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Smart surfaces could represent a powerless solution to multipath signal interference
The evolution of wireless communications and the miniaturization of electrical circuits have fundamentally reshaped our lives and the digital landscape. However, as we push toward higher-frequency communications in an increasingly connected world, engineers face growing challenges from multipath propagation—a phenomenon where the same radio signal reaches receiving antennas through multiple... Read more
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South Korea's SK Telecom begins SIM card replacement after data breach
South Korea's largest carrier SK Telecom started on Monday to replace mobile SIM chips for its 23 million users following a data breach, prompting alarmed customers to form long lines for the replacements.... Read more
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Smart skies: New methods for UAVs to navigate where GPS fails
Navigating drones in environments without reliable Global Positioning System (GPS) signals remains a significant challenge for modern aerospace technology. A new study addresses methods for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) localization in GPS-denied areas, exploring both absolute and relative localization techniques.... Read more
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New quantum-based navigation system 50 times more accurate than traditional GPS
A team of researchers at Q-CTRL, a quantum infrastructure software-maker based in Sydney, Australia, has announced the successful demonstration of its newly developed quantum navigation system called "Ironstone Opal."... Read more
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New UK system to protect satellites against attack shows how global conflict has spilled into outer space
The UK government has announced £65 million in funding for a new system called Borealis which is intended to help the UK military defend its satellites against threats. Borealis is a software system that collates and processes data to strengthen the UK military's ability to monitor what's going on in... Read more
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Satellite imagery sheds light on UK solar farm land use
Scientists at Lancaster University have studied satellite images of the UK to produce the most accurate assessment yet on how much land solar farms occupy.... Read more
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China's new underwater tool cuts deep, exposing vulnerability of vital network of subsea cables
Chinese researchers have unveiled a new deep-sea tool capable of cutting through the world's most secure subsea cables—and it has many in the West feeling a little jittery.... Read more
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Invisible beams of light above Eindhoven provide super-fast wireless data transfer
Researchers from TU/e have transmitted data between the TU/e campus and the High Tech Campus over a 4.6 km distance using infrared light. This happened at the astonishing rate of 5.7 terabits per second, the equivalent of streaming 1.9 million Netflix shows in HD simultaneously. This is the fastest wireless... Read more
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Amazon to launch first batch of satellites rivaling Musk
The US retail giant Amazon is preparing to launch Wednesday its first full batch of Project Kuiper satellites, marking a crucial milestone in the battle with Elon Musk's Starlink to provide high-speed internet.... Read more
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Simultaneously burying broadband and electricity could save small towns big money
When it comes to upgrading electrical and broadband infrastructure, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that a "dig once" approach is nearly 40% more cost effective than replacing them separately.... Read more
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Development of a chaotic light receiver for secure communication in hostile environments
Researchers have developed a new type of optical receiver, able to restore chaotic signals in free-space optical communication links distorted by atmospheric turbulence. Using a system of optical antennas integrated into a programmable photonic chip, the receiver can adapt in real time, maintaining the integrity of the signal even in... Read more
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New splitting method: Bringing satellites into the 5G era
Global mobile communications that reliably reach every remote region, leaving no gaps on the map? Satellites play a key role in achieving this goal. In the future, however, not all satellites will be powerful enough to act as complete base stations. As part of the TRANTOR project, Fraunhofer IIS has... Read more
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Amazon to launch first batch of Starlink-rival satellites
Amazon is preparing to launch its first full batch of Project Kuiper satellites next week, marking a crucial milestone in the tech giant's bid to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink.... Read more
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Computer scientists build a faster, secure, energy-efficient blockchain system
Blockchain technology was unveiled nearly 35 years ago, but it first became prominent more recently—in 2009, with the introduction of Bitcoin—giving this "digital ledger" an everyday, consumer purpose. However, while blockchains have been used for payments, digital contracts, and supply chains, blockchain systems still achieve a low transaction rate with... Read more
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Researchers identify why 911 calls are delayed, failed, or dropped
An estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 in the U.S. each year, with wireless devices accounting for 80% or more of these calls. Making sure emergency calls connect and stay connected to 911 dispatchers is essential and could have life-threatening consequences. MSU researchers found that in certain situations,... Read more
