Test spectrum approved in the 6 GHz band, speeds up to 1 Tbps, latency a thousand times lower than 4G

This is according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

On Friday, the ministry approved the allocation of test spectrum in the 6 GHz band for 6G technology development.

The authorization was granted to the IMT-2030 Promotion Group, which is responsible for advancing 6G. It permits technology trials in selected regions. This move is aimed at advancing technical research, testing and verification. The basis for the work — the key scenarios and performance indicators that the International Telecommunication Union has defined for 6G.

According to the ministry, the spectrum allocation will accelerate China’s efforts in research, development, standardization and industrialization of 6G. It will also contribute to the high-quality development of the country’s 6G sector.

How is 6G different from what we use today?

To understand the scale of change, just look at the numbers. 4G, which is still used today in Turkmenistan and many other countries, deliv ers speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. Latency is about 10 milliseconds. 5G, which is gradually arriving in major cities around the world, is ten times faster — up to 10 gigabits per second. Latency drops to 1 millisecond.

And what about 6G? It is planned to reach speeds of 1 terabit per second — that is ten thousand times faster than 4G and one hundred times faster than 5G. Latency will be just 0.1 milliseconds — one hundred times lower than 5G. For comparison, the human eye does not notice delays longer than 100 milliseconds. 6G is a thousand times faster than that threshold.

But speed is not the main difference. In sixth-generation networks, artificial intelligence will be built directly into the communication architecture. Unlike 5G, where AI was only partially used, 6G will be an “AI-native” technology. Additionally, 6G will support up to 10 million connected devices per square kilometer — ten times more than 5G and one hundred times more than 4G. The frequency spectrum will expand to 3 terahertz.

However, there is a limitation. High frequencies come with a short range — 6G base stations will only cover about 100 meters. For comparison, a 4G tower works at a distance of up to 6.5 kilometers. This means 6G will be effective in dense urban areas, shopping centers and factories, but is unlikely to replace 4G in rural areas.

Commercial deployment of 6G is expected to begin around 2030. While the rest of the world is still discussing what 6G will look like, China is already allocating specific frequencies and conducting real-world trials. This is not just a step forward — it is the difference between words and action. And that difference is measured in gigahertz.