A group of Japanese telecommunications companies, including DOCOMO, NTT Corporation, NEC Corporation, and Fujitsu, have developed 6G network equipment with speeds of up to 100 Gbps at distances of up to 100 meters. This is 20 times faster than 5G. These companies have formed a consortium for the project and have been collaborating on research and development of sub-terahertz frequency devices since 2021.
The tests conducted by this group have achieved ultra-high-speed 100 Gbps transmission in the 100 GHz and 300 GHz bands over distances of up to 100 meters. The key difference between 5G and 6G is the frequency range of the electronic spectrum. While 5G transmissions are typically broadcast at frequencies lower than 6 GHz and expanded into bands around 40 GHz, known as “millimeter wave bands”, 6G is expected to use higher frequency bands known as “sub-terahertz” bands between 100 and 300 GHz.
To create high-speed 6G devices, the researchers had to create completely different wireless devices, as the significantly higher frequencies of the sub-terahertz range require a different technology. This is in contrast to the 28 GHz and other millimeter bands used in existing 5G systems. The researchers also need to find the exact performance standards by which wireless devices operate in the frequency bands sub-terahertz has to accommodate, and then actually make those devices.
The four companies participating in the above test have all made significant contributions to the advancement of sub-terahertz frequency technology. Fujitsu, for instance, has achieved the world’s highest power efficiency by developing high-power amplifiers, which is essential for increasing communication range while reducing power consumption for 6G.
The development of this advanced 6G technology will bring significant benefits, including the capacity to stream up to five HD movies at once. This opens up a myriad of possible applications to take advantage of the data transfer speed, from Ultra HD video streaming to real-time control on self-driving cars, as well as the growing need for communication. However, the project will need to overcome several significant hurdles to succeed, including finding the exact performance standards and making the necessary devices.