6G is just around the corner and that will make smartphone obsolete

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Pekka Lundberg, Nokia CEO, believes that 6G is just around the corner. It is estimated that it will be available by 2030. The top chief at Nokia reported at the World Economic Forum that, once 6G is available, it will render smartphones obsolete.

Smartphones are currently the most common interface. However, Lundberg was quoted saying, “Many of these things will be integrated directly into our bodies.” However, he did not specify which device or interface would take the smartphone’s place.

Neuralink, an Elon Musk owned company, is building chips that can be embedded in the body directly. The company last year put a video out which showed a macaque playing Mind Pong. The animal’s left and right side of the brain  were implanted with chips and it was taught to use a joystick. However, during the study, the joystick was removed, and the animal was able to control the movement of the ball just by thinking about it.

There is no standard definition for 6G, since it is still in its initial stages. Lundberg suggests that the coming years will see the digital and physical worlds coalesce. Concepts like metaverse could further develop. Devices and technologies that support Augmented and Virtual Reality could also become more popular in the future. People will move on from handheld devices to wearables and implants.

As 6G looms on the horizon, and companies are gearing up for the widespread roll out, there are places where 5G is still not widely available. India is yet to experience 5G. The 5G spectrum auction is said to be held later this year and the country hopes that the commercial rollout would soon follow that.

Narendra Modi, PM of India, has recently developed a task force. The aim of this task force is to ensure smooth and fast rollout of 6G once the most awaited and anticipated technology is available. It will also work to make it available for commercial use. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the IT minister of India, claims that the country is working on developing their own native 6G technology. They plan to complete it by 2023 or 2024.