Researchers from China and the United States have developed a small but powerful 6G chip that may significantly outperform current mobile technology, potentially reaching speeds 10,000 times faster than 5G.

The team believes this breakthrough could help eliminate slow and unreliable internet connections, particularly in rural areas.

The chip, measuring just 0.07 by 0.43 inches, integrates the full wireless spectrum across nine radio-frequency bands, from 0.5 to 110 gigahertz. It has already demonstrated the ability to transmit data at rates exceeding 100 gigabits per second.

That’s hundreds of times faster than typical smartphone download speeds and well beyond the top 5G download speed in the U.S., which peaked at 299.36 megabits per second in early 2025.

The chip is designed to handle both low- and high-frequency bands, allowing it to support wide coverage in underserved regions while also managing high-demand tasks like AI processing and remote sensing. This broad capability positions it as a potential game-changer in future communication networks.

Dynamic performance across all frequency bands

Wang Xingjun, associate dean at Peking University’s School of Electronics and lead author of the study, compared the chip’s flexibility to building a massive multi-lane highway, where electronic signals travel like vehicles across multiple frequency lanes.

He noted the chip could dynamically shift across different bands based on demand, a critical feature for future devices that will need to operate across microwave, millimeter wave, and terahertz frequencies.

BREAKING:

🇨🇳 China has introduced the world’s first “universal” 6G chip capable of providing high-speed internet across all frequencies – South China Morning Post

This will potentially increase speeds by 5,000 times compared to the current level of internet in rural areas of… pic.twitter.com/Dzr6ftOjLZ

— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) August 31, 2025

Published August 27 in the journal Nature, the study outlines how existing wireless hardware is limited by its narrow operating range. Current systems would require multiple separate components to access the full 6G spectrum, making future deployments both costly and complex.

To address that, the team built a one-chip solution using a dual electro-optic design. The device converts wireless signals into optical ones using a broadband electro-optic modulator. These are then passed through tunable optoelectronic oscillators that generate stable signals across the entire spectrum.

Next-gen materials and real-world applications

Instead of using conventional materials, the chip is constructed with thin-film lithium niobate, which offers higher bandwidth and lower latency. This material is becoming essential in next-generation telecom systems.

As data demand increases with 6G, networks are expected to face traffic congestion similar to current 5G bottlenecks.

The new chip’s adaptive spectrum management can reduce interference by automatically shifting signals across multiple frequency bands. This helps maintain stable connections even in crowded areas like stadiums or large events.

While researchers are optimistic about integrating the chip into compatible devices, they acknowledge that building the infrastructure for 6G will take time and considerable investment.