Samsung just took a big step toward making 6G real. The company successfully tested eXtreme multiple-input multiple-output (X-MIMO) technology in the 7 GHz frequency band, hitting peak speeds of 3 gigabits per second in outdoor trials with KT Corporation and Keysight Technologies. The breakthrough hinges on cramming four times as many antennas into the same space as today's 5G gear, a trick enabled by the shorter wavelengths at 7 GHz. While 6G commercialization is still years away, this validation shows the tech might actually deliver on its promises.
Samsung Electronics isn't waiting for 6G standards to finalize before proving the technology works. The company just verified X-MIMO technology in the 7 GHz band, achieving 3 gigabits per second in real-world outdoor tests conducted with South Korean telecom giant KT Corporation and test equipment maker Keysight Technologies.
The trials took place at Samsung's Seoul R&D Campus, where engineers pushed eight simultaneous data streams from a base station to a single user. According to Samsung's announcement, the breakthrough relies on ultra-high-density antenna technology that crams significantly more antenna elements into equipment roughly the same size as today's 5G gear. The result is four times the antenna density of current systems, a critical leap for handling the data tsunami coming from AI services, immersive experiences, and fixed wireless access.
The 7 GHz band is emerging as a goldilocks frequency for next-generation wireless. It's high enough to offer substantial capacity gains over 5G's typical 3.5 GHz deployments, but low enough to avoid the severe propagation challenges that plague millimeter-wave frequencies. "The 7 GHz band stands out as a promising candidate for future communications, offering an optimal balance of coverage and capacity," Samsung explains in its technical overview.
X-MIMO takes advantage of the shorter wavelengths at 7 GHz to pack more antennas into the same physical footprint. More antennas mean more spatial streams, which translates directly to higher throughput. But the technology also compensates for 7 GHz's naturally shorter propagation distance compared to lower frequencies, maintaining coverage areas comparable to today's 5G networks while delivering dramatically faster speeds.