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UN decries hike in satellite navigation system interference
The United Nations on Tuesday urged countries to boost protections amid a marked increase in efforts to interfere with satellite navigation systems like GPS that are critical for aviation and maritime safety.... Read more
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Researchers publish blueprint to fuse wireless technologies and AI
There's a major difference between humans and current artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities: common sense. According to a new paper by Walid Saad, professor in the College of Engineering and the Next-G Wireless Lead at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, a true revolution in wireless technologies is only possible through endowing... Read more
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ESA's NavLab on wheels: An Arctic mission
High above the Arctic Circle, on the rugged terrain of Andøya, three ESA radionavigation engineers take a rare moment to unwind with a game of shuffleboard. Outside, sheep graze under the shimmering northern lights, a serene backdrop to their demanding mission: test how navigation technologies withstand interference signals. With 100TB... Read more
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A tiny component for record-breaking bandwidth: New modulator breaks the terahertz mark
Plasmonic modulators are tiny components that convert electrical signals into optical signals in order to transport them through optical fibers. A modulator of this kind had never managed to transmit data at a frequency of over a terahertz (over a trillion oscillations per second).... Read more
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Ultra-broadband photonic chip boosts optical signals to reshape high-speed data transmission
Modern communication networks rely on optical signals to transfer vast amounts of data. But just like a weak radio signal, these optical signals need to be amplified to travel long distances without losing information.... Read more
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Musk's Starlink and Bharti Airtel sign deal to explore bringing satellite internet to India
Indian telecom operator Bharti Airtel said Tuesday it has signed a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink to explore providing the U.S. satellite internet giant's services to customers in India, depending on government approval.... Read more
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How satellite radio predicted the cultural, musical and technological shifts that now define our times
From music to film, subscriptions have become essential. The average number of subscriptions an American consumer maintains is four and a half, spending nearly US$1,000 a year. The average Canadian household pays for two and a half streaming TV platforms.... Read more
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Researchers develop core network technology for 6G hyper-immersive services
Korean researchers have succeeded in developing a core wired network technology that enables remote conferences, collaborations, and surgeries in a 6G environment. This technology will open up a hyper-immersive metaverse world in the future 6G world.... Read more
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High-performance programmable photonic chip could transform radar and communication systems
Researchers at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the City University of Hong Kong, have designed a cutting-edge programmable photonic chip in a thin-film lithium niobate platform, an important material in photonics. Published in Nature Communications, this work paves the way for next-generation high-performance radar and communication applications.... Read more
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Next-gen indoor navigation: Integration of two positioning systems delivers robust localization in dynamic environments
Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS) are essential for a wide range of applications, from robotics and drones to augmented reality. While traditional technologies like WiFi and Bluetooth often fall short in accuracy, Visible Light Positioning (VLP) stands out as a promising alternative due to its high precision and low infrastructure costs.... Read more
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Advocacy group fears US will steer broadband cash to Musk
An internet rights group on Tuesday raised alarm over reports the United States may steer billions of dollars to Elon Musk's Starlink by making changes to a rural broadband deployment program.... Read more
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Fiber optic networks enhanced with liquid crystal technology
Applications such as self-driving vehicles, 6G mobile communications and quantum communications are pushing fiber optic networks to their limits. Fraunhofer researchers have joined forces with partners to devise clever ways to optimize data transmission. Optical switches with liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) mirrors shrink data packets down to size so... Read more
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Space-time-coding metasurface could transform wireless networks with dual-functionality for 6G era
Programmable metasurfaces (PMs), also sometimes referred to as reconfigurable intelligence surfaces, are smart surfaces that reflect wireless signals, but can also dynamically manipulate electromagnetic waves in real-time. These surfaces are highly advantageous for the development of many cutting-edge technologies, including advanced sensing and wireless communication systems.... Read more
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AI, trade tensions mark Barcelona mobile industry meet
The world's largest wireless technology showcase kicked off on Monday, with excitement over AI's potential to transform gadgets clashing with concerns over trade tensions fueled by the United States.... Read more
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Quantum navigation could transform how we travel. So what is it, and how does it work?
