The science-fiction type capabilities promised by a 6G network are closer to reality thanks to a breakthrough in semiconductor technology.
Professor Martin Kuball, of the University of Bristol, said futuristic concepts, like self-driving cars which eliminate traffic jams and receiving a healthcare diagnosis instantly without leaving the home, rely on the ability to communicate and transfer vast volumes of data much faster than existing networks.
Professor Kuball said a 6G network would deliver an endless array of such applications, “with the limit just being human imagination”.
He said the shift from the existing 5G network to 6G would demand a radical upgrade of semiconductor technology, circuits, systems, and associated algorithms.
“For instance, the main semiconductor components involved, in other words the radio frequency amplifiers made from a wonder conductor called Gallium Nitride (GaN), need to be much quicker, emit greater power, and be more reliable.”
Professor Kuball said a team of international scientists and engineers had tested a new architecture, catapulting these special GaN amplifiers to unprecedented heights.
“Within the next decade, previously almost unimaginable technologies to transform a wide range of human experiences could be widely available.
“The possible benefits are far-reaching, including advances in healthcare with remote diagnostics and surgery, virtual classrooms and even virtual holiday tourism.”
He said there was considerable potential for advanced driver assistance systems to improve road safety and industrial automation for greater efficiency.
“Our innovative semiconductor discoveries are hugely exciting and will help drive forward these developments at speed and scale.”
Read the full study: Gallium nitride multichannel devices with latch-induced sub-60-mV-per-decade subthreshold slopes for radiofrequency applications.
