Home > AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile race towards 6G, but there's a catch you need to know
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile race towards 6G, but there's a catch you need to know
If you're on 5G, you're part of the roughly 25% of the world with access to cutting-edge mobile networks, while billions still have to wait for even a taste of it. Yup, many are still on 4G and 3G.Soon, however, 5G will be yesterday's news, as 6G is approaching quickly. Before the end of 2030, 6G has to have its global technical standards finished, so that equipment makers, carriers, and governments can begin large-scale deployment planning.As you may've heard, 6G is the next step after 5G, and it promises huge improvements in speed, reliability, and efficiency. It also aims to deliver ultra-low latency, which means far less delay when data travels between devices. Latency is measured in fractions of a second, and with 6G the goal is to cut it down to almost nothing. This matters for things like real-time monitoring, remote surgery, or advanced virtual reality, where even tiny delays can cause problems.
Are you ready for 6G?
Yes, bring it on!
51.66%
Just mildly interested.
15.79%
5G is fine for me.
23.12%
4G does the trick.
9.42%
The speeds are expected to be extraordinary. While most people on strong 5G networks today see speeds between 100 and 500 megabits per second (Mbps), 6G could reach up to 1 terabit per second (Tbps). That is about 2,000 times faster. At that rate, massive downloads or streaming ultra-high-quality video would happen instantly. It also makes futuristic applications possible, such as lifelike 3D video calls or advanced artificial intelligence tools that rely on instant network responses.
Of course, these jaw-dropping claims come from theoretical research into what future networks might achieve under ideal conditions, not what everyday users will actually experience. In theory, this speed is possible for several reasons.
First, 6G could use terahertz frequencies (100 GHz to 1 THz), far higher than 5G's sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands, which means much more data can be transmitted at once.Next, 6G could use much wider channels – tens of GHz – while 5G usually uses just 100–400 MHz. This means it can carry a lot more data at once. New ways of coding and sending signals could also fit even more data into each transmission.
On top of that, 6G could use hundreds or even thousands of antennas at the same time to send many streams of data together. But to actually hit 1 Tbps, you'd need to be very close to a special hotspot with a clear line of sight.In real life, normal users won't get anywhere near that speed; the number just shows what's technically possible, not what people will experience every day.The only question is: which will be the first carrier to offer a nation-wide, stable, affordable 6G service? Will it be AT&T, or perhaps Verizon? Or maybe T-Mobile? The way things are going, one thing is highly likely, though: US users might enjoy 6G before those in Europe.
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