Korean researchers have developed a breakthrough 6G technology that could revolutionize remote work, medical procedures, and virtual reality experiences.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has created a high-speed, low-latency network system that makes real-time remote interactions smoother than ever.
This technology was successfully tested in a live remote conference over a 458-kilometer network between Daejeon and Busan without any delay.
The achievement brings us closer to a future where remote surgeries, virtual concerts, and real-time holograms become part of everyday life.
Current internet technology struggles to handle the speed and precision required for high-quality virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and metaverse applications.
Users often experience delays and motion lag, which can cause discomfort, especially in hyper-immersive experiences like remote meetings or surgeries.
The new 6G network stack technology developed by ETRI solves this issue by providing:
✔️ Super-fast speeds of up to 100 Gbps per data flow.
✔️ Ultra-low latency—reducing delays to just 1/100,000th of a second.
✔️ Real-time performance for seamless interactions between applications and networks.
With this new technology, high-precision services such as:
🔹 Remote surgeries could allow doctors to operate from different locations.
🔹 3D holographic communication could replace traditional video calls.
🔹 Smart factories could use remote-controlled robots to improve efficiency.
🔹 Virtual reality concerts and meetings could feel as real as in-person experiences.
To test the technology, researchers conducted a 3D volumetric live remote conference between Daejeon and Busan. The participants appeared as holograms, spoke naturally, and experienced no delay—a major breakthrough in real-time remote interaction.
The success was made possible by:
✔️ Advanced packet scheduling technology, which speeds up data transfer.
✔️ Custom network stack software, ensuring smooth performance.
✔️ Optimized traffic transmission, reducing delays.
The technology has already received 17 patents, multiple research papers, and an international technology standard adoption. It also won first place at the 6G Original Technology Festival in October 2024.
ETRI is now working to bring this 6G technology to the real world by collaborating with industry leaders. In August 2024, the team transferred ultra-low latency network technology to Kbell Co., Ltd., a Korean network solutions company, to develop commercial prototypes.
By partnering with network equipment manufacturers and metaverse companies, ETRI aims to lead the global 6G industry and create a new era of hyper-immersive communication and remote services.
With further development, 6G networks could transform the way we work, interact, and experience the digital world—making the impossible, possible.
