic levitation track, which is not only wider and smoother than the 5G highway, but also runs on a higher orbit (electromagnetic spectrum), as if above the clouds. This track can run at speeds of up to 1,000 kilometers per hour, far exceeding 5G highways.
Specifically, 5G technology uses the sub-6 GHz frequency band, which is like a highway paved on the ground, capable of covering a wide area, but with certain speed limitations. 6G technology, on the other hand, uses the frequency band of 100 GHz to 300 GHz, which is like a magnetic levitation track erected at high altitude, which is faster, but also has higher environmental requirements and requires more refined management and maintenance.
Therefore, the main difference between 5G and 6G is like the difference between ground highways and high-altitude maglev tracks, 6G has greater advantages in speed and efficiency, but at the same time, it also faces more challenges and requirements.
"Does this mean that our phones are going to be replaced with antennas?" This may be another question you have. Indeed, since 6G relies on higher frequency bands, we need a whole new infrastructure to support the transmission and amplification of signals, as well as smartphones or VR devices that need to be equipped with 6G antennas.
Globally, the race for 6G has quietly begun. The United States, together with ten countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden and Japan, formed the "6G Alliance" and issued a joint statement on 6G. Japan in the alliance has already built the world's first 6G device, but how is China progressing in the field of 6G?
In terms of the number of patents, China has applied for more than 13,000 6G patents, accounting for 35% of the world's total. This is followed by the United States, with nearly 7,000 patent applications, accounting for 18% of the world's total. Japan is only ranked fourth, with the same proportion of patents as Europe, also at 13%. Patents are the hard currency of the communications industry, and the more patents there are, the greater the right to speak in the formulation of standards.
It is worth noting that the upgrade from 4G to 5G provides fertile soil for the consumption of massive media content, and the leap from 5G to 6G indicates that we will enter a new dimension of communication, in which holographic communication will become the norm, and virtual reality and mixed reality experiences will become more real and immersive than ever.
The transition from 4G to 5G is like building a broader stage for the consumption of media content, allowing data to flow more smoothly and providing strong support for the exchange of large amounts of information. The move from 5G to 6G is seen as opening up a whole new world that could revolutionize the way we communicate and usher in a new era of holograms and three-dimensional communication. In this new era, virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) experiences will become more vivid and seamless, as if you are in a digital fantasy that can be touched.
"Does this mean that we can freely shuttle through the virtual world?" In the future, we may no longer need to move physically to be able to seamlessly connect to the world.
While 6G technology opens up unprecedented possibilities, it also brings some new challenges. For example, 6G networks are more sensitive to interference from the surrounding environment and are more likely to be obstructed in indoor environments. In addition, the commercialization of 6G technology requires the large size and high cost of equipment.
"Does this mean that 6G technology is still far away for us?" In fact, researchers are already actively building standards for 6G technology, and the construction of related infrastructure is also accelerating, and it is expected that 6G technology will officially meet us around 2030.
In other words, while 6G technology brings huge development opportunities, it also faces challenges that must be overcome. These challenges include high susceptibility to environmental disturbances, as well as barriers to signal propagation in enclosed spaces. At the same time, the commercial application of 6G technology also faces the dual challenges of equipment size and cost.
"So, is 6G really out of reach?" Not really. Scientists have already begun work on 6G technology standards, and at the same time, the necessary infrastructure is steadily advancing, and it is expected that 6G technology will be officially commercialized by around 2030.
The arrival of the 6G era is not only a leap forward in technology, but also a deep insight into the future lifestyle. It will change the way we communicate, reinvent our entertainment experiences, and perhaps even redefine the way we work. In this new era of change, each of us is a witness and a participant. Let's look forward to how 6G will change the world.
"So, you're ready for the 6G era." In this new era full of infinite possibilities, let's explore together, grow together, and create our own future together.