A groundbreaking achievement in wireless transmission has been reached by researchers from UCL, promising a future of faster and more reliable wireless communications. The team successfully transmitted data at an astonishing speed of 938 Gigabits per second (Gb/s) over a record frequency range of 5-150 Gigahertz (GHz).
This incredible speed is up to 9,380 times faster than the current best average 5G download speed in the UK, which stands at 100 Megabits per second (Mb/s) or over. Furthermore, the total bandwidth of 145GHz exceeds the previous wireless transmission world record by over five times.
Traditionally, wireless networks have been limited to transmitting information using radio waves over a narrow range of frequencies, predominantly operating at low frequencies below 6GHz. This congestion has significantly restricted the speed of wireless communications, but this new accomplishment opens up exciting possibilities for the future of wireless technology.
UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering researchers have successfully addressed the bottleneck in wireless data transmission. By harnessing a broader range of radio frequencies and integrating radio and optical technologies, they have revolutionized the efficiency of the wireless spectrum. Their pioneering work is poised to meet the escalating demand for wireless data capacity and speed in the next few years.
“Current wireless communication systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for high-speed data access, with capacity in the last few meters between the user and the fiber optic network holding us back,” said Dr. Zhixin Liu, senior author of the study from UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering.
“Our solution is to use more of the available frequencies to increase bandwidth while maintaining high signal quality and providing flexibility in accessing different frequency resources. This results in super-fast and reliable wireless networks, overcoming the speed bottleneck between user terminals and the Internet.
“Our new approach combines two existing wireless technologies for the first time, high-speed electronics and millimeter wave photonics, to overcome these barriers. This new system allows for the transmission of large amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, which will be crucial for the future of wireless communications.”
To overcome the current limitations of wireless technology, a team of researchers from UCL has pioneered an innovative approach. By integrating cutting-edge electronics optimized for the 5-50 GHz range with photonics technology harnessing light to generate radio information in the 50-150GHz range, they have achieved remarkable results.
Their groundbreaking method involves combining electronic digital-to-analog signal generators with light-based radio signal generators, resulting in the transmission of high-quality data across an extensive frequency spectrum from 5-150 GHz.
State-of-the-art communications networks rely on a multitude of cutting-edge technologies to operate seamlessly. Optical fiber communications systems serve as the sturdy lifeline, transmitting data over vast distances, connecting continents, and bridging the gap between data centers and our homes. Wireless technology, on the other hand, takes the spotlight in the final stretch, effortlessly transmitting data over short distances, such as from a household internet router to the myriad devices connected to it via wi-fi.
Although optical fibre has achieved remarkable strides in terms of bandwidth and speed, its potential is somewhat limited without corresponding advancements in wireless technology, which plays a crucial role in transmitting information over the final few meters in homes, businesses, and public spaces worldwide.
This groundbreaking technology developed by UCL has the power to revolutionize numerous sectors, particularly enhancing wi-fi connectivity that individuals rely on in their homes and in public settings.
With the upcoming 5G and 6G networks, mobile phone users can look forward to lightning-fast internet speeds and rock-solid connections. Imagine being able to enjoy seamless connectivity in bustling urban areas and at crowded events without any slowdowns. These cutting-edge networks will not only accommodate more users but also deliver blazing-fast speeds, making tasks like downloading a two-hour 4K Ultra HD film a matter of mere seconds.
“The beauty of wireless technology is its flexibility in terms of space and location. It can be used in scenarios where optical cabling would be challenging, such as in a factory containing complex arrangements of equipment,” said Professor Izzat Darwazeh, an author of the study.
“This work brings wireless technology up to speed with the increased bandwidths and speeds that have been achieved with the radio frequency and optical communications systems within next-generation digital communications infrastructure.”
Although the technology is currently in the laboratory phase, the team is working hard on developing a prototype system for commercial testing. If successful, this cutting-edge technology could be integrated into commercial equipment within the next three to five years.
Journal reference:
- Zichuan Zhou, Amany Kassem, James Seddon, Eric Sillekens, Izzat Darwazeh, Polina Bayvel. 938 Gb/s, 5–150 GHz Ultra-Wideband Transmission Over the Air Using Combined Electronic and Photonic-Assisted Signal Generation. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2024; DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2024.3446827