China Launches World's First 6G Experimental Satellite (asiatimes.com) 52

Posted by msmash on Friday November 06, 2020 @03:51PM from the how-about-that dept.

hackingbear writes: China successfully launched the world's first 6G communication satellite by a Long March-6 carrier rocket that blasted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. The 6G experimental satellite, named after the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), was jointly developed by Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Technology, UESTC, and Beijing MinoSpace Technology. It will be used to verify the performance of 6G technology in space as the 6G frequency band will expand from the 5G millimeter wave frequency to the terahertz frequency. The technology is expected to be over 100 times faster than 5G, enabling lossless transmission in space to achieve long-distance communications with a smaller power output.

China Launches World's First 6G Experimental Satellite

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I see (Score:5, Insightful)

by nospam007 ( 722110 ) * writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @03:56PM (#60692760)

The Chinese have 6G in space while here the 5G towers are burned down.

- Re:I see (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by 4wdloop ( 1031398 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @04:17PM (#60692860)
  
  Indeed - you can see how the 6G space deployment avoids this problem, eh? :-)
  
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Joce640k ( 829181 ) writes:
  
  Yep. Now they can kill all the bees in the world and no arsonist can get anywhere near the transmitter.
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Anonymous Coward writes:
  
  So you're saying they're now transmitting covid to us from SPACE?!
  Diabolical!
So, THz? (Score:2)

by LynnwoodRooster ( 966895 ) writes:

Really? Yep - great in space, but get it near a sheet of paper - or a human hand - and it's blocked completely. Hold your cellphone? It no longer works...
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by currently_awake ( 1248758 ) writes:
  
  1-You could use an external antenna. 2-Isn't this the frequency range used in the TSA scanners? 3-Why not use IR for short range high bandwidth comms. we can build it into our lighting systems using peer2peer networking and have it everywhere quickly. Bonus points for using an open standard so we don't end up paying royalties.
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by omnichad ( 1198475 ) writes:
  
  THz is worse than that. Per Wikipedia:
  "Terahertz radiation is strongly absorbed by the gases of the atmosphere, and in air is attenuated to zero within a few meters, so it is not usable for terrestrial radio communication"
  I think the likely use is for point to point backhaul between satellites.
What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)

by XXongo ( 3986865 ) writes:

There isn't any such standard as "6G".
What the article means is, here's a satellite testing some new communications technologies.
- Re: (Score:3)
  
  by hiroshimarrow ( 5489734 ) writes:
  
  They are saying "Clickbait."
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Whateverthisis ( 7004192 ) writes:
  
  It's a PR stunt in the competition between the US and China over who has technical dominance. This is China making a claim that they are head. Sort of like putting a man on the moon.
  Notably though, the standards are set by who gains adoption first, so if they do race ahead, they get to set the standard.
  - Re:What the heck is 6G? (Score:4, Interesting)
    
    by bloodhawk ( 813939 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @04:17PM (#60692858)
    
    unlikely, China are so far ahead of the US in just 5G, they hardly need to spend billions on a PR stunt for 6G.
    
    - Re: What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)
      
      by drinkypoo ( 153816 ) writes:
      
      They are not ahead of Europe at all in 5G, and not everything is about the USA.
      - Re: (Score:1)
        
        by EreIamJH ( 180023 ) writes:
        
        ...and not everything is about the USA.
        Are you going to tell America, or shall I?
      - Re: (Score:1)
        
        by Anonymous Coward writes:
        
        what? most of Europe is using Chinese 5G equipment. The banning of various chinese companies has basically halted the rollout in some areas while they hunt for an alternative.
  - Fake G [Re:What the heck is 6G?] (Score:1)
    
    by Tablizer ( 95088 ) writes:
    
    The Chinese pulled a Trump. [time.com]
    Time: "I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible," tweeted Trump, ... While 6G doesn't yet exist...
  - Re: What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)
    
    by ArmoredDragon ( 3450605 ) writes:
    
    China isn't new to this:
    https://m.slashdot.org/story/4... [slashdot.org]
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Issue313 ( 2840599 ) writes:
  
  Doubt msmash knows any better.
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Quantum gravity ( 2576857 ) writes:
  
  There is no 6G yet but there is research on the successor to 5G. South Korea claim they will have a 6G pilot in 2026.
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
- Re:What the heck is 6G? (Score:4, Informative)
  
  by r2kordmaa ( 1163933 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @07:30PM (#60693542)
  
  6G is roughly all the ideas that didn't make it into 5G specs. And yes, it's sort of a real thing, as in people very much do expect 6G to get specified and to reach actual deployment in about 10 years or so.
  
  - Re: (Score:1)
    
    by Type44Q ( 1233630 ) writes:
    
    And yes, it's sort of a real thing, as in people very much do expect 6G to get specified and to reach actual deployment in about 10 years or so.
    So, translated from "Marketing Person," no, it doesn't exist yet and no, it won't exist for another decade. Thanks??
Wait a minute... (Score:5, Funny)

by DontBeAMoran ( 4843879 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @04:04PM (#60692796)

(Yicai Global) Nov. 6 -- China sent 13 satellites into orbit today, including the world’s very first sixth-generation communications test satellite. [...] China successfully launched the world's first 6G communication satellite by a Long March-6 carrier rocket.
So it's a 6G satellite, launched by a Long March-6 carrier rocket, on november 6th...
I'll let you do the math on this one.

