At a Glance
- Researchers have developed the world’s first “all-frequency” 6G chip, a breakthrough for next-generation wireless technology that integrates multiple systems into a single device.
- The chip operates over an unprecedented 115 GHz frequency range and achieves record lane speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second for full-spectrum coverage.
- It is built on a thin-film lithium niobate platform that uses photonics to monolithically integrate all essential functions, from modulation to signal generation.
- The system uses optoelectronic oscillators to generate highly stable and rapidly reconfigurable wireless signals, enabling adaptive communication in complex spectrum environments for enhanced reliability.
- This advancement is a critical step towards future 6G networks, although the commercial rollout of the technology is not expected until around 2030.
Researchers from Peking University and the City University of Hong Kong have developed the world’s first “all-frequency” chip for sixth-generation wireless technology. This breakthrough brings the future of high-speed connectivity closer to reality. Detailed in the journal Nature, the new chip is a significant step toward 6G networks, which promise speeds exceeding 100 gigabits per second, near-instantaneous communication, and advanced AI-driven network management. Unlike 5G, which operates on a limited set of radio frequencies, 6G is designed to utilize a vast spectrum, ranging from low-band microwaves to high-band terahertz waves, to support a new era of innovation.
The new device, no larger than a thumbnail, achieves what previously required nine separate radio systems. It operates across an unprecedented frequency range from 0.5 GHz to 115 GHz, enabling full-spectrum coverage from a single source. This was made possible by monolithically integrating all essential wireless components onto one tiny chip made of thin-film lithium niobate, or TFLN. This material’s unique properties, which are harnessed through a phenomenon known as the Pockels effect, allow electrical signals to efficiently control light, forming the basis for the chip’s advanced photonic system.
At the heart of the chip’s design is a novel method for generating and transmitting signals using light. The system first converts baseband wireless data into optical signals using a broadband electro-optic modulator. These light-based signals are then processed by tunable optoelectronic oscillators, which use a combination of light and electricity to generate highly stable and clean radio frequencies across the entire operational spectrum. In testing, the system demonstrated its reconfigurability by tuning its frequency by 6 GHz in just 180 microseconds, a speed that far exceeds current technologies and is crucial for adaptive communication in complex environments.
While this development marks a significant milestone, commercial 6G networks are still on the horizon, with experts projecting a rollout around 2030. Substantial work remains to be done in building the necessary infrastructure and compatible devices to support the technology. However, the researchers state to Phys.org that their system “represents a marked step towards future full-spectrum and omni-scenario wireless networks.” Once implemented, 6G is expected to transform society by powering everything from truly immersive virtual realities and autonomous systems to futuristic smart cities.
References
- Arnold, P. & Phys.org. (2025, September 1). Scientists develop the world’s first 6G chip, capable of 100 Gbps speeds. Phys.Org; Phys.org. https://techxplore.com/news/2025-09-scientists-world-6g-chip-capable.html
- Tao, Z., Wang, H., Feng, H., Guo, Y., Shen, B., Sun, D., Tao, Y., Han, C., He, Y., Bowers, J. E., Shu, H., Wang, C., & Wang, X. (2025). Ultrabroadband on-chip photonics for full-spectrum wireless communications. Nature, 645(8079), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09451-8
