This is a recording of Professor Emil Björnson's invited talk in the "Special Forum: Theory and Technology of 6G Near-Field Communications" at the 17th China Electronics & Information Conference. This hybrid event took place at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Ningbo, on April 27, 2024.

Abstract:
The attempts to use mmWave bands in cellular networks have largely failed. The latest example is South Korea, which closed its networks in 2023. As we are running out of spectrum suitable for wide-area connectivity, we must search for alternative ways to cater to the exponential traffic growth. Long-range near-field communication is one potential paradigm shift that can be utilized to manage more traffic in next-generation wireless networks without the need for more spectrum. Near-field technology could potentially provide new spatial degrees of freedom and unprecedented beamfocusing capabilities, as well as change how wireless channels behave. After five years of research, I remain a stronger believer in this technology, which challenges how we build, operate, and evaluate communication performance. However, not everything is as different and wonderful as it seems. In this talk, I will describe three fundamental properties of the technology and correct common misconceptions related to them.