WEB DESK: Researchers at University College London (UCL) have made a significant advancement in testing the future 6G network, achieving speeds of an astonishing 938 Gbps.
To put that into perspective, while the current 5G networks are theoretically capable of 20 Gbps, they typically deliver much slower speeds in real-world use.
The UCL team reached these remarkable results by experimenting with an expanded range of frequencies, using the 5–150 GHz spectrum. This approach helped them outpace even Japanese researchers, who recently set a record by achieving speeds 20 times faster than 5G.
While these speeds sound impressive, it’s important to note that lab results don’t always reflect real-world conditions. When 6G networks are eventually rolled out, practical challenges such as spectrum limitations and infrastructure costs will likely result in lower speeds.
However, the potential remains significant—at 938 Gbps, users could theoretically download over 20 high-definition movies in just one second. Yet, in today’s world, more common applications would be ultra-high-definition video streaming or high-resolution gaming, rather than downloading movies.
Though we’re still years away from seeing 6G in action, with the first commercial networks expected around 2030, developments like this are crucial.
As more research builds up, the final 6G technology is likely to offer far greater improvements over 5G than originally anticipated, both in speed and in overall network capabilities. The world of connectivity is on the verge of another leap forward.
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