Technology never stands still, so while 5G communications feels very new and flashy, the industry is already preparing for the next generation of technology. LG Electronics and the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute have now conducted a test to set a new data transmission distance record using 6G technology.
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As everyone has come to expect, 6G's capabilities are expected to be similar to 5G and its predecessors, but faster and more efficient. That's because it extends to terahertz (THz) frequencies for the first time, enabling data transfer rates 50 times faster than 5G with only 10% of 5G's latency.
Companies like Samsung and LG have been testing and improving the technology for several years, constantly setting new distance records for 6G data transmission. Now, in new tests, LG and Fraunhofer have managed to extend the transmission distance to 500 meters (1,640 feet), beating last year's record of 320 meters (1,050 feet).
The team said this milestone is significant because 500 meters is the standard distance for establishing high-power base stations around cities. The new test also verified that 6G can communicate between building-to-building, building-to-ground and ground-to-ground terminals. Taken together, the technology is getting closer to practical applications.
The main disadvantage of 6G is that the range is generally shorter. For the new tests, LG and Fraunhofer developed a new multi-channel power amplifier and receiver low-noise amplifier that increased output power by more than 50%, enabling the new distance record.
However, the 5G phone in your hand is not obsolete yet - the commercialization of 6G is not expected until at least 2029. At the same time, there are still many technical issues to be solved and network standards to be determined.