6G and THz: Here's the Frequency That Takes Wireless Into the Future
While not anticipated to be available until 2030, 6G will most likely continue the trend of using higher and higher carrier frequencies.
In the case of 6G, these frequencies will probably reach beyond the mmWaves through THz bands and up to visible light, to provide high capacity point-to-point communication with an aim to achieve spectral efficiency 5x greater than 5G.
Consequently, the development of 6G and use of sub-THz bands will pose even greater challenges than has been the case for 5G, for RF engineering and device physics.
Generation, modulation, detection and demodulation of THz signals in an energy efficient manner has always been very difficult, and progress in this field over the last few decades has been relatively slow. In the last decade, however, we have seen several new technologies: in particular, III-V InP devices and Schottky diodes reaching the 1 THz mark.
It's believed that 6G devices will require very high levels of integration and ultra-low energy consumption, and extensive capability for energy conservation and harvesting to maintain long periods of standby activity, especially in case of IoT devices.
6G in the sub-THz range will face challenges due to available transistor speeds in CMOS, SiGe and HBT, to ensure the available gain, output power and noise figure required to overcome the higher path loss.
Integrated circuit technologies currently available are not yet sufficiently mature or economical for Tbps data transfers to 1 km distance, however, data transfer speeds of a few tens of Gbps have been reported below 120 GHz and within 10 m range using CMOS, while using InP and high directivity antennas enables comparable speeds to 1 km.
Advanced multimedia services such as truly immersive extended reality (XR), mobile holograms and digital replicas, nano healthcare, three-dimensional (3D) calls, haptics communications, unmanned mobility, tele-operated driving and the nano-inspired internet of things are some examples of promising use cases of terahertz communications in 6G.
Additionally, 6G's THz frequency imaging and spectroscopy will support real-time and perpetual data on the human body through non-intrusive, contact-free, and dynamic measurements such as digital health technology.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers 6G THZ and Sub-THz Training, a 2-day course that covers key 6G technologies with an emphasis on the THz frequency band, which is in the range of 100 GHz to 300 GHz, and THz, which is from 300 GHz to 3 THz on the spectrum chart.
Participants will examine the benefits and challenges of coupling 6G with the THz frequency band.
Additionally, attendees will examine how THz signals have the capacity to drive advanced 6G technological applications such as digital twins, immersive extended reality (XR), mobile holograms and digital replicas, nano healthcare, three-dimensional (3D) calls, haptics communications, unmanned mobility, tele-operated driving and the nano-inspired internet of things.
All told, Tonex offers more than two dozen courses in 6G technology. These courses include:
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