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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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Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.