A team of researchers in South Korea has successfully demonstrated a record-breaking 200 gigabits per second (Gbps) wireless link, marking a major step forward for the next generation of mobile technology, 6G.
The achievement was made by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) using a proof-of-concept system developed late last year.
The system relies on extremely high frequencies in the sub-terahertz (sub-THz) band, specifically around 160 GHz, with an ultra-wide bandwidth of 10 GHz.
This frequency range is much higher than today’s mobile communication bands, which allows it to carry massive amounts of data but also limits how far the signal can travel.
For this reason, future applications of this technology will likely involve very small coverage areas, such as indoor “picocells,” or in advanced sensing systems that benefit from the wide bandwidth.
To achieve the record speeds, the team used a method known as Coordinated Multi Point (CoMP) transmission and reception.
In this setup, multiple radio units transmit separate streams of data over the same frequency, which are then combined by a single receiving terminal.
For the demonstration, four radio units were used. Each unit sent out two layers of data using both horizontal and vertical polarizations of the signal.
This meant that each unit could deliver speeds of up to 50 Gbps, adding up to a combined 200 Gbps when the four were linked together.
The receiver played a critical role by using a technique called polarization-based beamforming. This allowed it to separate the different polarizations of the signals while minimizing interference, making it possible to receive multiple streams of data at the same time.
To handle the huge amount of information, the researchers also developed new encoding and decoding methods for high-capacity channels, which increased the data volume fourfold compared to earlier systems.
The demonstration incorporated several key technologies seen as essential for 6G: CoMP transmission, sub-THz polarization MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output), and advanced channel coding. Together, these show how 6G could eventually deliver speeds hundreds of times faster than today’s 5G networks.
According to Yongsoon Baek, Assistant Vice President of ETRI’s Terrestrial & Non-Terrestrial Integrated Telecommunications Research Laboratory, this breakthrough “proves Korea’s leadership in 6G technology.” He added that the institute will continue to drive global 6G standardization and commercialization efforts.
ETRI has been shaping its 6G vision since 2020, releasing its first white paper that year. In 2023, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) finalized the global 6G framework known as IMT-2030, and ETRI has already updated its roadmap to align with the new standards and the latest international trends.
With this 200 Gbps demonstration, South Korea has once again positioned itself at the forefront of mobile communication research, paving the way for a future where 6G networks could enable everything from immersive virtual reality to ultra-fast data sharing in smart cities.
Source: KSR.
