Original technology cloud report.
In 2021, I believe that most people are still using 4G networks and have started to hear news about 6G without even understanding what 5G is.
Recently, the Intellectual Property Development Research Center of the State Intellectual Property Office released the "Report on the Patent Development Status of 6G Communication Technology", which provides an in-depth interpretation of the patent development of key 6G technologies.
The report shows that currently, the number of global patent applications is generally on the rise, with more than 38,000 global patent applications in the field of 6G communication technology. Among them, China is the main source of patent applications, accounting for 35% of patent applications, ranking first in the world.
Judging from the application trends in major countries and regions around the world, patent applications in the United States, Europe, and Japan have remained stable, and the trend is relatively gentle. However, since 2009, the number of patent applications in China has begun to increase rapidly, significantly exceeding that in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Countries and regions such as China and South Korea have the largest contribution to global patent applications.
Let’s talk today, what exactly is 6G? Is it a gimmick, or is it truly groundbreaking technology?
The birth of 6G
6G, the sixth generation mobile communication standard, is a conceptual wireless network mobile communication technology that was first proposed in 2018.
It is reported that the download speed of 6G can reach 1TB per second, which is 100 times higher than the transmission speed of 5G. In addition, 6G can also reduce network latency from milliseconds to microseconds.
Some people say that 5G is already very fast, so why is 6G needed? In fact, the emergence of 6G is different from 5G to a certain extent. 6G is committed to solving the problem of limited geographical coverage such as sea, land, air and space coverage.
Dr. Chen Shanzhi, deputy general manager of China Information and Communications Technology Group Co., Ltd. and director of the State Key Laboratory of Wireless Mobile Communications, once pointed out that the current mobile communication population coverage is 70%, but due to economic and technological influences, it only covers 20% of the earth. land and 6% of the surface.
In our country, more than 80% of the land and 95% of the ocean are not covered by mobile networks. However, there is a strong demand for mobile communications in industry application fields such as aviation, fishery, petroleum, forest fire alarm, field scientific research, outdoor expansion, etc., so 6G was born in response to the demand.
With 6G communications, by integrating communication, computing, perception, intelligence, etc., a ubiquitous mobile communication network in the air, space, ground, and sea can be established to achieve high-speed broadband communication with global ubiquitous coverage, and enable mankind to enter ubiquitous intelligent informatization. society.
For example: 6G network signals can reach any remote village, allowing some local patients to receive telemedicine at any time, and allowing children to receive remote education.
With the linkage support of 6G ground network, global satellite positioning system, telecommunications satellite system, and earth image satellite system, the full coverage network of ground and air can help humans predict weather and quickly respond to natural disasters.
In the 6G era, whether driving, riding a bicycle or navigating on foot, 6G combined with holographic technology can project a three-dimensional map of the entire city in front of your eyes without looking down at your phone.
People can also take advantage of the extremely short wavelength of 6G terahertz communication to develop micro-sized transceivers and antennas, and achieve ultra-high-speed data transmission between tiny wearable and implantable devices to achieve micro-scale interconnection of everything.
Key technologies of 6G
If 5G is a network system that connects everything, then some experts have proposed a new definition of 6G: 6G will become the "nervous system" of the physical world and the intelligent world.
The terahertz technology mentioned earlier is regarded as one of the key technologies of this "nervous system".
Technically speaking, terahertz waves are electromagnetic radiation with a frequency range of 0.1THz-10THz and a wavelength range of 0.03-3mm, between radio waves and light waves.
What is the concept? The existing 5G frequency range is between 2.5GHz and 6GHz. The millimeter wave frequency range that will be used in the near future is between 30GHz and 300GHz. The starting point of terahertz wave is 100GHz (0.1THz). In terms of frequency bands, if 5G is a staircase or even a high-rise elevator visible to everyone, then terahertz is almost like a towering "ladder" to the sky.
It is said that this kind of ultra-high frequency terahertz wave has short pulses, strong penetrating power, very small energy, and will cause less damage to materials and human bodies. It can see things more clearly than microwave technology. Compared with visible light, it is a "see-through eye" and can easily penetrate people's clothes.
