The breakthrough could massively boost remote service speeds, but critics warn the technology may fuel surveillance and privacy risks.
Chinese researchers have unveiled the world’s first 6G chip, capable of increasing service speed in remote areas to 5,000 times the current level, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Friday. The technology is expected to help address the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
Developed by scientists from Beijing-based Peking University and City University of Hong Kong, the “all-frequency” 6G chip can reportedly deliver mobile internet speeds of over 100 gigabits per second across the entire wireless spectrum, including frequencies commonly used in remote areas. The chip could make high-speed internet more accessible in underserved regions, allowing the transmission of a 50GB high-definition 8K movie in seconds.
Despite the potential benefits, both 5G and 6G technologies have faced criticism, with concerns over health risks from increased electromagnetic radiation, especially with higher frequency bands used in 6G. Vulnerabilities for cyberattacks also arise as more devices connect and the environmental impact of expanding infrastructure, alongside the digital divide, could worsen inequality by leaving rural areas behind. Critics also warn of increased surveillance and data privacy issues as connectivity grows.
Wireless technologies like 5G are currently limited to certain frequency ranges. The new 6G chip reportedly integrates the entire spectrum (0.5 GHz to 115 GHz) into a compact 11mm x 1.7mm chip, replacing multiple systems that handled different frequencies. This allows the chip to seamlessly operate across low to high bands, benefiting both high-demand applications and areas needing broad coverage, such as rural or remote regions.
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“High-frequency bands such as millimetre-wave and terahertz offer extremely large bandwidth and ultra-low latency, making them suitable for applications like virtual reality and surgical procedures,” Professor Wang Xingjun from Peking University told China Science Daily.
Researchers are currently working on creating plug-and-play modules for various devices, from smartphones to drones, which could expand the new chip’s use in everyday technology, SCMP noted.
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