According to a team of international researchers led by the University of Adelaide’s Withawat Withayachumnankul, scientists have unlocked the potential of 6G communications and have predicted the network will grace the industry within a decade.
They have successfully developed and tested a first-of-its-kind silicon chip solution that is capable of enabling 6G communications and can double the capacity of wireless networks.
The new groundbreaking device, the silicon-based polarization multiplexer, is designed to operate at terahertz (THz) frequencies. It allows two separate streams of data to be transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency band, using distinct polarizations of the electromagnetic wave.
With this device, data transmission can reach speeds of up to 190 Gbit/s, comparably faster than the 5G. Moreover, the device is also compact and efficient, which makes it perfect for integrating with future communication systems. The high polarization extinction ratio also makes sure that the data stream remains clear and distinct.
According to the university’s press release, the research is expected to help forward the entire field and is predicted to bring results by mid-2030.
“Within a decade, we foresee widespread adoption and integration of these terahertz technologies across various industries, revolutionizing fields such as telecommunications, imaging, radar, and the Internet of Things.”
Over three to five years, the teams expect to see significant advancements in high-speed communications that will give rise to commercial prototypes and early-stage products.
The team also addressed their challenges in the journal Laser & Photonic Reviews, highlighting the practicality of photonics-enabled terahertz technologies.
In simple words, the silicon-based polarization multiplexer is a critical step toward making 6G a reality.
