Surpassing the US and Europe, China is leading the race to develop 6G technology.

Imagine a future where the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur: a world where team meetings can take place in 3D, and self-driving vehicles navigate urban streets controlled by digital twins.

According to the South China Morning Post, sixth-generation (6G) wireless communications technology will not only increase connectivity and data transmission capabilities compared to current technologies, but also change the way we interact with technology and the world around us. While 5G technology is still being deployed, several countries and international organizations have continued to discuss standards for 6G technology, which is expected to be commercially available by the end of this decade.

China has asserted its leadership in the race to develop 6G technology by establishing three technology standards for 6G by 2024, under the auspices of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). National development goals this year include developing future industries such as 6G technology.

However, not all countries share China's concerns about 6G. The industry report published in the journal Scientia Sinica Informationis said there are still clear differences in attitudes between countries and regions towards 6G.

“Telecom operators in Europe and the US are more cautious about developing 6G technology, mainly due to the slow rollout of 5G. In contrast, countries with rapid 5G deployment, such as China, Japan and South Korea, are more positive about the technology,” the report said.

The report was drafted by leading companies in China's telecommunications industry, including representatives from China Mobile Research Institute, Huawei Technologies, CICT Mobile, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Southeast University.

Meanwhile, some countries such as France, Italy and Germany have taken a more cautious approach to 6G development, with proposals to set lower technical performance targets for the technology. The question is whether this conservative approach will lead to 6G standards with less ambitious performance metrics.

What is 6G and how is it different from 5G?

Previous wireless communication technologies, such as 2G and 3G, mainly served to expand voice and text communication capabilities. Meanwhile, 5G has begun to connect complex networks and support automated systems.

Since 5G was rolled out by mobile operators in 2019, the technology has created breakthroughs in many areas such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).

The next generation of communications technology, 6G, will not only improve on existing elements but also seek to merge the physical and digital worlds, creating more intelligent and innovative systems.

Potential applications of 6G technology

One of the notable applications of 6G is the ability to significantly improve the reliability and reduce the latency of information transmission. This will have far-reaching impacts on areas such as smart grids, telemedicine and autonomous navigation, while also helping to save energy.

6G technology will also support more advanced AI applications, contributing to the expanded use of IoT devices in smart cities and automated transportation systems. In addition, the technology promises to help monitor health and agriculture, with applications in these areas.

Technologies previously seen only in science fiction movies, such as holographic communications and “digital twins” (exact virtual copies of an object or system that are updated in real time) will become a reality. These could have widespread applications in factories, creating more accurate city maps for navigation services, and even creating digital copies of humans in medicine.

How is 6G being developed globally?

While different countries and organizations are conducting separate research and development, 6G deployment will require global consensus on operating standards and regulations.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations agency, is aiming to establish standards for 6G technology by 2030, so that it can be commercially deployed by the end of the decade. ITU is the body responsible for setting international standards in telecommunications fields, including satellites, radio, and the internet. Research groups in the telecommunications industry and universities are conducting research on 6G architecture and will submit proposals to ITU as they progress.

In addition to the ITU, another standards body in the global communications field is the Third Generation Partnership Project, which includes standards organizations from China, Japan, the US, India, South Korea and Europe.

Pre-commercial trials for 6G technology could begin as early as 2028, according to Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/khoa-hoc-doi-song/vuot-my-va-chau-au-trung-quoc-dang-dan-dau-cuoc-dua-phat-trien-cong-nghe-6g-20250324104538924.htm