Information about 6G technology and its differences from 5G

La mobile connectivity It is experiencing the biggest revolution in its historyWhile 4G remains dominant in some areas and 5G hasn't even been fully deployed, governments, operators, and manufacturers already have their sights set on the next leap: 6G. It's not just about speed; it's about designing a virtually instantaneous, much smarter network capable of supporting an avalanche of devices, data, and services that we're only just beginning to imagine.

In this context, to fully understand what 6G is and how it differs from 5G It's key for both users and businesses. We're talking about profound changes: new frequency bands (even in the terahertz range), near-zero latency, native integration with artificial intelligence, holographic communications, massive automation, and a very different relationship between the mobile network, the cloud, and the devices we use every day.

What exactly is 6G and what does it promise compared to 5G?

6G will be the sixth generation of mobile networks And it is destined to take over from advanced 5G or 5G+, also known as 5.5G. Just as 4G surpassed 3G and 5G expanded the capabilities of 4G, 6G will seek to go several steps further in speed, latency, capacity of connected devices and energy efficiency, while opening the door to applications that today are practically science fiction.

Before we see 6G-connected phones, we will experience a phase of Advanced 5G (5G+, 5.5G)which is already starting to emerge. Manufacturers like Huawei claim that this intermediate stage, supported by technologies like massive MIMO, can reach speeds of up to 10 Gbps, serving as a natural bridge between current 5G and the future sixth generation.

Although a closed 6G standard does not yet exist, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with its recommendation ITU-R M.2160, has already established very ambitious performance targetsPeak speeds of around 200 Gbps and, according to various studies, even theoretical peaks of up to 512 Gbps or on the order of 1 Tbps in ideal scenarios.

La 6G target latency It operates at around 0,1 milliseconds (0,1 ms), a tenth of what 5G aims for in its most advanced modes. This virtually instantaneous response capability will enable ultra-safe remote surgeries, fully autonomous high-speed vehicles, and seamless holographic communications.

In addition to speed and latency, 6G aims to drastically increase the traffic capacity per area, with references of between 30 and 50 Mbit/s per square meter, already multiplying the efficiency of the spectrum at least by three compared to the reference of the IMT-2020 networks (the framework that encompasses 5G).

Frequency bands and spectrum: from gigahertz to terahertz

One of the major technological differences between 5G and 6G will be in the frequency bands used4G operates up to around 6 GHz, while 5G has been expanding its reach to the 100-110 GHz range in what are known as millimeter waves (mmWave). To unlock the full potential of 6G, manufacturers like Samsung are considering making the leap to the 6 GHz range. terahertz (THz).

In practice, this would mean considering 6G the entire available spectrumFrom the low band (below 1 GHz, ideal for wide coverage) through the mid band (1 to 24 GHz, a good balance between range and capacity) and reaching a high band that could theoretically go up to ~3000 GHz. The challenge here is enormous, because it requires designing new antennas, materials, and radio systems capable of handling these very high frequencies.

There is already promising evidence in this area. LG, for example, has managed transmit data in the terahertz range at distances that have been steadily increasing: first around 100 meters, then between 155 and 175 GHz at 320 meters outdoors, and more recently, beyond 500 meters. In China, it has even been possible to transmit 1 TB of data over 1 kilometer in a single second using THz wireless communications.

Fujitsu, in collaboration with DOCOMO and NTT, is also experimenting with waves sub-terahertz at 100 GHz and 300 GHzIts goal is to achieve ultra-high-speed communications that maintain robust propagation even in environments with obstacles, something critical if 6G is to be used in complex industrial plants or dense urban areas.

All these advances must coexist with the fact that 5G will remain operational for many years. That's why manufacturers like Samsung are emphasizing the need to reserve new bands exclusively for 6Gso that current networks are not limited while the new generation is being deployed.

Key figures: 6G speed, latency, and capacity vs. 5G

5G already represented a significant leap forward compared to 4G: up to 20 Gbps peak theoretical speed, latencies around 1 ms in the most advanced modes and the capacity to connect up to one million devices per square kilometer under ideal conditions. But 6G aims to take things to the next level in all these areas.

Projections indicate that 6G could reach speeds up to 100 times faster than 5GSome manufacturers, like Samsung, are talking about peak speeds of 1000 Gbps (1 Tbps) for both downloads and uploads, while other studies suggest peak speeds of 200-512 Gbps for initial commercial deployments. In any case, we're talking about being able to download large, immersive content files (8K movies, full games, virtual reality environments) almost instantly.

In terms of latency, the improvement is equally radical. If 5G was designed to approach latencies on the order of 1 millisecond6G aims to reduce that figure to around 0,1 ms. Some visions even suggest microsecond latencies in very specific scenarios, which would allow for near real-time reactions for vehicles, robots, or critical medical applications.

Network capacity will also take a leap. 5G already allows for massive device densities, although in complex environments (stadiums, factories full of metal structures) theoretical figures are not always achieved. 6G, meanwhile, It aims to manage even more simultaneous terminals in the same space, maintaining the quality of service even in extreme situations.

