UCL researchers have set a new record for how fast data can be sent wirelessly. — AFP Relaxnews
UK researchers have set a new wireless transmission record, achieving a maximum data rate of 938 Gigabits per second (Gbps) by utilising a wider-than-usual frequency range and combining radio and optical technologies for the first time.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) have set a new world record for wireless data transmission, at a speed of 938Gbps. Earlier this year, the Tokyo Institute of Technology previously posted an exceptional performance, with a data rate of 640 Gbps.
To achieve this feat, the scientists used a wide frequency range, from 5 to 150 GHz. They claim that their record-breaking speed is more than 9,000 times faster than the best average 5G download speed in the UK, which is around 100 Megabits per second. For example, a two-hour 4K movie representing 14 GB of data could be downloaded in just 0.12 seconds, compared to 19 minutes over the average 5G connection.
Typically, wireless networks use radio waves over a relatively narrow frequency range, which is increasingly congested. To get around this limitation, the researchers combined two technologies: high-speed electronics and millimeter-wave photonics. Thanks to this technique, they were able to utilize a much wider frequency band, from 5 to 150 GHz, boosting transmission capacity. And the result is spectacular.
This record, achieved under optimal laboratory conditions, may well have repercussions for the future. Firstly, it may inspire operators to improve the speed and reliability of their future wireless networks, without saturation. This technology could even revolutionize a number of sectors, from the automotive industry to the medical and industrial fields, by offering a much faster and more stable connection than what's currently available.
The results of this research are detailed in a paper published in The Journal of Lightwave Technology. – AFP Relaxnews
