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Super Fast 6G Connectivity Is Closer Than You Think
Samsung’s end-to-end prototype system was able to achieve real-time throughput of 6.2 Gbps over a 15-meter distance.
Even though 5G smartphones represented just 12 percent of all smartphones sold last year, telcos and researchers are already developing the sixth generation standard for wireless communications technologies, referred to simply as 6G.
Recently, Samsung Electronics in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) have demonstrated a 6G Terahertz (THz) wireless communication prototype, paving the way for peak data rates that are as much as 50 times faster than 5G.
“As we shared in our 6G vision white paper last year, we believe new spectrum opportunities at the THz spectrum will become a driving force of 6G technology,” said Senior Vice President Sunghyun Choi, an IEEE Fellow and Head of the Advanced Communication Research Center at Samsung Research. “This demonstration can be a major milestone in exploring the feasibility of using the THz spectrum for 6G wireless communications.”
Samsung’s end-to-end prototype system was able to achieve real-time throughput of 6.2 Gbps over a 15-meter distance, in part thanks to a precise digital beamforming calibration algorithm that allows for high beamforming gain.
That’s even more than the current 5G record, which was achieved in March of this year by Nikia and Turk Telekom. During their 5G trial, the two companies successfully transferred data across Turk Telekom’s 26Ghz mmWave spectrum at a peak speed of 4.5 Gbps. If everything goes according to plan, the first 6G networks could launch commercially in 2030.
Also Read: Etisalat & Ericsson Join Forces To Deploy 5G High-Band In UAE
Since regular smartphone users don’t really need an absurd amount of bandwidth to enjoy social media, stream high-resolution content, or video-chat with colleagues and friends, it’s likely that the adoption of 6G will be driven mainly by emerging mobile use scenarios, such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), the Internet of Things (IoT), and people living in isolated areas where wired internet access isn’t available.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.