Future mobile networks could transmit data much faster if they use a wider range of frequencies
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Wireless data transmission has reached a groundbreaking speed of 938 gigabits per second, surpassing the average speed of current 5G connections by over 9000 times. To put it into perspective, this speed would enable downloading more than 20 average-length movies in just one second. This achievement marks a record for multiplex data transmission, where multiple signals are combined.
The increasing demand for wireless signals in crowded environments like concerts, sports events, and busy transit hubs often leads to network congestion and slowdowns. This is primarily due to the limited bandwidth available within existing 5G networks. These networks typically operate within a restricted range of frequencies below 6 gigahertz, with only narrow bands allocated for data transmission.
To address this limitation and enhance data transmission rates, Zhixin Liu and his team at University College London have conducted an experiment using an extensive range of frequencies, spanning from 5 gigahertz to 150 gigahertz, utilizing both radio waves and light waves.
Liu explains that current digital-to-analogue converters struggle to maintain efficiency at higher frequencies. Therefore, their approach involved utilizing this technology for the lower frequency range and employing a different technique involving lasers for the higher frequencies. By combining these methods, they created a broad spectrum of data that can be received by hardware potentially integrated into future smartphones.
This innovative approach enabled the team to achieve a remarkable data transmission rate of 938 gigabits per second, significantly outperforming the average 5G download speed in the UK. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for leveraging high data rates in applications that were previously unimaginable and ensuring sufficient bandwidth for large groups of users to stream videos seamlessly.
While this achievement sets a new record for multiplex data transmission, individual signals have been transmitted at even higher speeds, surpassing 1 terabit per second. By distributing signals across a wide range of frequencies, Liu likens it to transforming the narrow and congested roads of current 5G networks into expansive motorways with multiple lanes, capable of accommodating larger volumes of data traffic.
Liu reveals that discussions are underway with smartphone manufacturers and network operators, with the hope that future 6G technology could be built upon this groundbreaking research. However, he acknowledges that other emerging technologies are also competing for advancement in the field.
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