As the world is slowly adopting 5G technology, the industry is already looking beyond 5G and focusing on the development of 6G connectivity.
6G is the next generation of wireless communication technology that promises to deliver faster and more efficient data transfer than 5G and its predecessors. This is due to its ability to utilize terahertz (THz) frequencies for the first time, which enables it to achieve data rates up to 50 times higher than 5G with just 10% of the latency.
Several companies, such as Samsung and LG, have been testing and improving the 6G technology for a few years. They have been setting new distance records for 6G data transmission, indicating that the technology is making progress and getting closer to becoming a reality.
Now, LG Electronics has taken a significant step forward in this race by announcing a successful wireless transmission and reception of 6G terahertz data over a distance of 500 meters. This is the longest distance recorded in any 6G test conducted in an outdoor, urban area so far.
The test took place at the beginning of this month at LG Sciencepark in Magok, Seoul. This latest achievement follows the company’s successful 2022 test, when it sent and received 6G THz data wirelessly over a distance of 320 meters outdoors at the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute in Berlin, Germany.
LG collaborated with Fraunhofer to develop core equipment for 6G transmission and reception, including a multi-channel power amplifier and a receiver low-noise amplifier, which helped optimize performance and improve output by over 50% to achieve the new distance record.
The recent test at LG Sciencepark also verified the usability of 6G in various ‘real world’ communication scenarios, including building-to-building, building-to-ground terminal, and ground-to-ground terminals. It takes the South Korean company one step closer to commercializing 6G THz communications.
In addition, LG is exploring various applications of 6G for its future businesses, such as autonomous driving and mobility solutions, metaverse, smart homes, and smart factories.
While 5G is still a distant dream for many users, the standardization of the 6G network is expected to start around 2025, with its commercialization slated for 2029.