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by 4wdloop ( 1031398 ) writes:
  
  Yea - I see - It should have been lunched back in June...or delayed to December?
- Re: Wait a minute... (Score:2)
  
  by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes:
  
  And China is represented by a Dragon. If you want to do exegesis from your couch about China, it's not hard to soon believe the end times are immediate. I am sure you will be in good company by doing so. But you know what's even more hip and cool, numerology...
Donalt Trump launches 7G++ (Score:2)

by gavron ( 1300111 ) writes:

7G++ To The Moon and Beyond, a Trump achievement nobody can take away from him. Nobody.
It's coming in two weeks.
China - 6G. Puhlease. That's pathetic they're trying to one-up Verizon's nonexistent 5G. I'm sure if you eat that much "terahertz" you'll be hungry again after 30 minutes.
E
- Buzz Lighthead [Re:Donalt Trump launches 7G++] (Score:1)
  
  by Tablizer ( 95088 ) writes:
  
  "To Infinity-G and beyooond...."
6G satellite (Score:2)

by rossdee ( 243626 ) writes:

About 59 metres per second per second
Its going to leave the solar system eventually
The G generally deals with how dense the signal is (Score:2)

by ccham ( 162985 ) writes:

not its frequency. Still terahertz stuff is a good idea for satellite to satellite backhaul as in the low earth constellations being built now. It isn't exactly new, terahertz systems were being tested in the early 90's in space. It needs directional transmission/antennas and its very similar to laser based communication (ie what starlink is already attempting to do in production).
- Re: (Score:3)
  
  by Snotnose ( 212196 ) writes:
  
  Actually the G is a marketing term. LTE NG is LTE Next Generation. No clue what Next Generation might turn out to be, it's just marketing speak for "We're there for you if you want to move forward and give us money, even though we're talking out our ass"
  - Re: (Score:3)
    
    by hey! ( 33014 ) writes:
    
    My first reaction to the headline: there's still plenty more digits someone can slap before a "g".
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by PolygamousRanchKid ( 1290638 ) writes:
      
      My first reaction to the headline: there's still plenty more digits someone can slap before a "g".
      I, personally, am going to wait for 11G. Most G's only go up to 10, but this one will go up to 11.
      - Re: (Score:2)
        
        by Local ID10T ( 790134 ) writes:
        
        Mr. President, we must not allow... a G gap!
        
        Re: The G generally deals with how dense the signa (Score:3)
        
        by IdanceNmyCar ( 7335658 ) writes:
        
        If we are lucky we will master this G thing by finding the right spot in the market.
That doesn't sound righ (Score:3)

by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @05:02PM (#60693044) Homepage Journal

I thought space was zero G ?

*Facepalm* (Score:2)

by Rick Schumann ( 4662797 ) writes:

5G doesn't even really work and they're claiming to futz around some sort of '6G'?
*FACEPALM*
Idiocy.
So... (Score:3)

by xlsior ( 524145 ) writes: on Friday November 06, 2020 @06:22PM (#60693340)

Even 'normal' 5G has a propagation range that's a fraction of 4G, and barely works through a glass window let alone a solid wall. Those problems will be greatly amplified at terahertz frequencies, making it near useless for general purpose wireless outside of some very custom setups under ideal conditions.

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by ClickOnThis ( 137803 ) writes:
  
  But they're testing this technology "in spaaaace" so there's nothing in the way.
  Seriously, this kind of thing might be useful for satellite inter-links, but communicating with the ground? Colour me skeptical.
I'll wait (Score:2)

by hduff ( 570443 ) writes:

I'll wait for 7G . . .
If 5G is any indicator... (Score:2)

by dicobalt ( 1536225 ) writes:

5G can't even transmit through an umbrella 6G can't even transmit through a particle of dust 7G requires coaxial cables to be connected to each device 8G requires telegraph cables to be connected to each device 9G goes wireless again but requires smoke signals
Lossless Transmission (Score:1)

by Pammy0516 ( 7431208 ) writes:

5G is still on the onset in our country. So, I can say the this is developing pretty quick. https://pamsbizstartuppixie.wo... [wordpress.com]

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I see (Score:5, Insightful)

Re:I see (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1)

So, THz? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:3)

Re: (Score:1)

Re:What the heck is 6G? (Score:4, Interesting)

Re: What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1)

Fake G [Re:What the heck is 6G?] (Score:1)

Re: What the heck is 6G? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

Re:What the heck is 6G? (Score:4, Informative)

Re: (Score:1)

Wait a minute... (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: Wait a minute... (Score:2)

Donalt Trump launches 7G++ (Score:2)

Buzz Lighthead [Re:Donalt Trump launches 7G++] (Score:1)

6G satellite (Score:2)

The G generally deals with how dense the signal is (Score:2)

Re: (Score:3)

Re: (Score:3)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: The G generally deals with how dense the signa (Score:3)

That doesn't sound righ (Score:3)

*Facepalm* (Score:2)

So... (Score:3)

Re: (Score:2)

I'll wait (Score:2)

If 5G is any indicator... (Score:2)

Lossless Transmission (Score:1)

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Facepalm (Score:2)