Few things are more frustrating than watching the buffering wheel spin when you’re trying to stream a film or join a video call with your best friend. While the UK is currently rolling out 5G nationwide, even this is not free from connectivity issues. However, change is coming.
Many large tech companies are already working on 6G capabilities. This next generation of wireless connectivity promises to revolutionise how we work, receive healthcare, travel and entertain ourselves—even more so than 5G. The eventual launch of 6G will usher in a completely new digital infrastructure that promises to reshape British society.
What Makes 6G Different from 5G?
When 5G was announced, everybody was talking about how it would offer the quickest connection and transfer rates possible. However, 6G takes those promises and amplifies them, boasting speeds that seem impossible to comprehend. Numbers include hitting one terabyte per second. This equates to downloading an entire series from Netflix in seconds.
6G is also aiming for near-zero latency, which means virtual calls, meetings and online gaming will be as close to real-time as possible, with next to no lag. Additionally, 6G operates on higher frequency bands, meaning more devices will be able to connect to the same signal without compromising performance.
These are advancements on what 5G has already added to 4G services. However, the primary way 6G will differ from 5G is its use of AI technology, which is embedded into its core and allows the digital and physical worlds to merge. Networks will be able to self-monitor and provide self-care to ensure a consistently optimised performance. In turn, this will bring a range of wholesale improvements that will positively impact many industries and professions.
Spearheading a Healthcare Revolution
The NHS is one industry poised to see remarkable benefits from 6G technology, enabling surgeons to perform complex operations remotely via guided robotic systems. Its superior speed and ultra-low latency would allow for precision movements in real time.
Patients in rural areas would also be able to receive the same specialist care as someone living in a major city or under the care of a leading specialist hospital, through holographic consultations.
Wearable health monitors will also benefit from 6G connections, tracking vital signs and alerting medical teams automatically when something is not right. In many instances, this could be before the wearer even suspects anything is wrong. For elderly patients, sensors could detect falls or sudden health changes and summon help immediately.
This technology would reduce pressure on the NHS and other areas of the care sector, with chronic conditions monitored more closely and with better doctor consultations, often without having to visit the hospital. In turn, this would create a more streamlined in-person experience for those patients who genuinely need to attend the hospital.
Smart Cities and Transport
Moving to 6G technology is about more than internet speeds and good phone signals. It is going to change the way British cities operate. Beyond the concept of self-driving cars, we will have traffic lights that adjust automatically based on real-time traffic flow. Public transport will offer optimised schedules that adjust based on the live demand. In addition, 6G will support vehicle-to-vehicle communication, which will reduce the number of traffic accidents resulting from human error.
On a grander scale, the power grid will self-balance to maintain an even power distribution efficiency, meaning households will be able to reduce costs and minimise their carbon footprint without impacting their energy needs.
Entertainment and Digital Life
Entertainment will also change dramatically with 6G cloud connectivity. Gamers will be able to play console-quality games on any electronic device without downtime or lag. Virtual reality capabilities will expand to offer fully immersive live concerts and sporting events. Additionally, streaming services will provide 8K resolution as standard.
Similarly, online gamblers who regularly browse through the best UK casinos will experience zero slowdown or system performance issues. Card tables will come to life with real-time live and virtual dealers coming even closer to reproducing the sights and sounds of a physical casino.
Content creators will also feel the difference, with 6G supporting instant uploads and cloud-based editing services.
In a nutshell, no matter what you do online, it will be instant. The days of waiting—for anything—are numbered.
Remote Work Transformed
The remote working revolution will be pushed to new levels of relevancy with the successful 6G rollout. Holographic meetings will replace the current virtual ones, making it feel as though everybody is together in the same room no matter where they are. International teams will be able to work in shared virtual workspaces filled with interactable 3D objects.
This creates even greater reasons for businesses to downsize office space and reduce overheads. Workers in rural areas will have the same opportunities as those in big cities, with consistent connectivity making location irrelevant.
When Will 6G Arrive?
Many experts believe that 6G connectivity will begin a commercial rollout between 2030 and 2035. Due to its strong existing 5G infrastructure, the UK is likely to be one of the first countries to make the change.
Testing is already underway in universities and leading tech companies, including British powerhouses BT, Virgin Media and Vodafone. Big cities will be the first to welcome in 6G, which will likely run parallel to 5G until all networks complete the transition. The healthcare and industry sectors will likely adopt 6G first before it filters down to the consumer markets.
The Challenges Ahead
While the launch of 6G promises to change our lives greatly, it comes with a high level of complexity and the potential for problems. Having more connected devices means higher data collection levels and increased privacy concerns. Energy usage will spike with high frequency networks requiring more power to operate.
While a full 6G rollout will level the playing field and bring more opportunities to remote areas, the threat of an urban-first focused implementation poses the real risk of increasing the digital divide, leaving rural communities even more isolated until they can also connect. There will also be inevitable government intervention to ensure fair access to all people across all locations and income levels, which comes with a high degree of trust in fairness and transparency.
While none of these challenges are insurmountable, they will require serious discussion and regulatory proposals before priorities are given and plans are made.
In truth, widespread 6G implementation is still several years away. However, understanding its potential ahead of time allows us to prepare for the changes it will bring. The buffering wheels and dropped connections that frustrate us today will become relics of the past. For now, the UK’s ongoing investment in digital infrastructure positions the country well to lead this next chapter in connectivity.