6G Technology to Lead the Future Communication Revolution, Ushering in a New Era

As the global new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerates, the widespread application of new-generation information and communication technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), three-dimensional (3D) media, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is generating massive data transmission demands. Compared to 4G, 5G technology has already achieved faster transmission speeds, ultra-low latency, and lower power consumption. However, to address future challenges, the development of 6G wireless systems has become a global focus.

6G will not only integrate all functions of traditional cellular networks but also expand services and applications through new technologies such as AI, smart wearable devices, autonomous vehicles, extended reality (XR), and 3D projection. Since the 1980s, mobile communication technology has undergone revolutionary breakthroughs almost every decade, driving the iterative upgrade of the information industry and the prosperity of the economy and society. While pre-4G mobile communication primarily focused on the consumer market, 5G achieved revolutionary technological breakthroughs, and 6G will further promote the development of diverse access networks, including mobile cellular, satellite communication, drone communication, underwater acoustic communication, and visible light communication.

With the advent of 6G technology and the maturation of interdisciplinary fields such as bioscience, materials science, and bioelectronic medicine, the future may see the realization of "human digital twins." This involves the extensive monitoring of the human body through numerous smart sensors, enabling real-time mirroring of vital organs, nervous systems, respiratory systems, and more, thereby providing personalized health data monitoring. Additionally, 6G will address the current bottlenecks in in-flight internet services by offering high-quality, high-speed internet experiences through new communication technologies and network architectures.

The 6G network will adopt a unified network architecture, introduce new business scenarios, and build a more efficient and comprehensive network. In the future, 6G networks will be jointly constructed by multiple operators, utilizing network virtualization, software-defined networking, and network slicing technologies to separate physical and logical networks. 6G will be built on a distributed, cross-regional, cross-airspace, and cross-maritime network integrating land-based, sea-based, air-based, and space-based systems.

By 2030, the 6G network will achieve "ubiquitous connectivity," covering current network blind spots such as deserts, deep seas, and high mountains, enabling seamless global coverage. The ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and ultra-reliable characteristics of 6G will facilitate real-time data collection and processing in factory workshops, machine tools, and components, leveraging edge computing and AI technologies for real-time monitoring and command execution at the terminal side. 6G will also promote the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles, transforming our daily lives.

Key technologies of the 6G network include next-generation channel coding, the design and optimization of polar multiple access systems, deep learning-based signal processing, terahertz wireless communication, and integrated space-air-sea-ground communication. In 2018, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established the Focus Group on Network 2030 to explore emerging ICT network requirements for 2030 and beyond, driving the research and application of 6G technology.

The arrival of 6G will usher in a new era of communication, further advancing global economic and social development.