Starlink has become the key for the United States to achieve corner overtaking in the 6G era. Facing China's superiority in ground mobile communication technology, the United States intends to rely on satellite communication technology to overtake. However, the recent launch of domestic 5G+ satellite communication mobile phones means that China One step ahead in civil satellite communication technology.
1. China's advantages in ground mobile communication technology
In terms of 5G technology, China already has an indisputable advantage. The 5G patents obtained by a Chinese communication company account for as much as 15%, far ahead of Qualcomm in the United States. Achieved nearly 40% share in patents.
China has accelerated the commercialization of 5G. At present, the 5G base stations built in China account for 60% of the global 5G base stations, and the number of 5G users accounts for nearly 70% of the global proportion. The progress in commercial use has also strengthened China's control over 5G technology. Patents can also be continuously accumulated in commercial practice.
The development of mobile communication technology is not achieved overnight. Each generation of mobile communication technology is actually based on the evolution of the previous generation of mobile communication technology. The same will be true for 6G technology. The multi-antenna technology and high-frequency band network verified in the current 5G and 5.5G technologies Coverage technology can be applied in 6G technology, which also helps China gain an advantage in 6G technology.
According to statistical data, the proportion of 6G patents applied by China has reached nearly 40%, while the proportion of 6G patents applied by the United States is only about 35%. For this reason, the United States is trying to win over Japan, South Korea, Europe, etc. to form a 6G alliance to ensure that 6G technology Take the lead on the road, and then achieve corner overtaking.
2. The United States hopes to use Starlink to enhance its 6G technological advantages
6G will no longer be limited to terrestrial communications. It will integrate terrestrial mobile communications and satellite communications technologies to realize the integration of heaven and earth, thus bringing about a new revolution in human communications technology. The United States has just taken the lead in satellite communications technology, that is SpaceX's Starlink.
SpaceX has been laying out Starlink for several years. It plans to deploy nearly 40,000 satellites in space to provide comprehensive satellite communication services for global consumers. After several years of development, it has deployed more than 4,000 satellites in space. Now people Looking up at the sky, you can often see the satellites of Starlink passing across the sky like a pearl necklace.
With the foundation of SpaceX's Starlink satellites, Starlink has begun to serve global consumers. It was reported earlier that Malaysia has issued a commercial license for SpaceX, allowing SpaceX to provide satellite communication services for users in remote areas in Malaysia, showing that SpaceX It is going out of the United States and into the global market.
Satellite communication technology is one step ahead, which has laid the foundation for the United States to achieve corner overtaking in 6G technology. The industry generally believes that 6G may be commercialized early, and it will be commercialized as early as 2030, and then replace the current commercial 5G.
3. The Significance of China’s 5G+ Satellite Communication Mobile Phone Launch
With the 5G+ satellite communication mobile phone released by this Chinese mobile phone company, the detailed rules of satellite communication services are also more detailed. It is understood that the only operator that can provide consumers with satellite communication services is China Telecom, which charges for satellite communication services provided by China Telecom. The starting package is 200 yuan per month.
China's satellite communication services are more affordable, and Starlink's satellite communication services start at $99 per month, which means that China's satellite communication costs are lower, and the technology is mature. After getting this 5G+ satellite communication mobile phone, some consumers tried satellite calling immediately, and found that it was as simple and fast as daily mobile phone calls, which means that China is actually quite mature in satellite communication technology.
Compared with the satellite communication service provided by Starlink in Malaysia, which requires a larger external satellite antenna, China's satellite communication mobile phone has a built-in satellite antenna, and can even make calls without facing the sky. It can be said that in terms of terminal satellite communication technology have more advantages.
As for the number of satellite communications, with China’s launch of 41 satellites per arrow, China’s satellite launch technology has taken a leading position in the world. The lower-cost satellite launch technology will support China’s rapid deployment of satellite communication systems, and the US Starlink maintains its leading technology The time of advantage will not be too long, and the United States may not be able to achieve the deployment of 40,000 satellites. After all, it took 7 years to launch more than 4,000 satellites, and the lifespan of the satellites is only about 20 years.
It can be said that the competition between China and the United States in 6G technology has already begun, and China's advantages in ground mobile communication technology are beyond doubt, and it is catching up in satellite communication technology. It is very likely that China will ensure its leading edge in 6G technology.