When we hear about 5G or 6G, many think: “again, more speed on the phone”. But in reality, each “G” means mobile network generation and brings a profound change in how we connect.
It’s not just marketing: each leap involves new international standards, new frequencies and new network architectures. And to understand what’s coming with 6G, we first need to understand how our networks work today.
📜 From 1G to 6G: More Than Speed
1G (80s): analog calls, voice only.
2G (90s): digitization, SMS, roaming.
3G (2000s): basic mobile internet, first video calls.
4G (2010s): fast internet. Thanks to LTE, Uber, Netflix or Spotify emerged.
5G (2020s): much more than speed: low latency, massive IoT, smart factories, connected cars.
6G (2030 approx.): global coverage, terahertz frequencies, AI-integrated networks, immersive and holographic experiences.
⚙️ How Does a Mobile Network Work?
Simply put:
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Your device connects to the nearest antenna (base station).
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That antenna converts the radio signal into digital data and sends it to the backhaul (fiber or microwave).
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Data reaches the Core of the operator, where they are authenticated, prioritized and routed.
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Finally, they pass through a gateway to the internet towards servers like WhatsApp, Netflix or Zoom.
👉 The antenna is just the door. The real “load” happens in the operator’s data centers, where millions of connections are managed in parallel.
📶 5G vs 6G: Technical Foundations
| Aspect | 5G (today) | 6G (projected) |
|---|---|---|
| Frequencies | Sub-1 GHz, 1–6 GHz, mmWave (24–100 GHz) | Terahertz (100 GHz – 1 THz) |
| Speed | Up to 10 Gbps | Up to 1 Tbps |
| Latency | 1–10 ms | < 1 ms |
| Devices | 1 million/km² | 10 million/km² |
| Architecture | Virtualization, Massive MIMO, Cloud Core | Native AI in the network, Edge Computing, satellite integration |
| Coverage | Mainly terrestrial | Global (land + satellites) |
🔀 Network Slicing: Custom Highways
Imagine the network is a giant highway:
- In 4G: all cars share the same lanes.
- In 5G: exclusive lanes (slices) can be created for certain uses.
- In 6G: those lanes will be created instantly and automatically, thanks to AI.
Examples:
Hospital: an exclusive slice for transmitting critical medical data, even if the city is saturated with internet traffic.
Stadium: a slice for 8K cameras broadcasting the game, another for security, and another for fans uploading videos to TikTok.
👉 Slicing ensures quality and priority, without everyone competing on the same highway.
🖥️ Edge Computing: Bringing the Cloud Closer
Today, many applications process their data on a central server that may be hundreds of kilometers away. This generates latency.
With Edge Computing, part of the processing is done in local nodes of the operator, much closer to the user.
🚗 Autonomous Cars Example:
- A car detects that a pedestrian is crossing.
- With a traditional model: it would have to send the information to a server in another country → too slow to brake.
- With Edge: the decision is made in a local node, a few km from the car, in milliseconds.
- The central server only receives the statistic later (“there was a sudden brake at this intersection”), but safety was already resolved in real time.
👉 Edge doesn’t replace the global cloud: it processes the immediate near you and syncs later.
⚡ How Do They Handle So Much Traffic?
Short answer: They combine several smart strategies.
- More spectrum: mmWave in 5G, terahertz in 6G 📡
- Small antennas: Thousands of “small cells” in cities 🏙️
- Cloud core: Servers that scale automatically ☁️
- Network slicing: Virtual highways for each use 🛣️
👉 Result: Your 4K video loads in seconds, even in a packed stadium.
🏗️ When Will 6G Arrive?
Reality check: It’s not just about technology.
💰 The Cost
- 5G cost: 1 trillion dollars globally
- 6G will need: Much more (terahertz antennas, satellites, edge nodes)
⚖️ The Politics
- Geopolitical race: USA vs China vs Europe vs Japan
- Spectrum: Each country must assign new frequencies
- Standards: International coordination mandatory
⏳ The Reality
- 2030: First commercial version
- Coexistence: 4G + 5G + 6G for years
- Deployment: Cities first, rural later
👉 What does this mean for you? You’ll probably have 5G until 2035, and 6G will be for very specific cases.
🎯 What’s Next?
6G won’t just be “faster”. It will be a network that:
- Thinks: AI integrated in every decision 🧠
- Is everywhere: Land + satellites = global coverage 🌍
- Is invisible: Processes so close you won’t notice 👻
The real evolution:
- 4G: Netflix, Uber, WhatsApp 📱
- 5G: Smart factories, connected cars 🚗
- 6G: Remote surgeries, autonomous cities, holograms 🏥
The truth: The future isn’t about speed, but how networks become the backbone of your digital life.
👉 Are you ready? Probably yes, because the change will be gradual and natural.
🚀 Practical 6G Applications: Beyond Theory
🏥 Future Medicine
- Real-time remote surgery: A surgeon in Madrid operating on a patient in Buenos Aires with less than 1ms latency
- Continuous monitoring: Sensors that detect heart problems before they occur
- Medical holograms: 3D visualization of organs for precise diagnosis
🏙️ Real Smart Cities
- Autonomous traffic: Millions of vehicles coordinating without traffic lights
- Energy management: Power grids that automatically adapt to demand
- Predictive security: AI that prevents crimes before they happen
🌍 Real Global Connectivity
- Internet in the Amazon: Satellite coverage in remote areas
- Polar expeditions: Real-time communication from Antarctica
- Natural disasters: Networks that self-repair and reconfigure
🎮 Immersive Experiences
- Social holograms: Meetings where you’re “physically” present
- Massive augmented reality: Information overlaid on the real world
- Tactile gaming: Feeling textures and temperatures through the network
🏭 Complete Industry 4.0
- Ghost factories: Completely automated and remote production
- Predictive maintenance: Machines that repair themselves
- Perfect logistics: Supply chains without human errors
👉 The key: It’s not just speed, but the network “thinks” and acts for you.
📚 Recommended Readings
“What can video games teach us about edge computing?” – Red Hat Blog
An innovative perspective on edge computing through the lens of video gaming, showing practical applications and real-world benefits.
https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/what-can-video-games-teach-us-about-edge-computing
“The Impact of 5G and Edge Computing on Gaming” – Ericsson Blog
Comprehensive analysis of how 5G and edge computing are revolutionizing the gaming industry and user experience.
https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2021/3/5g-edge-computing-gaming
“Cloud Gaming: The Future of Global Gaming Infrastructure?” – Worldstream
Deep dive into cloud gaming infrastructure and how it’s shaping the future of global gaming experiences.
https://www.worldstream.com/en/cloud-gaming-the-future-of-global-gaming-infrastructure/
🎥 Recommended Videos
What is Network Slicing?
What is Network Slicing? – This video explains what network slicing is, what it’s for, how it allows having virtual networks on the same physical infrastructure, etc.
✍️ Claudio from ViaMind
Dare to imagine, create and transform.