Compared with infrared light, its "sense of smell" is more sensitive and can distinguish whether it is carrying drugs, explosives and other contraband. Compared with X-rays, it is safer and will not damage biological tissue...
In many fields such as medical diagnosis, astronomy, object imaging, industrial flaw detection, broadband mobile communications, radar detection, etc., terahertz waves have shown great scientific value and practical prospects.
In the field of communications, terahertz waves can be used as a high-speed broadband communication carrier, which will be 100 times faster than the existing 5G and load a larger amount of information. It is suitable for short-distance confidential communications in harsh environments and high-bandwidth requirements. in the field of satellite communications.
Therefore, terahertz is considered a key technology for 6G, and the 0.12THz-0.22THz frequency band it is located in has also been designated by the International Communications Union as the frequency band for the next generation of terrestrial wireless communications after 5G.
Of course, the technologies that make up 6G, the “neural network” of the future world, are far more than just terahertz waves. Space, space and ground integration, electromagnetic wave orbital angular momentum technology, intelligent reflective surface technology, visible light communication lighting positioning, blockchain and wireless network integration... are all listed as potential core technologies for 6G.
The battle for 6G
Although 5G has not yet been fully popularized, the global 6G research and development curtain has begun, and everyone is vying to seize the strategic 6G technology high ground.
Previously, Nokia Finland released the world's first 6G white paper, and the United States also started 6G research in 2018 and took the lead in starting research on integrated air, space, sea and ground communications. At the same time, the European Union, Russia and others are also intensively carrying out relevant work.
In China, in March 2018, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Miao Wei stated that China had begun research on 6G. In November 2019, the Ministry of Science and Technology, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Natural Science Foundation of China, organized a kick-off meeting for 6G technology research and development in Beijing. The meeting announced the establishment of a 6G technology research and development promotion working group. National 6G technology research and development overall expert group.
In addition, the ITU and 3GPP, relevant standards organizations in the communications field, have also given plan timetables for the formulation of 6G-related standards. All of this shows that 6G research and development is imminent.
However, the "6G Communication Technology Patent Development Status Report" also pointed out that although my country's 6G communication technology patent application contribution ranks first, China's innovation entities do not occupy a dominant position.
Among the top ten applicants worldwide, they are mainly professional communications manufacturers and research institutions from the United States, Japan and South Korea, including: Japan's NEC Corporation, South Korea's Daewoo Communications Corporation, Japan's Mitsubishi Electronics Corporation, Korea Telecom Research Institute, South Korea's Samsung Electronics, Hughes Network Systems of the United States, NTT of Japan, Qualcomm of the United States and Viasat of the United States.
However, only one university in my country, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, ranked eighth among global applicants. Manufacturers, operators and scientific research institutions were all absent.
In other words, although our country occupies an absolutely dominant position in terms of the number of patents, there is actually no enterprise-type innovation subject.
Until recently, Huawei finally reported news about 6G research and development. At the Huawei Global Analyst Conference on April 12, 2021, Huawei Rotating Chairman Xu Zhijun said: 6G will be launched on the market around 2030, and Huawei will soon release a Huawei 6G white paper to discuss with all walks of life what 6G is. ".
It is reported that Huawei began research and development of 6G in September 2019 and is currently in the technology research and standards research stages. Huawei has also established a 6G R&D center in France.
In addition, ZTE also stated that it is gradually overcoming various key 6G prototype technologies.
Although they started later than communications manufacturers in the United States, Japan and South Korea, domestic communications manufacturers still have the opportunity to lead the development of the industry. Because it will take a long time for 6G to be commercialized, it usually takes about 10 years for new generation communication technology to go from research to commercialization.
5G networks have not yet been fully popularized, but this does not prevent people from raising their fantasies about 6G networks. As the scale of 5G connections continues to expand and network pressure increases, 6G is bound to arrive.
For countries and enterprises, whoever takes the commanding heights of the 6G network in the future will be the first to usher in a new era of the Internet of Everything. The strategic significance of 6G is self-evident. The technological game is a “war” without gunpowder, and the same will be true for 6G in the future.
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