As 5G infrastructure continues to spread around the world, the eyes of the technology world have already turned to the next generation, 6G standards. Japan, which has been carrying out valuable R&D studies in this field for a long time, has achieved a very critical success that will form the basis of the connection networks of the future.

In their wireless data transmission experiments using optical microcomb technology, Tokushima University researchers achieve an incredible data transfer rate of 112 Gbps (gigabits per second) in the 560 GHz terahertz band. This development is recorded as the first demonstration of wireless communication in the world exceeding the 100 Gbps threshold above the 420 GHz frequency level and eliminates one of the biggest obstacles in the commercial implementation of 6G infrastructure.

• Frequency and Speed ​​Limit Exceeded:Researchers led by Tokushima University are breaking the world record by reaching a data transfer rate of 112 Gbps per second in a very high terahertz frequency band of 560 GHz.

• Chip Analysis with Microcomb Technology:The photonic microcomb chip, developed to solve the high-frequency inefficiency problem of classical electronic circuits, both reduces hardware costs and size and offers high stability.

• The Future of Mobile Backbone is Taking Shape:This tremendous speed has achieved the potential to reduce the dependence on fiber optic cables, especially in the portable backhaul that carries information traffic between base stations.

The Power of Terahertz Waves and the Challenges to Overcome

Current 5G technologies use reasonable frequency ranges, including millimeter waves (mmWave), to carry information. However, the exponential increase in data consumption every day forces scientists to explore much higher frequency bands called the “Terahertz (THz) region”, which is located between 300 GHz and 3 THz. These bands theoretically promise huge bandwidth and much faster data transfer.

However, in practice, when these high frequencies are reached, significant instability and signal losses occur. Classical electronic circuits and components cannot operate efficiently at levels such as 500 GHz, produce too much noise and cannot maintain signal integrity. This is exactly where the system developed by Japanese researchers comes into play and introduces a photonic-based approach by completely eliminating electronic restrictions.

Soliton Microcomb and Integrated Temperature Control Technology

Prof. The research team, led by Takeshi Yasui, directly couples optical fiber to a silicon nitride-based microresonator to generate sensitive, high-frequency signals. This special architecture completely eliminates the need for precise optical alignment, which is always a big problem in laboratory environments. Thanks to the “soliton microcomb” technology produced, the physical size of the device is reduced while its operating stability is maximized.

In addition, the integrated temperature control function built into the system prevents the negative effects of environmental temperature changes on signal quality. This feature enables the production of low-noise terahertz waves even under high-power optical pumping.

During wireless transmission tests in the laboratory, researchers are trying two different modulation formats. While 84 Gbps speed is achieved in the QPSK format, the more advanced 16QAM format reaches a data transmission rate of 112 Gbps per second without any problems.

The Wireless Era in Fiber Optic Performance

The biggest reflection of this success will be seen in the infrastructure costs of mobile operators. Telecom operators have to lay kilometers of fiber optic cables to carry huge data traffic between cities or base stations. In geographical conditions where laying physical cables is impossible or very costly, approaching fiber optic performance wirelessly is of vital value.

This miniature photonic chip developed by Japan enables the miniaturization of base stations and network equipment and paves the way for wireless data transfer in fiber optic quality.

The next goal of the research team is to double the information speed by further reducing phase noise in the signal and to work on advanced antenna designs that will enable this technology to work at longer ranges.

While commercial 6G networks are expected to enter our lives in the early 2030s, such revolutionary steps show that the internet standards of the future will be much faster and more stable than assumed.