The US and Russia are determined to make 6G technology the key to future connectivity.

nga 2.jpg — 6G networks are key to connecting remote and isolated areas.

Essential online activities such as video conferencing and high-definition television today require download speeds of at least 25 Mbps. In 2019, an average of about 4.4% of Americans were unable to access these services at such speeds.

The problem is four to five times worse in rural and remote American territories, with rates of 17% and 21% respectively, exacerbating the digital divide within communities.

In a world where business, daily life, and communication are increasingly conducted via mobile devices, high-speed internet is becoming a necessity. However, vast areas of the United States still lack mobile service or high-speed broadband.

One possible solution could be offered by sixth-generation (6G) mobile networks. According to experts, 6G networks will fill the gaps in terrestrial systems with a space-based network.

In mid-2023, the U.S. government took steps to improve connectivity by expanding existing broadband infrastructure. By the end of June 2023, the U.S. government had allocated $42.4 billion to the “Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment” (BEAD) program, aimed at providing Americans with reliable, high-speed internet access.

In 2022, software products were developed in Russia to accelerate the development of 5G and 6G networks. However, despite ambitious plans, the full deployment of 5G in Russia has faced several challenges, including sanctions and a lack of consensus on 5G deployment.

Therefore, unlike many other countries, Russia is considering skipping the full deployment of 5G and going straight to developing its 6G network.

Russian experts are actively developing 6G technology, including the use of satellites and drones, in an effort to improve connection speeds, reduce network latency, and enable widespread coverage, even in remote and sparsely populated areas of the country.

nga 1.jpg — 6G networks offer faster connections with lower network latency.

Many areas around the world still face the challenge of not being able to widely deploy 5G networks. The total coverage of 5G networks is estimated to only cover about 10% of the Earth's surface. With the advent of 6G, a portion of which will be extended into space, this figure could significantly change the current situation.

6G networks are still in their early stages of development and haven't even defined their key specifications yet. However, 6G technology is expected to be much faster, even thousands of times faster, than current 5G networks due to the use of higher frequency radio waves. This technology will provide faster connections with lower network latency.

Current 6G research and development efforts focus on creating “extraterrestrial” networks through the support of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles, which helps reduce costs compared to 5G networks, as 5G currently relies primarily on terrestrial fiber optic cables and mobile base stations.

Experts believe that 6G technology will open the door to future technologies. In particular, 6G networks will provide services that surpass the capabilities of current home routers, especially in terms of latency, thanks to the support of an increasing number of remote base stations.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in 6G will help improve the ability to analyze and utilize data in real time and increase data processing speed.

Although 6G technology promises revolutionary changes, its deployment still has a long way to go: 6G is not expected to be commercially available before 2030.

(according to Securitylab)

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