The upcoming 6G standard, which will offer speeds up to 50 times faster than current 5G networks, is still being fine-tuned and may be a distant dream with commercial rollout scheduled for 2030 or later.
But the groundbreaking experiment proves that 6G speeds can be achieved with current 5G and 4G LTE network equipment, potentially drastically shortening the rollout time for 6G networks.
The discovery used so-called “semantic communication,” a smart system that relays not only data but also meaning over existing network infrastructure. This new system significantly improved transmission efficiency and reduced data processing costs.
As a result, the network recorded a 10-fold increase in key transmission indicators such as capacity, coverage and efficiency, approaching the reach promised to be achieved by the transition to the 6G standard.
The sixth generation of wireless technology is expected to revolutionize communications, delivering data transmission speeds up to 50 times faster and with lower latency than 5G.
The United States and nine other countries outlined a set of guidelines for 6G communications systems earlier this year, but the focus was on building secure communications technology that prioritized national security.
Meanwhile, China is already aiming to commercialize 6G by 2030, and is expected to finalize 6G standards next year. Japan also plans to complete standardization in 2025, and from 2030, it hopes to provide communication services “beyond 5G” in cooperation with telecommunications carriers such as NTT Docomo and companies such as Sony.
If all of these plans could be implemented cheaply on today’s infrastructure through breakthroughs in semantic communications, the deadlines could be shortened significantly.
