Next up: 6G
6G can be five times faster than 5G. 6G is the next generation after 5G, but many technical specifications are still needed. Researchers and scientists need the infrastructure and components to make the network a reality. According to the GSMA, there is a long way to go before 6G networks become a reality. For example, it is expected that 6G will not become a mainstream network until the 2030s. The final specifications are not expected to be released until 2028.
Progress
The groundbreaking 6G antennas open up new possibilities, and the researchers outlined their findings in the IEEE Open Journal of Antennas and Propagation.
One of the advantages of DMA is that it can receive signals inside buildings, something that 6G networks cannot do. In the report, the scientists explain how the antenna can support a large-scale network with “high transmission speeds and large amounts of data throughput.” In addition, the prototype reduced energy consumption by 88% compared to other antennas.
Furthermore, antennas have a wide range of potential uses.
For example, DMA designs could be used in hospitals to help monitor and care for patients, including monitoring their vital signs and tracking their movements. Additionally, researchers believe high-resolution radar could be used to help autonomous vehicles navigate the roads and in the air, including self-driving cars and drones.
Increased data transfer speeds open up the possibility of holographic imaging, a breakthrough that could make it possible to project 3D models of people and objects in real time, anywhere in the world.
“6G has the potential to be transformative for society as a whole,” said Dr Masood-ur-Rehman, who led the antenna development. “Our high-frequency intelligent and highly adaptive antenna design could become one of the technological foundations for the next generation of mmWave reconfigurable antennas.”
