China has successfully launched a test satellite they are calling "The World's First 6G Satellite" into space. The Chinese Embassy in the US tweeted that the supposed “6G” satellite was one of 13 aboard the Long March-6 rocket, which launched on November 6th at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province. It weighs approximately 154 pounds and is named after its co-developer, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), which worked with Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Technology and Beijing MinoSpace Technology on the project.
What is 6G Technology?
This technology, which is similar to 5G, will take us much further. As with previous generations, it will mean faster and more capable mobile broadband for users. 6G is the sixth generation of mobile connectivity technology. Previous generations were 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, and, most recently, 5G. 6G is intended to overcome a wired network with devices acting as antennas using a decentralized network that is not under the control of a single network operator. Just like science fiction applications, the integration of our brains with computers and vastly improved touch control systems applications can also come with it. NTT DoCoMo (The predominant mobile phone operator in Japan) mentions about 6G making it, “possible for cyberspace to support human thought and action in real-time through wearable devices and micro-devices mounted on the human body.”
What is the Goal of this New Technology?
The 154 pounds 6G test satellite aims to verify the performance of data transmission using the terahertz spectrum and will test a number of smart cities, environmental protection, and disaster prevention applications, such as crop and forest fire monitoring, China Global Television Network reported. Terahertz waves, which are high-frequency radiation, allow data to travel at 50 gigabits a second. That offers streaming speeds about 100 times faster than those possible today, in which wireless networks reach a top speed of 500 megabytes. An international consensus and communication process have begun for this development, which excites many scientists and administrators. However, some scientists also point out that the new infrastructure of 6G, the increasing integration of space-air-ground-sea communication technologies and the use of a new frequency range to transmit data can affect public health and can be too expensive or unsafe.
6G and International Mobility
Several companies (i.e. Nokia, Samsung, LG, Apple) have shown interest in 6G. China, South Korea, and Japan also reportedly have an interest. 6G will likely become commercially available in the 2030s. In mid-October US operators Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile US, and US Cellular joined other operators under the guise of the Next G Alliance, aiming to steer the development of 6G and establish North America as a global leader in the technology. NTT Docomo in Japan started early moves to develop 6G technology in January with a goal of a commercial launch by 2030, and in May China Unicom and ZTE signed a strategic agreement to develop 6G technologies.
Bibliography
Boxall, Andy. “What Is 6G, How Fast Will It Be, and When Is It Coming?” Digital Trends, Digital Trends, 3 Feb. 2020, www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-is-6g/.
Makichuk, Dave. “China Leapfrogs World with First 6G Experimental Satellite.” Asia Times, 10 Nov. 2020, asiatimes.com/2020/11/china-leapfrogs-world-with-first-6g-experimental-satellite/.
McCallion, Jane. “What Is 6G and How Far Are We from Rollout?” IT PRO, IT Pro, 18 Sept. 2020, www.itpro.co.uk/infrastructure/network-internet/357153/what-is-6g-and-how-far-are-we-from-rollout.
Thomson, Billie. “China Launches 'the World's First 6G Experimental Satellite'.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 9 Nov. 2020, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8929247/China-launches-worlds-6G-experimental-satellite.html.
Waring, Joseph. “China Puts ‘6G’ Test Satellite into Orbit.” Mobile World Live, 9 Nov. 2020, www.mobileworldlive.com/featured-content/home-banner/china-puts-6g-test-satellite-into-orbit.
