Accelerate the deployment of 6G, satellite Internet may become the key

In recent years, communication technology has developed at an astonishing speed, and the frequency of updates and replacements has become increasingly faster. Two years ago, the world was still in the era of 4G, but now 5G has become a well-deserved focus. According to data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as of 2020, my country has opened a total of 719,000 5G base stations, and the number of 5G mobile phone terminal connections has exceeded 200 million. 5G commercial use is striding towards normalization and maturity.

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In this context, Tian Yulong, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that the focus of my country's development in 2021 is to promote the construction of 5G networks in an orderly manner and to accelerate the layout of 6G. In other words, based on the significant achievements of 5G exploration, 6G is also officially on the agenda. According to scientists' predictions, 6G commercial use is expected to start around 2030, and the world will enter the 6G era.

Before that, satellite Internet may become the key to 6G layout!

We know that 6G is an extension of the 5G system. 6G will achieve huge improvements in key aspects such as transmission rate, network capacity, and transmission delay. It is basically expected that the performance indicators will be improved by 10-100 times that of 5G. Compared with the current 5G, 6G will realize the interconnection between the earth and the sky. The network coverage and connection range will no longer be limited to the ground, but also include the sky and space.

Based on this, the information and communication infrastructure in the 6G era will include space satellites, airships, balloons and drones on various high-altitude platforms, and ground mobile communication networks. The space satellite network includes synchronous geostationary orbit satellites, high- and medium-orbit satellites, and a large number of low-orbit satellites. This requires that before the development of 6G, a good foundation for satellite Internet must be built.

At present, many companies at home and abroad have proposed low-orbit satellite Internet plans. The most famous one is undoubtedly Musk's "Starlink Project". The latest news shows that it has launched a total of 1,145 satellites, and related satellite Internet services have also been tested. Although China also has multiple satellite Internet plans, such as the Hongyun Project and the Hongyan Project, the number of satellites is still not large.

In this context, my country needs to pay more attention to satellite Internet and accelerate the planning process. After all, 6G's "space-ground" integrated network requires communication between satellites and the ground, satellites and satellites, and satellites and high altitudes. At present, the frequency resources and orbital resources in space are limited, and satellite base stations will interfere with each other. Whoever makes the layout first will gain the upper hand.

However, the layout of satellite Internet is not easy. my country is currently facing three problems:

First, in terms of technology, my country needs to make breakthroughs in satellite R&D, design, manufacturing, and launch. Second, in terms of cost, my country needs to reduce the cost of satellite manufacturing, launch, operation, and service as much as possible. Third, in terms of talent, my country needs to cultivate talent in satellite Internet R&D, manufacturing, launch, operation, service, and promotion as support.

In short, the development of satellite Internet has just started. It is still far from mature and cannot be achieved overnight. my country still needs to make efforts.