LG Electronics (LG) has achieved a remarkable milestone in 6G telecommunications, marking a significant leap in the evolution of wireless communication.
The company announced the successful wireless transmission and reception of 6G terahertz (THz) data over an astounding distance of 500 meters — an achievement breaking all previous records for 6G tests conducted in an outdoor, urban environment. Conducted in collaboration with LG U+, the groundbreaking test occurred earlier this month at LG Sciencepark in Magok, Seoul, showcasing LG’s pioneering role in 6G research and development.
This latest achievement builds upon the success of LG’s 2022 test, where 6G THz data was wirelessly transmitted and received over a distance of 320 meters outdoors at the Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute in Berlin, Germany. Through collaboration with Fraunhofer, LG developed vital core equipment for 6G transmission and reception, resulting in a remarkable output improvement of over 50 percent.
The recent test at LG Sciencepark is a significant milestone, not only for extending the wireless transmission and reception distance to 500 meters — a standard range for high-powered base stations in urban settings — but also for validating the usability of 6G in various real-world communication scenarios, including building-to-building, building-to-ground terminal, and ground-to-ground terminals. This accomplishment propels LG one step closer to the commercialization of 6G THz communications.
The 6G evolution, succeeding 5G, promises dramatically increased data rates, ultra-low latency, high-reliability data transmission, and the integration of communications with AI and sensing technologies. These capabilities will be pivotal for LG’s future ventures, including autonomous driving and mobility solutions, the metaverse, smart homes, and smart factories.
Anticipated discussions on 6G network standardization are set to commence around 2025, with commercialization slated for 2029. LG’s extensive investment in R&D, strategic partnerships, and successful technology demonstrations underscores the company’s readiness and determination to spearhead the global transition to 6G.
In 2019, LG, in collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), established the LG Electronics-KAIST 6G Research Center, the first industry-university cooperative research facility of its kind in Korea. The company continues to secure 6G core technologies through cooperative efforts with leading universities worldwide, including Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute, the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), and Keysight Technologies.
As the only Korean company named chair of the Next G Alliance, a wireless technology group led by the American Telecommunications Industry Association (ATIS), LG has been at the forefront since 2021, overseeing numerous projects aimed at identifying use cases for 6G communications technology and establishing technical requirements.
In October, LG will share its key achievements in 6G technology development at the ‘LG 6G Tech Festa,’ co-hosted by LG U+.
“We will continue to cooperate with research institutions and tech companies, and conduct our own advanced R&D, to dominate 6G standard technology and solidify our technological leadership in this important field,” said Dr. Kim Byoung-hoon, CTO, and executive vice president of LG Electronics.
