6G - The new technology race has begun

Recently, the 2024 Global 6G Development Conference jointly organized by the China IMT-2030 (6G) Promotion Group, the China Communications Association, and the China Information and Communications Research Institute took place in Shanghai. Experts attending the conference discussed the needs of 6G applications, key technologies, test verification, international standardization, etc.

As one of the most important comprehensive digital information infrastructures in the world in the next decade, 6G will lead the digitalization, networking, intelligent and green development of industries, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and bring new opportunities for global economic development.

Zhang Yunming, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology of China, said that 6G research and development is now entering a new stage, and manufacturers and research institutes around the world need to work closely to practically promote the innovative development of 6G.

Wang Zhijin, head of the IMT-2030 (6G) promotion team and deputy director of the China Information and Communications Research Institute, said that 6G is moving from technology research to the standard research stage, researching and forming innovative technology systems such as communication, perception, intelligence and computing, to achieve intelligent endogenous, green energy saving, safe and reliable.

In fact, although 6G is still in the technology research and standardization stage, the industry has begun to move towards 6G commercialization. Experts believe that 6G commercial value is both a starting point and a stopping point. The judgment of commercial value will affect the choice of network development path, and further affect the industry's grasp of the pace of time.

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Mr. Wu Xiaquan, said that 6G puts forward higher requirements in application scenarios than 5G, including higher speed, high reliability, high-precision positioning and various dimensions, including sensor fusion, massive connectivity.

Notably, it is argued that the implementation of 6G subnetworks can provide fast and accurate transmission services for a specific area, providing precise support for local transmission in “smart cities”, making applications requiring ultra-low latency such as robot collaboration, autonomous driving, and remote surgery safer and more reliable. In addition, 6G networks will become an efficient, energy-saving, and secure distributed AI service delivery platform. 6G can also provide intelligent and computing services to third-party devices such as user terminals, and use the AI ​​and computing resources provided on the network side.

Experts also said that the period 2025-2027 is the research period for global 6G standards; from 2027 to 2029 is the first standard formation period; by 2030, 6G will enter the commercialization stage.