5G was sold to us as the technology that would change the world. They promised incredible speeds, almost zero latency, and a radically improved mobile experience. Almost five years later, where is that revolution?
The truth is that, for many users, the changes have been minimal. And now, we're already hearing about 6G, the next generation of mobile networks. Are we witnessing a real breakthrough or just an early marketing campaign?
When 5G first began rolling out, the enthusiasm was palpable. There was talk of revolutionary applications such as immersive virtual reality, self-driving cars, and advanced telemedicine. However, the reality has been more subdued. Although 5G theoretically offers much faster speeds than 4G, in practice, many users have barely noticed a significant difference in their daily lives.
A key factor is the limited deployment of the millimeter wave band (mmWave), one of the keys to achieving the promised peak speeds. This band, which ranges from 24 to 100 GHz, offers much greater bandwidth, but its coverage is limited and requires a much higher antenna density. In Europe, mmWave deployment is still very early, limiting the potential of 5G. Furthermore, most 5G devices still operate in lower frequency bands, close to those of 4G.
Faced with the slow adoption of 5G, chipmakers like Qualcomm are already looking to the future and introducing the first 6G technologies. The main promise of 6G lies in its optimization for Artificial Intelligence (AI). This new generation of networks is expected to significantly improve the handling and processing of large volumes of data, which is essential for the development of more sophisticated AI applications.
AI can be understood in two broad ways. Cloud AI is responsible for running machine learning models, while edge AI (edge computing) allows data to be processed directly on or near devices. The latter is crucial for applications that require instant responses and low latency, such as autonomous vehicles or industrial robotics.
This is where economic interests come into play. Companies that manufacture the chips that power edge devices, such as Qualcomm, see 6G as a potential market of billions of connected devices. Each 6G chip represents a huge business opportunity.
This is why it is estimated that 6G could be available by the end of the 2020s, and it will likely be presented to us as the solution to all of the technological problems of the future, even if we don't need it. The need for a new standard, now that 5G is not yet fully implemented, is a powerful selling point.
While 6G presents exciting potential, it's important to maintain a critical perspective. 5G is still maturing, and its full deployment will take time. Before we can talk about 6G as the next revolution, it's critical that 5G deliver on its promises and that the technical and economic challenges it still faces are addressed.
The key question isn't whether 6G will arrive, but whether we'll truly need all the benefits it's promised. Or whether we're simply facing a new generation of technology with very aggressive marketing, designed to drive a continuous consumption cycle. Time will tell.
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