The telecommunications industry is already actively developing a new generation of mobile networks that will succeed 5G. The new technology known as 6G is expected around 2030 and will bring significant changes in the way mobile networks function, with a focus on upload speeds, artificial intelligence and advanced features for detecting objects in space.
While 5G has brought faster data downloads and lower latency, many feel it hasn’t delivered on all the big promises like autonomous vehicles or remote medical surgeries. Therefore, 6G is expected to introduce significant technological advances.
6G brings faster upload speeds and AI in the network itself
One of the main goals of 6G networks will be a significant increase in upload speeds, i.e. the speed of sending data to the network. Unlike the 5G system, which is primarily optimized for download, the new generation of the network strives to achieve almost symmetrical speeds for sending and downloading data.
This approach becomes especially important due to the increasing use of cloud services and AI applications that require sending large amounts of data to servers for processing.
The development of the 6G standard is currently coordinated by organizations such as 3GPP and the International Telecommunication Union, through a program known as IMT-2030.
Technology companies such as Qualcomm, Ericsson and Nokia are already actively developing the infrastructure and technologies that will be part of future 6G networks.
One of the key innovations will be the integration of the AI hub within the network infrastructure itself. Instead of sending all requests to remote data centers, AI processing could be performed at local network hubs through so-called “edge computing”, which would reduce latency and speed up system response.
6G networks will be able to detect objects like radar
Another potentially revolutionary feature of 6G technology is called “sensing” or joint communication and detection (JCAS). This concept allows the mobile network to use radio waves to detect objects in space, similar to radar systems.
In this way, the network could recognize vehicles, drones or other objects based on the reflection of signals from base stations. Such technology could be used in autonomous driving, smart cities and security systems.
However, these possibilities also open up new privacy issues, as the network could potentially detect the movement of people and objects without the use of cameras.
In addition, 6G could also use extremely high frequencies from the terahertz spectrum to enable even higher data transfer speeds. At the same time, better integration with satellite networks is expected to improve coverage in remote areas.
The terahertz (THz) range of radio waves, which could potentially be used in future 6G networks, is currently the subject of numerous scientific investigations. According to the results so far, there is no evidence that exposure to THz electromagnetic radiation at the levels used in telecommunications poses a risk to human health.
Although commercial implementation is still a few years away, the industry is already working intensively on defining the standards and infrastructure that will shape the next decade of mobile communications, writes Wired.