5G service coverage has not yet been fully deployed in Chile, and 6G is already being discussed in other countries, such as China. And although pilot tests of this technology are just beginning, its true need and application are striking.
What is 6G technology? What advantages does it offer over 5G technology? When might it be available in Chile?
Below, we'll tell you everything we've learned from Samsung's white paper on the 6G spectrum.
What is 6G technology?
6G technology refers to the sixth generation of mobile connectivity, which is expected to offer faster speeds and lower latency than the previous generation.
For this type of technology to be brought to market, a standard must be defined. This has not been defined for 6G, and the spectrum band it will use has not been confirmed. However, according to Samsung, 6G technology would require spectrum with a contiguous ultra-wideband bandwidth ranging from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz.
The main fields for which it is being designed, and for which it is expected to have an impact, are extended reality, holographic communication, artificial intelligence, high-fidelity mobile devices (where we are confident Samsung 6G will demonstrate its leadership in smartphones ), and energy efficiency. Ultimately, the goal is to improve connectivity with different realities (virtual, augmented, and mixed).
Its commercialization is expected to begin in 2030, and its potential will begin to be fully realized with pilot tests starting in 2026.
What is the difference between 5G and 6G?
1. Transfer Speed and Latency
- 5G offers speeds of up to 20 Gbps, while 6G promises to increase this to 1 Tbps , representing an improvement of almost 50 times.
- Latency in 5G is approximately 1 ms , while 6G seeks to reduce it to 0.1 ms , providing almost immediate response times.
.
2. Connection Capacity and Energy Efficiency
- 6G will have significantly greater connectivity capacity, allowing for a greater number of simultaneously connected devices without service degradation. This is due to the use of wider spectrums and new frequency bands.
- Furthermore, 6G will be developed with a focus on energy efficiency, seeking to reduce power consumption compared to 5G. This will contribute to sustainability by using more advanced and optimized transmission technologies.
3. Supporting Technologies and Future Applications
-
5G has enabled advancements such as massive IoT and applications in autonomous vehicles and smart cities. 6G will further boost these technologies, enabling advanced applications such as extended reality (XR) , interactive holograms, and real-time machine-to-machine communication.
. - 6G will also embed artificial intelligence and machine learning directly into the network infrastructure, allowing the network to self-manage and optimize without human intervention.
4. Use of Bands and Spectrum
-
5G primarily uses frequency bands up to millimeter waves , while 6G will move into terahertz frequencies, allowing for higher data capacity and speeds.
. - These higher frequencies allow for the handling of massive data streams, but come with challenges such as shorter range and greater difficulty traversing obstacles, which will require supporting technologies such as advanced antennas.
When could 6G technology arrive in Chile?
The commercialization of this type of technology is being led by China and is expected to begin by 2030, so it will at least be necessary to wait until that date.
Likewise, Samsung and Huawei, brands working on developing this technology, are also targeting the same date. The most optimistic predict that we'll have it by 2026, although it may only be a pilot test.
For now, we're still awaiting full 5G coverage in Chile, which is expected to reach 56.74% by 2025, according to Forbes magazine. Chile could become the region's leader in 5G deployment. Mexico would follow with 54% and Brazil with 48%. Regarding 4G coverage, the country had already reached 98% in December 2022.
So we have no doubt that we will be pioneers in the region's 6G implementation.
Stay informed about the latest technology affecting your mobile network by subscribing to our GSMPRO.CL news blog .