And even then, it took some time for the technology to become widespread, well, widespread in some parts of the world, like the US and China.

而即便如此，該技術也花了一些時間來普及，嗯，在世界的一些地方，如美國和中國普及。

But now, at last, I can look at my phone screen and see a little 5G icon in the corner and, feels good.

但現在，我終於可以看著我的手機螢幕，看到角落裡的一個5G小圖標，而且，感覺不錯。

Okay so, when are we getting 6G already, let's go. I'm bored!

好吧，那麼，我們什麼時候已經有了6G，我們走吧。我覺得很無聊!

Now to state the obvious, 6G doesn't exist yet, but that doesn't mean people aren't already thinking about how to make it a reality.

現在要說明的是，6G還不存在，但這並不意味著人們還沒有考慮如何使它成為現實。

6G, short for the sixth generation of wireless technology, promises to be incredible.

6G是第六代無線技術的簡稱，有望成為不可思議的技術。

The numbers that get thrown around when industry leaders theorize about what it could do are mind boggling.

當行業領導者對它的作用進行理論研究時，所拋出的數字是令人難以置信的。

Numbers like download speeds up to a terabyte per second, and latency as low as 0.1 milliseconds.

諸如下載速度高達每秒一兆字節，而延遲低至0.1毫秒的數字。

Basically, the idea is that devices will be able to move a ludicrous amount of data with almost no delay.

基本上，這個想法是，設備將能夠在幾乎沒有延遲的情況下移動大量的數據。

And that's great news if you're a mobile gamer and lag keeps losing you matches.

如果你是一個移動遊戲玩家，而延遲一直讓你輸掉比賽，這是個好消息。

The possibilities 6G opens up are truly in the realm of sci-fi.

6G所帶來的可能性確實屬於科幻領域。

A 6G network could support life-sized holograms, finally making it possible to send a distress call to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

6G網絡可以支持真人大小的全息圖，最終使向歐比旺-克諾比發出求救信號成為可能。

Or it could be how chips implanted in our brains communicate with other devices,

或者它可能是植入我們大腦的芯片如何與其他設備進行溝通。

like artificial limbs or remotely controlled avatars in dangerous environments.

如人造肢體或在危險環境中的遙控化身。

It could connect a web of smart devices, and not just a phone and a smartwatch and maybe augmented reality glasses.

它可以連接一個智能設備的網絡，而不僅僅是一個手機和一個智能手錶，也許還有增強現實眼鏡。

One vision of the 6G future imagines flexible screens all over the place, from tables to clothing to water bottles.

對6G未來的一個設想是，從桌子到衣服到水瓶，到處都是柔性螢幕。

Each of these little devices wouldn't just use the 6G network to function, they might in fact make up the network itself.

這些小設備中的每一個都不只是使用6G網絡來運作，它們事實上可能構成了網絡本身。

Rather than the system we use today where our phones connect to towers in a hub and spoke model,

而不是我們今天使用的系統，我們的電話以樞紐和輻條的模式連接到塔臺。

each of these little smart devices could be a node in a mesh network.

這些小的智能設備中的每一個都可以成為網狀網絡的一個節點。

Their proximity to each other and ubiquity would make it possible to send data at terahertz frequencies, which can't travel very far.

它們彼此接近且無處不在，這將使以太赫茲頻率發送數據成為可能，而太赫茲頻率無法傳播很遠。

Experts think because of how much unused bandwidth is available in this Terahertz range, it's going to be the secret sauce that makes all this 6G goodness possible.

專家們認為，由於太赫茲範圍內有很多未使用的帶寬，它將成為使所有這些6G美好事物成為可能的祕密醬汁。

But that's pretty much the only thing we're sure of at the moment, because work to explore the possibilities of 6G is in its very early stages

但這幾乎是我們目前唯一確定的事情，因為探索6G的可能性的工作處於非常早期的階段。

and the technology isn't expected to arrive until about 2030.

而該技術預計要到2030年左右才會到來。

Heck, the standards for 5G were only just hammered out.

哎呀，5G的標準才剛剛被敲定。

Like 6G, 5G requires the use of much higher frequencies than older networks to meet its potential.

與6G一樣，5G需要使用比舊網絡高得多的頻率來滿足其潛力。

5G uses, or at least plans on using, the 24GHz to 100 GHz range.

5G使用，或至少計劃使用24GHz到100GHz的範圍。

These frequencies have wavelengths measured in millimeters and can enable download speeds as fast as multiple gigabits per second.

這些頻率的波長以毫米為組織、部門，可以使下載速度快達每秒多個千兆位。

But the same frequencies that make shifting that much data possible, don't travel very far and can be blocked by windows or even leaves on a tree.

但是，使轉移這麼多數據成為可能的同樣的頻率，不會傳播得很遠，可能被窗戶甚至樹上的葉子擋住。

Because of this and our unwillingness to get rid of all windows and trees, millimeter wave networks have only been deployed in dense urban areas

由於這一點以及我們不願意擺脫所有的窗戶和樹木，毫米波網絡只在密集的城市地區部署。

where they provide the most return for the cost of installation, and even then they only cover tiny patches.

他們為安裝成本提供了最多的回報，即使如此，他們也只能覆蓋很小的補丁。

One report from the first few months of 2021 found that users of America's big 3 networks with compatible phones

2021年頭幾個月的一份報告發現，美國三大網絡中使用兼容手機的用戶

were getting the most out of 5G just 0.5 to 0.8 percent of the time.

僅有0.5%至0.8%的時間能從5G中獲得最大收益。

The rest of the time they're getting performance that's almost identical, or sometimes slightly worse, than 4G.

其餘時間，他們得到的性能幾乎與4G相同，或有時略差。

So, if implementing mobile technology that operates at a 100 gigahertz maximum has been slow-going so far,

是以，如果實施以最大100千兆赫工作的移動技術，到目前為止是緩慢的。

you can imagine the hurdles that will arise when technology that uses Terahertz frequencies is introduced.

你可以想象，當使用太赫茲頻率的技術被引入時，會出現怎樣的障礙。

But that's far in the future. Mobile phone circuitry that can even use this spectrum doesn't exist yet.

但那是在遙遠的未來。甚至可以使用這種頻譜的行動電話電路還不存在。

Neither do the mathematical models for how to best route data through a mesh network.

關於如何在網狀網絡中進行最佳數據路由的數學模型也沒有。

For telecom companies, 6G is still a distant problem that they're not too focused on while they race to deliver on the promise of 5G right now.

對於電信公司來說，6G仍然是一個遙遠的問題，他們並不太關注，而他們現在正競相兌現5G的承諾。

And when the day finally comes and all the ads for phones and carriers have a giant 6 emblazoned across them,

當這一天終於到來，所有的手機和運營商的廣告上都印著一個巨大的6字。

just remember how 5G was an incremental change at first and be ready for the next generation to follow the same pattern.

只要記住5G起初是一個漸進的變化，並準備好讓下一代遵循同樣的模式。

If you want to know how we got to 5G, check out Amanda's episode on it here.

如果你想知道我們是如何到達5G的，請在這裡查看阿曼達關於它的一集。

So, what about you? Have you noticed a difference in 5G yet?

那麼，你呢？你注意到5G的不同了嗎？

Let us know in the comments, don't forget to subscribe, and I will see you next time on Seeker!

請在評論中告訴我們，別忘了訂閱，我們下次在Seeker上再見吧!