5G networks are being deployed across the globe, promising lightning-fast speeds and minimal latency. Meanwhile, in research labs, the next generation of connectivity is already brewing: 6G. But do we really need 6G in the near future? Or is it a technological breakthrough driven more by marketing than by real need?
The promise of 6G is tempting: data speeds up to 100 times higher than 5G, ultra-low latency, higher density of connected devices, greater reliability, improved energy efficiency, integration with emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing, improved coverage and greater security. A true technological feast that opens up the door to applications that are unimaginable today.
However, if we look at the real needs of users and the capabilities of 5G, a fundamental question arises: does the current reality justify the investment and development of 6G, at least in the short and medium term?
Consider speed. 5G offers theoretical speeds of between 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps. In practice, even average speeds far exceed the needs of most mobile applications. Most apps work perfectly well with 20 Mbps, a figure far below what 5G offers. Even streaming 4K video requires around 15 Mbps. In many cases, a decent 4G connection is more than enough to meet the needs of the average user.
Take autonomous cars, one of the most widely used arguments to justify the need for 6G. These vehicles will have powerful internal processing systems to manage navigation and decision-making in real time. For communication with infrastructure and other vehicles, 5G's speed and latency are, in principle, more than adequate.
What about holograms, another of the promises of the technological future? The transmission of a hologram essentially requires sending two 4K video signals simultaneously. A 30 Mbps connection, easily achievable with 5G, is sufficient for this task.
The Internet of Things (IoT), with its billions of connected devices, does not seem to require 6G any time soon either. A robust and well-implemented 4G network can handle most current and future IoT applications, from home sensors to industrial devices.
Even the metaverse, that futuristic vision of interconnected virtual worlds, does not require the capabilities of 6G, at least not in its current conception. Experts estimate that the metaverse will require speeds of between 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps, precisely what 5G already offers.
So what is the reason for the race to 6G? If current needs and short-term projections do not justify such a significant technological leap, what is driving this research and development?
One possible, albeit cynical, answer is that the tech industry constantly needs new narratives to drive innovation and consumption. 6G is presented as the next big revolution, even though its real benefits for the average user are still unclear. An artificial need is created to justify investment and development in a technology that, at least for now, seems more like a solution in search of a problem than an answer to a real demand.
It is possible that in the future, as new applications and technologies emerge, 6G will become a necessity. Perhaps large-scale quantum computing, immersive virtual reality with multiple users, or holographic telepresence will require the capabilities of 6G. But today, the justification for its development seems more driven by the cycle of constant innovation and the need to be at the forefront than by real market demand.
Ultimately, 6G is an exciting promise, but its short- and medium-term need is questionable, to say the least. 5G offers plenty of room for improvement and more than enough capacity for current and foreseeable future applications. Time will tell whether 6G is a true revolution or simply a premature step in the evolution of communications.
This is how the world works, my dear friends.
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