-
Federal broadband subsidies boosted rural internet, but service faded once funding ended, researchers find
A federal multibillion-dollar effort that subsidized internet service providers to bring broadband to underserved areas has provided much-needed high-speed internet to some of the country's remote and rural areas. However, according to UC Santa Barbara researchers, once the federal subsidies ended, so did much of the service.... Read more
-
From quantum to wireless: Enhancing chip-scale communication with terahertz tech
As computing technology advances, we have shifted from using large, single-chip processors to systems made up of smaller, specialized chips called "chiplets." These chiplets work together to boost processing power and efficiency.... Read more
-
Building a worldwide map of light pollution with inexpensive sensors
As someone that has always lived in the UK countryside, I am no stranger to the glory of a dark star-filled sky. Sadly, 60% of the world's population has already lost access to the night sky thanks to light pollution. Across Europe and the U.S., that number climbs to nearer... Read more
-
A new twist on observing start of fires using advanced real-time image processing
A new system aimed at improving the monitoring and detection of forest fires through advanced real-time image processing is reported in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. The work could lead to faster and more accurate detection and so help improve the emergency response to reduce the environmental,... Read more
-
New method could decrease number of satellites needed for global coverage
Low-orbit satellites could soon offer millions of people worldwide access to high-speed communications, but the satellites' potential has been stymied by a technological limitation—their antenna arrays can only manage one user at a time.... Read more
-
Bridging the urban canyons: 5G's role in advanced real-time kinematic positioning
High-precision positioning in urban areas faces obstacles such as frequent signal blockages and interference from buildings, which compromise the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) systems. These conditions lead to reduced accuracy and reliability, making it difficult for traditional solutions to meet precision demands.... Read more
-
New 2D metamaterial enhances satellite communication for 6G networks
A new, cheap, easily manufactured device could lead to improved satellite communication, high speed data transmission, and remote sensing, scientists say.... Read more
-
Verizon is buying Frontier in $20B deal to strengthen its fiber network
Verizon is buying Frontier Communications in a $20 billion deal to strengthen its fiber network.... Read more
-
Developing GaN transistors and high-power amplifiers for millimeter wave satellite communications
Communication satellites and flying antenna platforms can contribute to the comprehensive and resilient operation of global mobile networks of the fifth and sixth generation (5G, 6G). However, as large parts of the millimeter wave (mmW) frequency spectrum must be reallocated for this purpose, more powerful radio frequency technologies are required... Read more
-
Researchers develop reconfigurable MIMO-based self-powered battery-less light communication system
In a new paper published in Light: Science & Application, a team of scientists, led by Professor Khaled Salama from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and co-workers have developed a reconfigurable simultaneous lightwave information and power transfer (SLIPT) system using a MIMO-based configuration that addresses the limitations of... Read more
-
Reconfigurable smart antenna offers low complexity and high gain
Smart antennas have garnered significant attention for their ability to enable both communication and perception functions simultaneously; however, they commonly come with complicated controls and a high cost.... Read more
-
Researchers innovate optical microchips with applications for sensing and communications
Infrared light cannot be seen, but it can be felt as heat. Lying beyond the red color in the electromagnetic spectrum, it is used by animals to detect prey in the dark and in night vision cameras.... Read more
-
Precision orbit overhaul: LEO satellites team up to refine GPS accuracy
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) accuracy is crucial for precise applications, yet regional networks often face challenges in maintaining this precision. Integrating data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites with ground stations offers a promising solution to these challenges. Given these limitations, there is a clear need to explore more... Read more
-
A third of the world lacks internet connectivity—airborne communications stations could change that
About one-third of the global population, around 3 billion people, don't have access to the internet or have poor connections because of infrastructure limitations, economic disparities and geographic isolation.... Read more
-
From city streets to open skies: The new frontier in smartphone GNSS accuracy
The latest advancements in smartphone positioning technology were put to the test in a recent study. Focusing on the multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities of the Redmi K60 Ultra, the study evaluated performance across various scenarios, demonstrating significant improvements in positioning accuracy, speed, and reliability. These developments mark... Read more
-
How to get internet access even when a storm knocks out power (and Wi-Fi) at home
Hurricanes, tropical storms and even severe thunderstorms can lead to power outages.... Read more
-
US companies' global market reach linked to cloud computing use
U.S. firms that use cloud-computing services are more likely to export their products and services, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The team said the findings were stronger for firms located outside of large cities and demonstrate the need... Read more
-
Hybrid RF-VLC system could reduce power consumption in wireless networks
Wireless internet supports the daily activities of countless people worldwide, ranging from their professional communications to internet browsing and the streaming of movies or TV series. This spiking demand for wireless internet access goes hand in hand with greater power consumption, which in turn contributes to carbon emissions worldwide.... Read more
-
Unlocking clarity in the skies: Subcarrier modulation for enhanced GNSS
The integration of subcarrier modulated signals into Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), has brought forth new layers of complexity in signal acquisition and tracking, stemming from their distinctive structure. Although these signals promise enhanced spectral compatibility and superior ranging precision, they also introduce ambiguity threats to the stability of standard... Read more
