Japanese tech giants reveal results from real-world 6G speed tests

Four Japanese tech giants, including NTT DOCOMO, NTT, NEC and Fujitsu, have revealed the development of a 6G wireless device capable of ultra-high-speed 100Gbps transmissions in the 100GHz and 300GHz sub-terahertz bands over distances of up to 100 metres.  

As a comparison, 100Gbps is approximately 20 times faster than the maximum 4.9Gbps data rate of current 5G networks.

Since 2021, these four tech firms have been working together to conduct R&D on sub-terahertz devices in anticipation of the coming 6G era. 

When this era does arrive, wireless networks will need to be able to support diverse applications, from ultra-HD video streaming to real-time control in autonomous vehicles. To achieve this high-capacity wireless communication, the abundant bandwidth available in the sub-terahertz band from 100GHz to 300GHz will need to be exploited.

In order to carry out this 6G test, each of the four companies brought their own particular expertise to the project. 

DOCOMO developed the wireless equipment capable of transmitting these enormous data rates, NTT developed a top-level wireless device capable of transmitting 100Gbps per channel, NEC contributed a multi-element active phased array antenna consisting of more than 100 antenna elements, and Fujitsu enabled the project to achieve the highest power efficiency in a high-output power amplifier.

The reason why this 6G test is such a notable achievement is that, compared with 28GHz and other millimetre bands used in current 5G systems, the much higher frequencies of the sub-terahertz band require entirely different wireless devices that will require them to be developed from scratch. 

In a joint statement by the four firms, they stated that going forward they will “continue to conduct extensive R&D into sub-terahertz telecommunications, leveraging each company’s strengths in various initiatives to contribute to 6G standardisation”.