Written by Charlotte Johnson
With LTE and 5G now household names in the digital ecosystem, the race is on to define the next era of telecommunications. Industry leaders and innovators are pivoting toward 6G and terahertz communications, technologies that promise to reshape the landscape of global connectivity. Nexwave, a rising star in the U.S. telecom technology market, is leading the chrage, building on the legacy of Yonggang Huang’s groundbreaking work as Director at KSW Technologies.
Known for its advanced research and development capabilities, KSW Technologies has become a trusted partner to global telecom giants like Nokia, Samsung, and Ericsson. Nexwave inherits the same cutting-edge R&D principles but extends it with a sharper focus on next-generation technologies. Huang, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, IEEE Senior Member, and a renowned leader in telecommunications innovation, serves as Nexwave’s founder and CEO, continuing his mission to push the boundaries of wireless communications. Now, as attention shifts to 6G, Nexwave is positioning itself to be a key player.
5G’s Economic Ripple Effect
The stakes are high, and the market agrees. Analysts project that by 2030, 5G technologies will command a $9 billion market, while 6G, or terahertz communications, are expected to contribute another $3 billion. But the economic impact of 5G has already clear, with an estimated 4,700 private LTE/5G networks deployed by the close of 2024—a jump up from 3,400 the previous year.
For consumers, 5G provides an effective cellular alternative to home networks, powering smart home integrations and high-speed connectivity with carrier-provided infrastructure. Yet its most transformative potential lies in industrial applications. Yonggang Huang emphasizes that 5G’s true value emerges when it supports industries such as autonomous vehicles, energy-efficient infrastructure, and advanced robotics—sectors poised to generate trillions of dollars in economic activity over the coming decades.
At the heart of this ecosystem is Nexwave’s Massive MIMO Channel Emulator, developed during Huang’s tenure at KSW. By simulating complex, real-world wireless environments, this tool enables telecom operators to optimize their networks before committing to large-scale deployments. “With so many technologies relying on real-time data processing, network reliability is becoming less of a luxury, and more of a requirement,” Huang explains. “Our tools are helping operators prepare for these extremely demanding expectations.”
Nexwave is also addressing infrastructure gaps, aligning with the market’s push to close infrastructure gaps and support connectivity in less metropolitan areas. Even urban connectivity has begun facing challenge, with population density, overlapping signals, and rising bandwidth demands revealing the limitations of the megahertz spectrum. As these pressures mount, the focus on technologies beyond 5G becomes increasingly urgent.
Beyond 5G: The Promise of Terahertz & 6G
Terahertz communications operate at higher frequencies than 5G, promising breakthroughs in speed and data capacity. These technologies offer solutions to signal congestion in densely populated areas and enable data transmission through larger volumes of non-conductive materials.
In urban environments, these advancements could transform traffic management systems, public safety operations, and other critical infrastructure. The autonomous vehicle industry, already a major beneficiary of 5G’s low-latency networks, stands to gain even more from the enhanced speed and precision of 6G.
Nexwave is deeply invested in advancing these markets, developing testing tools that validate the safety, reliability, and scalability of next-generation technologies. “Even today, 5G base stations are expected to do much more than ferry data,” Huang notes. “They’re evolving into hubs for complex computations and precision location services. With 6G, we’re anticipating we’ll push these capabilities further.”
Carving a Competitive Edge in the U.S. Telecom Market
The telecom testing space is highly competitive, with established players like Spirent Communications and Keysight Technologies commanding significant market share. Spirent excels in performance testing, while Keysight leads in electronics measurement. Nexwave, however, is differentiating itself through its focus on pioneering technologies.
By investing early in terahertz systems, Nexwave is targeting a nascent but highly lucrative segment of the industry. “High-frequency testing is still very much an emerging field,” says Huang. “We’re laying the groundwork for these technologies to become economically viable at scale.”
By partnering with universities like MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley, Nexwave is hoping to tap into leading research and innovation ecosystems. Additionally, the company’s plans to establish domestic production and R&D facilities align with U.S. priorities around reshoring manufacturing and addressing the digital divide. These efforts are especially critical given that fewer than half of households earning under $20,000 annually have access to home internet—a disparity highlighted during the pandemic. Nexwave’s initiatives aim to bridge these gaps, making reliable connectivity a reality for more Americans.
Connecting the Future
Nexwave’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time. As the U.S. telecom industry transitions from 5G to 6G, the company is positioned to lead the next wave of connectivity.
“Step one of getting people connected is making sure it’s done reliably,” says Huang. “We’re very proud and excited to be part of that process, especially as we tackle the connectivity challenges of tomorrow.”
