The world we live in today is characterized by the constant development of almost everything that surrounds us. In particular, the rapid advancement of technology left us still trying to catch the pace of constant tech evolution.

6G is real, it’s coming and 6G is going to affect the lives of people and the efficiency of industries. But before we learn more about the 6th generation of cellular data network technology, let’s read more about it’s soon-to-be predecessor, 5G.

Just imagine to think of 6G while 5G isn’t even available everywhere yet? Well, if you think 6G is not even possible let alone on the horizon then you’re far behind the pace than us.

What is 5G?

Introduced in 2019, as of today 5G is available in more than 2,400 cities across 90+ countries – constantly changing lives by offering speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. 5G has wider coverage and supports up to 100 times as many devices and endpoints as 4G, allowing for a broader range of applications.

5G networks are used in many different industries including Internet of Things (IoT), transportation, healthcare, agriculture, smart cities and entertainment.

The key points of 5G include:

• Increased speeds of up to 10 Gbps or more, nearly 100 times faster than 4G.
• Lower latency, or delay time between data requests and responses. 5G networks can have much lower latencies compared to 50 milliseconds for 4G.
• Support for many more connected devices with improved reliability. 5G networks are designed to support up to 1 million connected devices per square kilometer.
• 5G can be used in applications such as streaming media, real-time gaming, autonomous vehicles and remote healthcare.

By the end of March 2023, GSA’s report data (click here to access summary reports) released that 243 operators in 96 countries had launched 5G mobile services.

Okay but what is 6G and what it will bring to us?

With the speed of 5G, its lower latency and many benefits it carries, one could possibly bother to ask: Will there be anything better? Anything faster? Anything more innovative?

The answer is a resounding yes, and it's called 6G. Despite 5G still being rolled out in many countries around the world, researchers have already started looking into the future of wireless communication technology: 6G.

The sixth generation of cellular data network promises to be faster than 5G by providing up to 1Tbps download speeds with an extremely low latency — as low as 1 millisecond — allowing for faster data transmission and real-time communication. This could make applications such as autonomous vehicles possible, which would need to communicate with each other at blazing speeds.

By making the creation of smart homes and automated transport possible, 6G is expected to improve living standards and environmental monitoring.

Furthermore, it will elevate the realm of virtual healthcare by leveraging cutting-edge technologies like holographic telepresence, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile edge computing. This integration will revolutionize the healthcare experience, enhancing accessibility and quality of care.

In the table below, researchers have shown how different cellular network systems such as 4G, 5G, and 6G tackled common issues over the years.

Along being faster, better and having real-life application in different industries, 6G will surely give new dimensions to the way we are living or doing business virtually today.

Who’s currently working on 6G?

6G will be much more than an advancement in technology - it represents an opportunity to reshape almost every industry and area of society. It is the next generation of mobile technology. This is the motivation behind the iniative of Next G Alliance whose aim is to advance North American wireless technology leadership over the next decade through private-sector-led efforts.

From 5G to the next G, AT&T is among those leading the path to 6G on developing a roadmap to position North America as the global leader in research and development, standardization, manufacturing and adoption of Next G Technologies.

Besides Next G Alliance, different organizations and companies have expressed their interest in exploring the new technology, including University of Aveiro, SK Telecom, TeraView, LG Elect.

Conclusion

Both of 5G and 6G networks offer advantages, but 6G is expected to revolutionize the telecommunication industry with its ability to go beyond technical limits of the current 5G.

With more secure systems, efficiency, accelerated automation, limitless connectivity, 6G promises a good future ahead! The challenges in 6G networks will be researched and only the future will tell how 6G will take place.

At Kosbit, our top-notch engineers have already designed and deployed 4G for Vodafone in Africa, as well as they are fully equipped with the skills to implement 5G networks for our global partners. As we look ahead to the future of 6G, we're super excited to be actively involved in this transformative journey. Our unwavering dedication extends to collaboration with industry pioneers, exemplified by our partner AT&T, who leads the drive towards the Next G.