6G seems like something distant, but in reality, it all comes down to a simple thing — how to maintain the signal and reduce interference. Russian scientists have found a solution. Researchers from Skoltech, together with colleagues from Sweden, have created a very thin coating that dampens excess radiation and helps devices work more stably. This is not a ready-made 6G, but an important detail without which it will not appear. We will tell you what exactly the scientists came up with and how things are going with 5G and 6G in Russia.
What Exactly Did the Scientists Develop
The researchers created a very thin film of carbon nanotubes. It is applied from a gas in a special way: the material is first converted into a gas, and then it "settles" on the surface in a thin layer and forms a film. It looks like a completely black coating. This film absorbs terahertz radiation and prevents the signal from "scattering" to the sides.
The coating is needed for parts inside devices that transmit an electromagnetic signal. We are talking about the so-called silicon waveguides. These are elements through which the signal passes inside the equipment. The film helps to keep the signal inside and at the same time protects it from external interference.
Scientists tested how it works on films of different thicknesses from 2 to 53 nanometers. The thicker the film, the better it coped with the task. In the most effective samples, even the most accurate instruments could not detect signal leakage.
What is the Terahertz Range and Why is it Important
The terahertz range is a special part of the radiation between infrared and microwaves. It is considered one of the foundations of future 6G communication because it allows data to be transmitted much faster than today.
But it's not just about the internet. This radiation can also be used in other areas. For example, in medicine for imaging or in scanning and control systems.
Scientists note that the new coating will be useful not only for communication. It can be used to shield rooms and even entire buildings from signals. And in medicine, terahertz radiation is considered a safer alternative to X-rays, although it is not considered completely harmless. Therefore, it is important to accurately direct such waves and protect people from unnecessary exposure.
How Will Communication Change with the Advent of 6G
6G is the next generation of mobile and wireless communication after 5G. Currently, the main transition phase around the world is 5G Advanced, and the sixth generation itself is still in the research stage.
It is expected that thanks to 6G, the internet will become faster, delays will be shorter, and gadgets will work more stably. To do this, they want to use new frequency ranges, including terahertz.
Russia is also conducting such developments. This is not only about networks, but also about its own technologies, equipment and algorithms.
For such communication to work in reality, it is not enough to simply transmit a signal. It is necessary to ensure that it is not lost and does not interfere with itself. The new material developed by scientists from Skoltech helps to solve this problem.
How are 5G and 6G Developing in Russia
The Russian government and scientific centers are already building a foundation for next-generation networks. The documents of the Ministry of Digital Development and the Cabinet of Ministers mention promising 6G technologies, research on 5G Advanced, as well as tasks to create their own technological base for such systems.
The Ministry of Digital Development, for example, said that the Federal State Autonomous Institution "Scientific Research Center Telecom" is conducting research in the field of new generations of 5G and 6G communication. The national project and related areas of digital transformation also include tasks for the technological support of the introduction of promising 6G technologies in telecommunications.
On the other hand, 5G in Russia is still developing. In 2025, the State Commission for Radio Frequencies allocated the 4800–4990 MHz band for 5G/IMT-2020 standard networks, and the Ministry of Digital Development reported that the auction for 5G frequencies should take place before the end of the year and that commercial launch is expected in 2026.
At the same time, it is planned to launch mass production of domestic base stations that support LTE and 5G technology. That is, two tasks are being solved simultaneously: to achieve the proper level of practical implementation of 5G and, in parallel, to prepare a scientific and technological foundation for 6G.
What 6G Research Has Already Been Conducted in Russia
The Skoltech development supplemented the list of breakthroughs in the industry. In February 2025, researchers at the Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics of the Higher School of Economics for the first time in Russia demonstrated the operation of a 6G wireless communication channel at sub-terahertz frequencies. In the laboratory demonstrator, the system transmitted data at a speed of 12 Gbps and maintained signal stability, automatically switching when blocked.
At the same time, in 2025, the Research Institute of Telecommunications published ten Q1 level articles on key issues in the development of 5G/6G wireless technologies.
Russian research is now underway in several areas at once. Scientists are working on a component base, algorithms, protocols, radio channels, coding, signal distribution and new frequency ranges. Technologies are being developed that can be integrated into real devices.
Stories about 6G can often seem too far from everyday life. But it is such technological solutions that make the future more real.