5G networks are a blessing in the Philippines. 5G upgraded the quality of video calls, minimized waiting times for webpages, reduced latency in games like the ever-popular Mobile legends, and sped uploading times for videos on Youtube.
However, as with all technology, it’s bound to reach its limit within a few years and will be replaced with something faster. And in this case, the CEO of Nokia Pekka Lundmark says 6G will happen soon.
This is not the first time a company has announced its plans for faster network speeds. In fact, the CEO of Huawei said they’re working on implementing the new network protocol, but it would at least take a decade before it can be commercialized. Huawei has reportedly been working on 6G concurrently with 5G, so it’s nothing new for them.
Lundmark also adds that 6G will mark the time before the global population will move entirely away from smartphones and into wearables. Part of the reason why 5G is being developed is the pursuit of driverless cars, not just faster mobile network speeds.
In 6G, the speeds go beyond the Ghz range found in 5G (currently at Sub-6 GHz 5G). 6G speeds are in the THz (terahertz) range, which means the upload and download speeds are at 200GB/s. That’s 200 times faster than current 5G speeds which run at 1GB/s.
The only problem with 6G speeds is its sensitivity to obstructions. Much like 5G which doesn’t fare well in highly urbanized areas, or areas with lots of concrete buildings.
CEO Pekka Lundmark also predicts that smartphones will not be the target of 6G, but rather wearable tech like Meta’s Quest devices, Google Glass, and other types of VR-enabled tech. For this to happen, the development of faster network speeds is a must, else the transition will take longer than expected.
