This advancement promises significant improvements in remote service speeds, though critics persist in warning the technology may exacerbate surveillance and privacy concerns.
Chinese researchers have introduced the world’s inaugural 6G chip, an innovation capable of boosting service speeds in remote areas up to 5,000 times current levels, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Friday. This technology is anticipated to help bridge the digital gap between urban and rural communities.
Developed by scientists from Beijing-based Peking University and the City University of Hong Kong, the “all-frequency” 6G chip is reportedly able to deliver mobile internet speeds exceeding 100 gigabits per second across the entire wireless spectrum, including frequencies commonly utilized in remote regions. The chip could enhance high-speed internet access in underserved areas, making it possible to transmit a 50GB high-definition 8K movie in mere seconds.
Despite its potential benefits, both 5G and 6G technologies have encountered criticism, with worries surfacing over health risks from increased electromagnetic radiation, particularly with the higher frequency bands employed in 6G. Furthermore, vulnerabilities to cyberattacks emerge as more devices connect, and the environmental impact of expanding infrastructure, alongside the digital divide, could worsen inequality by leaving rural areas behind. Critics also issue warnings about heightened surveillance and data privacy issues as connectivity grows.
Current wireless technologies, such as 5G, are limited to specific frequency ranges. The new 6G chip reportedly integrates the entire spectrum (from 0.5 GHz to 115 GHz) into a compact 11mm x 1.7mm chip, effectively replacing multiple systems that managed different frequencies. This allows the chip to operate seamlessly across low to high bands, benefiting both high-demand applications and areas requiring broad coverage, such as rural or remote locales.
“High-frequency bands such as millimetre-wave and terahertz offer exceptionally large bandwidth and ultra-low latency, making them suitable for applications like virtual reality and surgical procedures,” Professor Wang Xingjun from Peking University informed China Science Daily.
Researchers are currently working on developing plug-and-play modules for various devices, spanning from smartphones to drones, which could broaden the new chip’s application in everyday technology, the SCMP noted.