The ITU, through ITU-R M.2160, sets the following objectives for 6G: Stable speed for the end user between 300 and 500 Mbps, latencies on the order of 0,1-1 ms, a spectral efficiency three times greater than IMT-2020 and a traffic capacity per area of ​​30-50 Mbit/s/m². All this with a significantly lower energy consumption per bit than 5G.

Advantages and new use cases enabled by 6G

South Korea, with Samsung as a key technology partner, was one of the first countries to provide details What practical benefits will 6G bring?The goal is for the first commercial networks to offer speeds up to five times faster than the theoretical maximum of 5G, with latencies ten times lower (around 0,1 ms). This translates into truly real-time transmissions, crucial for medicine, automotive, and advanced industrial automation.

Samsung predicted in a 2020 report that 6G will allow Download and upload speeds of up to 1000 GbpsSupporting future multimedia formats and immersive experiences without perceptible delays. The vision is of an even more connected world where virtual, augmented, and mixed reality merge seamlessly, with content that adapts to any screen (or device), even if connected via a mobile network.

One of the most striking fields will be the real-time holographyWith 6G, high-definition holographic communications could become commonplace: work meetings where you see your colleagues in 3D as if they were right in front of you, live shows projected in your living room, or remote assistance with volumetric avatars without interruptions or delay.

The sixth generation also promises to improve all classic network parameters: Faster speed, lower latency, more connected devices, greater bandwidth, and better energy efficiencyAdded to this is a key element: the much deeper integration of artificial intelligence, which will allow networks to self-optimize, self-manage, and dynamically distribute resources according to the needs of each moment.

Manufacturers like OPPO have focused on how 6G It will revolutionize the way AI learns, interacts, and is applied.6G networks are expected to integrate AI functions to self-adjust, detect problems before they impact the user, prioritize critical traffic (e.g., an autonomous vehicle versus a leisure download), and facilitate applications such as connected cars, logistics robots, or remote medical systems with complete reliability.

Technological differences between current 5G and future 6G

Currently, 5G is structured around three main scenarios: higher bandwidth for fast downloads, low latency for almost immediate answers and massive connections for the Internet of Things (IoT). 6G maintains these three pillars, but with the idea of ​​taking them to another level and, in addition, incorporating completely new functionalities.

One of the big differences will be the use of much higher frequencies, in the terahertz rangeThis not only multiplies speed and capacity, but also enables joint communication and detection techniques (JCAS): the same radio signal used to transmit data will be used to "read" the environment, map spaces, or detect objects with an unprecedented level of accuracy.

In practice, we would move from a 5G network with a theoretical ceiling of around 20 Gbps and latencies of 1 ms, to a 6G ecosystem capable of approaching 1 Tbps and 0,1 msFurthermore, the sixth generation will be more energy efficient, consuming less power per transmitted bit and supporting a greater number of devices simultaneously, a key factor in factories, stadiums, hyper-connected cities, or large-scale sensor networks.

Another important point is that 6G does not intend completely replace 5G From day one. Unlike the transition from 2G to 3G or from 3G to 4G, this time the two generations will coexist for a longer period. The idea is that 6G will be used for very demanding applications (business, industrial, military environments, advanced automation) while 5G will continue to cover a large part of general consumption (entertainment, social networks, streaming, etc.).

This hybrid approach has another consequence: 6G will be built on top of much of the 5G infrastructure already deployedThis will reduce costs and complexity compared to previous generations. Initiatives such as Open RAN networks, driven by major European operators (Telefónica, Vodafone, Orange, among others), seek precisely this modularity and openness to pave the way for the next generation.

Relationship between 6G, artificial intelligence and cloud computing

The applications of Artificial intelligence in mobility and industrial environments They continue to grow: from mobile assistants to predictive maintenance systems in factories. Today, much of the model training is done offline; at the end of a production shift, for example, the machines upload data to the cloud, the AI ​​is trained, and the next day improved models are downloaded.

The combination of 5G and cloud computing already allows for certain improvements, but it has clear limitations. data volumes required for advanced AI They are so large that it's difficult to move them in real time without penalizing the network or multiplying costs. With 6G, the idea is that many AI applications can run directly in the cloud or at the edge cloud without needing so much intermediation with local devices.

In parallel, 6G will natively integrate the edge computing and high-performance computingThis brings computing power closer to where the data is generated. This will allow, for example, autonomous robots, drones, or connected vehicles to make complex decisions in milliseconds by relying on nearby servers, without having to send all the information to distant data centers.

This distributed architecture will be fundamental to enabling a Massive and truly intelligent IoTIn this scenario, millions of sensors and devices communicate with each other and with the cloud continuously, adjusting processes in real time. Industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare will benefit from this combination of ultra-fast connectivity, embedded AI, and distributed processing.

Impact on key sectors: health, automotive, industry and cities

In the healthcare sector, 5G has already boosted the rise of telemedicine, but 6G could be a game-changer. Thanks to its ultra-low latency and extreme reliabilityIt will be possible to perform complex remote operations with a precision that is not possible today, connect medical devices in real time, and monitor chronic patients with much greater granularity.

