In a groundbreaking achievement, engineers at University College London (UCL) set a new world record for wireless data transmission, achieving 938 Gigabits per second (Gbps).
This breakthrough technology, which combines radio and optical technologies for the first time, has the potential to revolutionize wireless communications, offering faster and more reliable connectivity for a wide range of applications.
Current wireless transmission methods, such as Wi-Fi and 5G mobile networks, primarily operate at frequencies below 6 GHz. However, the increasing demand for high-speed data access has led to congestion in this frequency range, limiting the speed and reliability of wireless communications. This bottleneck is particularly evident in the last few meters between the user and the fibre optic network, where the capacity of wireless technology has struggled to keep pace with advancements in optical fibre communications.
To overcome these limitations, the UCL team developed a novel approach that combines advanced electronics, which perform well in the 5-50 GHz range, with photonics technology, which uses light to generate radio information and performs well in the 50-150 GHz range. By integrating these two technologies, the researchers could transmit data over a record frequency range of 5-150 GHz, achieving a total bandwidth of 145 GHz – more than five times higher than the previous wireless transmission world record.
The team generated high-quality signals by combining electronic digital-to-analogue signal generators with light-based radio signals, enabling data transmission across this wide range of frequencies. This innovative approach allowed the researchers to achieve wireless speeds of 938 Gbps, nearly 10,000 times faster than the UK’s average 5G download speed of 100 Mbps.
The UCL-developed technology has the potential to revolutionize various sectors, particularly in wireless connectivity. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more stable connections for home and public Wi-Fi networks, allowing more users to access high-speed internet simultaneously without experiencing slowdowns. In the context of 5G and future 6G networks, this technology could power dense urban environments or significant events, providing users faster speeds and more reliable connections.
To put the potential impact into perspective, consider the time it would take to download a two-hour 4K Ultra HD film, which typically has a file size of around 14 GB. This file could be downloaded using the new technology in just 0.12 seconds, compared to the 19 minutes it would take over a 5G network at 100 Mbps.
Beyond consumer applications, this technology could transform industrial connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT). As Dr Zhixin Liu, senior author of the study, explains, “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.”
While the record-breaking wireless transmission technology has currently only been demonstrated in the laboratory, the UCL team is actively working on developing a prototype system that can be used for commercial testing. If this prototype proves successful, the researchers estimate that the technology could be ready for incorporation into commercial equipment within the next three to five years.
Professor Izzat Darwazeh, an author of the study and director of the UCL Institute of Communications and Connected Systems (ICCS), emphasizes the significance of this work in bringing “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.”
As the demand for high-speed data access grows, developing faster and more reliable wireless communication technologies becomes increasingly crucial. The UCL team’s achievement in setting a new world record for wireless data transmission marks a significant step forward in meeting this demand and overcoming the limitations of current wireless technologies.
By innovatively combining radio and optical technologies, the researchers have demonstrated the potential for wireless communications to keep pace with the advancements made in optical fibre networks. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for various applications, from enhancing home and public Wi-Fi networks to powering the next generation of mobile networks and transforming industrial connectivity.
As Professor Polina Bayvel, an author of the study and co-director of ICCS, notes, “We are grateful to UKRI and the EPSRC for supporting this work to enable us to establish world-leading testbed and experimental capabilities in these areas. They are essential for the future of the UK’s national communications infrastructure, which is a critical resource.”
With further development and successful commercialization, this groundbreaking technology could play a pivotal role in shaping the future of wireless communications, ensuring that users can access high-speed, reliable data transmission wherever they may be.
TL;DR:
- UCL engineers set a new world record for wireless data transmission, achieving speeds of 938 Gbps
- The technology combines radio and optical technologies, utilizing a record frequency range of 5-150 GHz
- This breakthrough could revolutionize wireless communications, offering faster and more reliable connectivity for various applications.
- Potential applications include enhancing home and public Wi-Fi, powering 5G and 6G networks, and transforming industrial connectivity.
- The team is working on a prototype for commercial testing, which could be incorporated into commercial equipment within 3-5 years.