-
Venezuelan crisis has negatively affected country's internet, researchers find
As the Venezuelan crisis intensifies, researchers and policy experts have worked to understand its ramifications on the country's politics, economics, health services, water security, infrastructure and more.... Read more
-
Fast, tap-proof data networks with light
The digital transformation means that more and more devices such as X-ray and ultrasound machines are being connected to networks in hospital settings, for example. These kinds of equipment have to be movable as needed.... Read more
-
Undersea internet cables connecting Australia to the world threatened by boats, spies, natural disasters
The Australian government this week announced it would spend A$18 million over four years on a new center aimed at keeping safe the undersea cables that power the nation's internet.... Read more
-
Interoperable multipath hemispherical map: A unified approach for enhanced GNSS precision
Multipath effects, resulting from satellite signals reflecting off objects before reaching the receiver, seriously compromise the precision of satellite navigation systems. Existing solutions like Sidereal Filtering and system-specific MHMs require observations spanning at least one full cycle of satellite orbit repeat period (e.g., 10 days for Galileo) to reproduce the... Read more
-
A deep dive into polyimides for high-frequency wireless telecommunications
As 5G technologies continue to evolve, scientists and engineers are already exploring new ways to turn things up a notch for 6G. One of the biggest challenges to address in both 5G and 6G is the many detrimental effects that operating at extremely high frequencies has on wireless communications. At... Read more
-
Memristive radiofrequency switches show improved performance for mmWave applications
Radiofrequency (RF) switches are electronic components that control the routing of RF signals between different segments of circuits, for instance turning the signals on and off or redirecting them. These switches are central to the functioning of numerous communication technologies, including smartphones, cell towers, and wireless networks.... Read more
-
Digital twin method can boost wireless network speed and reliability
Computer science researchers have developed a new method for predicting what data wireless computing users will need before they need it, making wireless networks faster and more reliable. The new method makes use of a technique called a "digital twin," which effectively clones the network it is supporting.... Read more
-
Microsoft says taking 'mitigation actions' after service issues
US tech giant Microsoft said Friday it was taking "mitigation actions" after service disruptions.... Read more
-
Microsoft users worldwide report widespread outages affecting banks, airlines and broadcasters
Microsoft users worldwide, including banks and airlines, reported widespread outages on Friday, hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.... Read more
-
Satnav enables medical and emergency response
Satellite navigation is not just about travel directions; its applications extend to search and rescue operations, agriculture, autonomous vehicles, sports and perhaps surprisingly, even health. ESA's NAVISP program supports European companies in the creation of satnav-powered solutions with all sorts of applications—among them, emergency response and health care.... Read more
-
From floats to fixes: Unifying ambiguity resolution in satellite navigation
Accurate Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning is essential for various applications, but traditional methods like Full Ambiguity Resolution (FAR) and Partial Ambiguity Resolution (PAR) have limitations in precision and speed. These techniques often require extended convergence times and can introduce errors due to noisy observations or biased models.... Read more
-
Optical ground stations capture satellite laser signals, paving way for 1,000-fold faster communications from space
The University of Western Australia's "TeraNet," a network of optical ground stations specializing in high-speed space communications, has successfully received laser signals from a German satellite in low Earth orbit. This breakthrough paves the way for a 1,000-fold increase in communication bandwidth between space and Earth.... Read more
-
Germany to ban Chinese telecom giants from 5G network
Germany said Thursday it will phase out the use of components from Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks in the coming years due to national security concerns.... Read more
-
New model predicts impact of reconfigurable intelligent surfaces on radio wave propagation
A method to analytically express the performance of wireless communication systems when using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) has been successfully developed by researchers at Tohoku University, the University of Surrey, and the University of Nottingham.... Read more
-
A backscatter communication technique for low-power internet of things communication
Backscatter communication (BackCom) is a promising low-power method for the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, where connected devices reflect and modulate existing signals by altering their load impedance, rather than generating signals themselves.... Read more
-
International team creates high-frequency switch for future 6G networks
UAB (University of Barcelona) researchers were involved in the development of a switch, an essential device in telecommunications, capable of operating at very high frequency with lower power consumption than conventional technologies. The technology has applications in the new 6G mass communication systems and is more sustainable in terms of... Read more
-
Better understanding of wave propagation processes could boost 5G and 6G networks
Researchers from the Smart and Wireless Applications and Technologies Group (SWAT-UGR) have conducted two scientific studies aimed at answering a common question: understanding how electromagnetic waves propagate in the medium.... Read more
-
BeiDou satellite navigation system to undergo significant upgrade
The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is undergoing a significant upgrade to meet the burgeoning needs for high-precision positioning across various sectors. The new services aim to provide decimeter-level accuracy within minutes, a substantial improvement over the current capabilities.... Read more
-
Quantum communication: How will 'quantum-secure' communication technologies develop in future?