In the automotive and mobility sector, the combination of autonomous vehicles, drones, delivery robots and urban sensors It will require networks capable of orchestrating millions of interactions per second. 5G is already a first step, but for a car traveling on the highway at 120 km/h, a latency of a few milliseconds may not be enough. 6G is here to fill that gap, offering near-instantaneous response times and much more secure vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications.

Industry 4.0 will also be strengthened. 6G will enable virtually autonomous factorieswhere machinery, robots, and logistics systems communicate continuously to optimize production, reduce waste, and react instantly to any incident. Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication will be taken to the extreme, and concepts like Joint Sensing and Communication (JCAS) will allow the network itself to "see" and understand the industrial environment.

In cities, 5G has already enabled the deployment of sensor networks for traffic, energy or securityWith 6G, these smart cities will evolve towards almost autonomous management systems: traffic regulated in real time with a global view of the city, smart electrical grids that balance renewable generation down to the second, or fully automated urban services.

Another key point will be the connectivity in rural and remote areas6G aims to help close the digital divide by more deeply integrating satellite connectivity into the standard itself. This will allow high-speed internet access to areas where deploying fiber or even terrestrial 5G is currently difficult or unprofitable.

Expected timeline: when 6G will arrive on the market

Research into 6G didn't start yesterday. China, for example, announced back in 2018 that it had been researching this new connectivity for months, and since 2020 it has been promoting its rollout. official developmentThe Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with major technology players, has been conducting tests for years, including the launch of satellites intended for preliminary 6G experiments.

The most frequently repeated predictions place the 6G commercialization around 2030Nokia CEO Pekka Lundmark also pointed to that year during the 2022 World Economic Forum. At the 2019 6G Wireless Summit, various mobile communications experts agreed on that same timeframe, with the idea that between 2026 and 2028 we will begin to see the first real use cases and large-scale pilot projects.

South Korea has announced that it wants commercialize 6G between 2028 and 2030and plans to launch a pilot program in 2026 with an investment of hundreds of millions of euros. Huawei, for its part, has been working in parallel on 5G and 6G for some time and has acknowledged that it expects the sixth generation to arrive around 2030 as well.

Samsung published a reference document in 2020 that discussed define the 6G standard around 2028 and begin its commercial rollout in 2030. OPPO has a somewhat more conservative view: it estimates that formal standardization of the future technology will begin around 2025, but that massive commercial implementation might not arrive until 2035.

In Europe, the European Commission has already laid the groundwork for 6G research; through the 5G-PPP (5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership) initiatives, projects have been launched. specific R&D projects valued at tens of millions of eurosPeter Stuckmann, representative of the EC, has indicated that the 6G study is still in its initial stages, but that the goal is for its commercialization to also begin in 2030.

The International Telecommunication Union has taken a key step with the ITU-R recommendation M.2160This document sets the technical reference requirements for IMT-2030 (6G) networks. It indicates that the final technology will be selected in 2027 and that, by the end of the decade, a sufficiently mature set of specifications should exist to begin deploying the first complete networks.

The role of Spain and the European Union in the development of 6G

Spain wants to be at the forefront of this new technological wave. The government has approved aid of around 95 million euros aimed at the development of advanced 5G and 6G, and has promoted projects such as ENABLE-6G, supported by Telefónica and European bodies, to investigate architectures, use cases and prototypes of next-generation networks.

Operators like MasOrange already mention in their business strategies 5G Advanced as a stepping stone to 6GThey are using this term to refer to the evolutionary improvements that will be incorporated into the current 5G infrastructure. In parallel, Telefónica, Vodafone, and Orange are participating in alliances with major European television companies to promote open RAN networks that will facilitate European leadership in the future 6G.

At EU level, the Joint Undertaking on Smart Networks and ServicesThis joint initiative sets the 6G research and innovation strategy for the continent. Its purpose is to promote next-generation smart networks that foster Europe's digital transformation, strengthen its technological sovereignty, and reduce dependence on suppliers considered risky (such as Huawei or ZTE).

Alongside 6G, Europe continues to push the deployment of 5G and advanced 5G, understanding that coexistence of several network generations This will be the norm for many years to come. The goal is for European companies to be able to leverage these infrastructures to develop new services in fields such as Industry 4.0, smart cities, smart mobility, and digital health.

This regulatory anticipation and public investment is key to ensuring that the business sector does not fall behind. From connectivity and cybersecurity solution providers to software developers, device manufacturers, and systems integrators, all will have to adapt their products and services to a connected reality is much more demanding and complex than the current one.

The transition from 5G to 6G isn't just a simple icon change on your phone; it's a generational leap that will affect network infrastructure, cloud service architecture, and how we teach, work, move, and interact with technology. As we approach 2030, the key will be understanding these differences, making the most of 5G while we await 6G, and preparing organizations, devices, and applications for seamless connectivity. faster, smarter, more ubiquitous, and much more integrated with artificial intelligence.