Technology never stands still, and while 5G communications feels very new and flashy, the industry is already preparing for the next generation. LG Electronics and the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute recently conducted a test to set a new distance record for data transmission using 6G technology.
As you might expect, 6G is expected to perform similarly to 5G and its predecessors, but faster and more efficiently. This is because for the first time it extends to terahertz (THz) frequencies, which will allow him to offer data rates up to 50 times faster than 5G with just 10% latency.
Companies like Samsung and LG have been testing and refining this technology for several years and continue to break distance records for 6G data transmission. Now, LG and Fraunhofer have succeeded in extending that distance to 500 meters (1,640 feet) in a new test, breaking the record of 320 meters (1,050 feet) set last year.
The researchers say this milestone is important because the standard distance for high-power base stations installed around urban areas is 500 meters. The new tests also verified that 6G can communicate between buildings, between buildings and the ground, and between terminals on the ground. Overall, the technology is inching closer to being real-world ready.
The main drawback of 6G is that it typically has a short range. For the new test, LG and Fraunhofer developed a new multi-channel power amplifier and receiver low-noise amplifier, increasing the output by more than 50% and achieving a new distance record.
However, 5G phones are not yet obsolete. Commercialization of 6G is not expected until 2029. Until then, there are many more technical issues to solve and network standards to be determined.
Source: LG