Quantum technology is no longer confined to the lab—it's making its way into our everyday lives. Now, it's about to transform something even more fundamental: how we navigate the world.... Read more
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Selective jamming: Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces reveal new method of attacking Wi-Fi networks
Wireless connections are common in most households today. From your lights to your heating, everything can be connected and controlled through Wi-Fi. However, wireless technology is inherently vulnerable to the threat of jamming.... Read more
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Unlocking the future of satellite navigation with smart techniques
A new study reveals advanced methods for improving orbit determination (OD) of large constellations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, utilizing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations and inter-satellite ranging. These innovations promise to significantly boost the accuracy and computational efficiency essential for satellite communication, remote sensing, and navigation augmentation.... Read more
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Scientists develop three design techniques for power-efficient and speedier wireless transmitter systems
Three innovative design techniques substantially enhance wireless transmitter performance and can boost power efficiency and elevate data rates concurrently, as reported by the researchers from Science Tokyo, Japan. This effectively aligns with the growing demand for speed and efficiency, accelerating the widespread deployment of wireless devices. This enables synergistic operation... Read more
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AI in 6G development: Outlining its direction and purpose
The University of Oulu's 6G research program was the first in the world to publish a 6G White Paper in 2019. It was jointly prepared by several dozen experts. In the following two years, several papers on different aspects complemented the series. In total, the scientific vision papers have been... Read more
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Low-cost radar network offers real-time drone tracking and collision prevention
With the exponential rise in drone activity, safely managing low-flying airspace has become challenging—especially in highly populated areas. Just last month, an unauthorized drone collided with a "Super Scooper" aircraft above the Los Angeles wildfires, grounding the aircraft for several days and hampering firefighting efforts.... Read more
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Electromagnetic wave absorber enhances terahertz technology for future 6G networks
Sixth-generation, or 6G, cellular networks are the next step in wireless communication, and electromagnetic terahertz waves are seen as crucial to its development. However, terahertz waves, with their higher frequency and shorter wavelength, are subject to greater interference from electromagnetic noise, making clear and secure transmission a challenge.... Read more
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AI-powered method improves reliability of next-generation networks
As 5G and 6G networks expand, they promise a future of incredibly fast and reliable wireless connections. A key technology behind this is millimeter-wave (mmWave), which uses very high-frequency radio waves to transmit huge amounts of data. To make the most of mmWave, networks use large groups of antennas working... Read more
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Scientists develop ultra-thin absorbers with record-breaking bandwidth
Absorbing layers have been fundamental to advancements in technologies like energy harvesting, stealth systems, and communication networks. These absorbers efficiently capture electromagnetic waves across broad frequency ranges, enabling the development of sustainable, self-powered devices such as remote sensors and internet of things (IoT) systems.... Read more
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NASA's 3D-printed antenna takes additive manufacturing to new heights
In fall 2024, NASA developed and tested a 3D-printed antenna to demonstrate a low-cost capability to communicate science data to Earth. The antenna, tested in flight using an atmospheric weather balloon, could open the door for using 3D printing as a cost-effective development solution for the ever-increasing number of science... Read more
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Programmable metasurface antenna exhibits remarkable wireless information mapping efficiency
In recent years, electronics engineers worldwide have been trying to develop new hardware that could further boost the speed and efficiency of wireless communications. Digitally programmable metasurfaces, advanced artificial materials engineered to manipulate the properties of electromagnetic waves, have been found to be particularly promising for the transmission of wireless... Read more
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Precise positioning in challenging environments: A new anchor approach to ultra-wideband-assisted navigation
A new study has introduced an advanced method for visual-inertial navigation, utilizing a single Ultra-Wideband (UWB) anchor with an unknown position to achieve exceptional positioning accuracy and robustness in environments lacking Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals.... Read more
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AT&T knows telecoms don't have the best reputation: New outage guarantee aims to fix that
AT&T is trying to address one of the biggest frustrations for wireless phone and internet customers—losing service to outages and still paying for it.... Read more
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Internet calling: US government approves funding for smartphone broadband
Look up: Can you see the sky?... Read more
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Low-cost system eliminates need for power-hungry signal transmitters in industrial machine communication
Researchers have found a low-power, inexpensive way for large numbers of devices, such as machines in factories and equipment in labs, to share information by efficiently using signals at untapped high frequencies.... Read more
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Doppler radar tracks non-weather debris to aid emergency response
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using non-weather data from the nationwide weather radar network to understand how to track non-meteorological events moving through the air for better emergency response. Weather reports on the news show colorful, near-time representations of clouds and precipitation moving over... Read more
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New technology doubles radar resolution using novel algorithms
Researchers have developed a new radar signal–processing technology that can dramatically enhance the resolution of existing low-resolution radars. This technology enables precise object recognition using existing hardware specifications without the need for bandwidth expansion.... Read more
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Charge your phone in your pocket with new wireless technology
A groundbreaking advancement in technology is paving the way for mobile phones and other electronic devices to recharge simply by being kept in a pocket. This innovative system enables wireless charging throughout three-dimensional (3D) spaces, encompassing walls, floors, and air.... Read more
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Listening for the right radio signals could be an effective way to track small drones
The recent spate of unidentified drone sightings in the U.S., including some near sensitive locations such as airports and military installations, has caused significant public concern.... Read more
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Novel antenna tech enables multi-signal transmission for 6G networks
A breakthrough in antenna technology that could revolutionize the future of wireless communications, particularly for the upcoming 6th generation (6G) networks, has been announced by a research team led by Professor Chan Chi-hou, Chair Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK).... Read more
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Low-cost vortex beam generators could boost 5G/6G networks
Researchers have developed a 3D-printed device that generates twisting light beams with orbital angular momentum (OAM), a form of rotational energy that can carry more data than regular beams. The efficient, compact and low-cost vortex beam generators could help enhance the capacity and reliability of future wireless systems.... Read more