Fraunhofer ISI and Saarland University have analyzed three generations of quantum communication in a new study. The study's quantitative monitoring gives insights into patent development, projects future growth, and compares international research strategies. The study also examined how Germany and Europe stand in an international context.... Read more
-
Amazon's Project Kuiper delays satellite timeline, opens Washington hub
As Amazon celebrated the opening of a Kirkland, Washington, manufacturing facility for its broadband network Project Kuiper, the company pushed back its timeline for launching satellites.... Read more
-
Young people hate making phone calls—could it be hurting their careers?
Ironically, younger generations are using smartphones for anything but actual phone calls.... Read more
-
Wireless receiver blocks interference for better mobile device performance
The growing prevalence of high-speed wireless communication devices, from 5G mobile phones to sensors for autonomous vehicles, is leading to increasingly crowded airwaves. This makes the ability to block interfering signals that can hamper device performance an even more important—and more challenging—problem.... Read more
-
Researchers successfully develop domestic 6G antenna measurement system
In April 2019, South Korea ambitiously launched the world's first 5G mobile communication service. While 5G in the 3.5 GHz band was commercialized, the communication quality did not meet consumer expectations. The installation of base stations in the 28 GHz band, which would provide true 5G service, was slow due... Read more
-
Service mesh technology revolutionizes 6G core network signal processing
Korean researchers are strengthening South Korea's leadership in the global market through the development of 6G, the next-generation mobile communication technology.... Read more
-
Researchers 'crack the code' for quelling electromagnetic interference
Florida Atlantic Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence (CA-AI.fau.edu) researchers have "cracked the code" on interference when machines need to talk with each other—and people.... Read more
-
Predicting space weather: Machine learning enhances GNSS signal stability
Ionospheric scintillation, caused by irregularities in the Earth's ionosphere, can severely impact Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal integrity, leading to navigation errors.... Read more
-
Wirelessly-powered relay will help bring 5G technology to smart factories, say researchers
A recently-developed wirelessly-powered 5G relay could accelerate the development of smart factories, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. By adopting a lower operating frequency for wireless power transfer, the proposed relay design solves many of the current limitations, including range and efficiency. In turn, this allows for a more versatile and... Read more
-
Towards wider 5G network coverage: Scientists design novel wirelessly powered relay transceiver array
A novel 256-element wirelessly powered transceiver array for non-line-of-sight 5G communication, featuring efficient wireless power transmission and high-power conversion efficiency, has been designed by scientists at Tokyo Tech.... Read more
-
One Tech Tip: Use a roaming eSIM on your summer travels to avoid cellphone data fees
For summer trips overseas, a smartphone is essential for most people. How else will you check Google Maps to find your Airbnb, post an Instagram video from the Eiffel Tower, or WhatsApp friends and family back home?... Read more
-
Why are people sending voice messages? Communications expert explains phenomena
Sometimes a text isn't enough, but a phone or video call would be too much.... Read more
-
NASA's laser relay system sends pet imagery to and from Space Station
Using NASA's first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system, pictures and videos of cherished pets flew through space over laser communications links at a rate of 1.2 gigabits per second—faster than most home internet speeds.... Read more