A new world record for wireless data transmission has been set, reaching speeds of 938 gigabits per second, approximately 9,000 times faster than current 5G networks in the UK. This achievement by researchers offers a glimpse into a future era of communication through the use of next-generation 6G technology, which is anticipated to be commercially deployed within the next ten years.
The breakthrough was accomplished by a team from University College London (UCL) by integrating radio and optical technologies for the first time to address the bottleneck caused by frequency congestion. Dr. Zhixin Liu from UCL’s Electronic & Electrical Engineering department stated, “Current wireless communication systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for high-speed data access, with capacity in the last few metres between the user and the fibre optic network holding us back.”
The innovative solution utilises more available frequencies to increase bandwidth while ensuring high signal quality and offering flexibility in accessing different frequency resources. This advancement results in super-fast and reliable wireless networks, overcoming the speed bottleneck between user terminals and the internet. UCL suggests that this new technology could revolutionise home WiFi speeds and significantly enhance mobile internet speeds through upcoming 6G networks.
At 938 gigabits per second, downloading a two-hour 4k Ultra HD film would only take 0.12 seconds, a substantial improvement compared to the 19 minutes it currently takes over 5G networks. Furthermore, this approach could enable more individuals to connect to networks in crowded environments like concerts or sporting events without encountering slowdowns or dropouts.
Professor Izzat Darwazeh, director of UCL Institute of Communications and Connected Systems, highlighted the flexibility of wireless technology in various scenarios where optical cabling might be challenging, such as in complex factory layouts. This research, published in the Journal of Lightwave Technology, demonstrates the potential of wireless technology to match the bandwidths and speeds achieved by radio frequency and optical communications systems in the next generation of digital communications infrastructure.