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Researchers have transmitted information over the air at speeds of up to 938 gigabits per second (Gbps), setting a new record for wireless data transmission.
This new record, approaching 1 terabit per second (Tbps), is equivalent to downloading a 30-gigabyte 4K Ultra HD movie in 0.26 seconds. By comparison, using average 5G connections in the US, which fall in the range of 140 to 230 megabits per second (Mbps), the download would take between 17 and 29 minutes. In the UK, where the researchers are working, the average 5G speed is around 100 Mbps, making the new data speeds around 9,380 times faster.
The scientists achieved this speed by combining radio and optical technologies for the first time, making it possible to use radio frequencies (RF) up to 150 gigahertz (GHz). They published their methods in a new study published Oct. 15 in The Journal of Lightwave Technology.
Most 5G connections transmit data on “narrow” frequencies below 6 GHz. However, these bands are congested, meaning actual speeds are significantly lower than 5G’s theoretical maximum speed of 20 Gbps.
In contrast, future 6G speeds are expected to use higher frequencies than the narrow 5G bands, allowing networks to deliver much faster speeds. These bands include “upper mid-bands” from 7 to 24 GHz and “sub-terahertz bands” from about 90 to 300 GHz, according to the Global Suppliers Association (GSA).
“Today's wireless communication systems are struggling to meet the growing demand for high-speed data access because the bottleneck in the last few meters between the user and the fibre network is holding us back,” senior study author Zhixin Liu, a professor of electrical engineering at University College London (UCL) in the UK, said in a statement.
“Our solution is to use more available spectrum to increase capacity while maintaining high signal quality and providing flexibility in accessing different spectrum resources. This results in ultra-fast and reliable wireless networks that overcome the speed bottleneck between user devices and the Internet.”
The new approach is the first to combine two existing wireless technologies — high-speed electronics and millimeter-wave photonics, Liu added. The latter technology uses photonics, or light, to generate millimeter-wave radio-frequency signals. This hybrid system enables large amounts of wireless data to be transmitted in bands that could be used in future systems such as 6G.
The scientists combined electronic digital-to-analog signal generators operating in the 5 to 75 GHz range with light-based radio signal generators that can transmit data at frequencies between 75 and 150 GHz. The combined bandwidth of 145 GHz is five times greater than the bandwidth of the system used to achieve the previous world record for wireless transmission, the scientists said.
This hybrid technology can be used to distribute wireless signals from towers in crowded areas, allowing people to connect to those 5G (and eventually 6G) speeds from their smartphones. This will allow more people to access wireless networks in densely populated areas, such as at large concerts, without the hassle of network traffic or slow speeds.
The scientists have only tested their system in a lab setting, but they plan to create a prototype that will be suitable for commercial use. If the testing is successful, they hope to implement their technology in commercial equipment within the next five years.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
