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A silicon photonic modulator supporting the 800G standard for high-speed data transmission
In wireless communication, G stands for "generation" as in 4G, 5G, 6G. When it comes to data rate in optical communications though, "G" stands for gigabits per second (Gbps), and the progression doubles, as in 100G, 200G, 400G and 800G.... Read more
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Vodafone, Three to merge UK mobile phone operations to capitalize on 5G rollout
Two of the U.K.'s four mobile phone operators agreed Wednesday to merge their businesses to capitalize on the rollout of next-generation 5G wireless technology in the country.... Read more
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Digital divide hinders rural innovation, study shows
Cloud-based computing directly contributes to business innovation, but rural businesses lacking sufficient broadband capacity to access cloud services are missing out on their innovation-boosting potential, according to a team of researchers from Penn State and the National Science Foundation. The findings can be used by policymakers and business-support organizations to... Read more
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What is the 'splinternet'? Here's why the internet is less whole than you might think
"Splinternet" refers to the way the internet is being splintered—broken up, divided, separated, locked down, boxed up, or otherwise segmented.... Read more
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Preparing the stage for 6G: A fast and compact transceiver for sub-THz frequencies
A new transceiver design capable of both transmission and reception at frequencies over 100 GHz and at 112 Gb/s data rate could pave the way to 6G technologies, as reported by scientists at Tokyo Tech. By effectively suppressing the self-interference caused by the transmission signal leaking into the receiver, the... Read more
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World's first demonstration of terahertz signal transparent relay and switching
A team including researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology; Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.; Nagoya Institute of Technology; and Waseda University has jointly developed the world's first system for the transparent relay, routing, and switching of high-speed terahertz-wave signals to different locations.... Read more
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Amazon is in talks to offer free mobile service to US Prime members
Amazon.com Inc. has been talking with wireless carriers about offering low-cost or possibly free nationwide mobile phone service to Prime subscribers, according to people familiar with the situation.... Read more
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Team sets new speed record for industry standard optical fiber
An optical fiber about the thickness of a human hair can now carry the equivalent of more than 10 million fast home internet connections running at full capacity.... Read more
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Active RIS vs. passive RIS: Which will prevail in 6G?
Reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has become a promising technology in future 6G communications. Thanks to its high array gain, low cost, and low power consumption, RISs can improve spectral efficiency and reduce power consumption. The RISs widely studied in most existing works are usually passive RISs.... Read more
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Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces for 6G: Nine fundamental issues and one critical problem
Recently, a new technology named reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) has emerged as a potential candidate for the 6G network. An RIS is usually designed as a reflective array equipped with a large number of passive elements, each being able to reflect the incident signals passively with a controllable phase shift.... Read more
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AI can accelerate the development of the 5G network
Developers of the 5G mobile network can now get help from artificial intelligence (AI). A thesis from Umeå University shows new machine learning methods that provide faster troubleshooting and better understanding of the mobile network.... Read more
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Researchers present new wireless system for greater 5G access
A new paper on wireless connectivity from the lab of Dinesh Bharadia, an affiliate of the UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute (QI) and faculty member with the Jacobs School of Engineering's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, introduces a new technique for increasing access to the 5G-and-beyond millimeter wave (mmWave)... Read more
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World's first standard cladding diameter 19-core optical fiber with record transmission capacity
A group of researchers from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT, Japan) and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI, Japan) in collaboration with the Eindhoven University of Technology, University of L'Aquila, and Macquarie University has developed a 19-core optical fiber with a standard cladding diameter (0.125 mm), which... Read more
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NASA, partners achieve fastest space-to-ground laser comms link
On April 28, NASA and its partners achieved another major milestone in the future of space communications—achieving 200 gigabit per second (Gbps) throughput on a space-to-ground optical link between a satellite in orbit and Earth, the highest data rate ever achieved by optical communications technology.... Read more
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This algorithm can make satellite signals act like GPS
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can "eavesdrop" on any signal from a satellite and use it to locate any point on Earth, much like GPS. The study represents the first time an algorithm was able to exploit signals broadcast by multi-constellation low Earth orbit satellite (LEO) satellites, namely Starlink,... Read more
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Pentagon leaks suggest China developing ways to attack satellites—here's how they might work
The recent leak of Pentagon documents included the suggestion that China is developing sophisticated cyber attacks for the purpose of disrupting military communication satellites. While this is unconfirmed, it is certainly possible, as many sovereign nations and private companies have considered how to protect from signal interference.... Read more
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Miniscule device could help preserve the battery life of tiny sensors
Scientists are striving to develop ever-smaller Internet of Things devices, like sensors tinier than a fingertip that could make nearly any object trackable. These diminutive sensors have miniscule batteries which are often nearly impossible to replace, so engineers incorporate wake-up receivers that keep devices in low-power "sleep" mode when not... Read more
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Successful launch of Lumelite-4 to enhance maritime communications
A microsatellite for maritime communications developed by the Satellite Technology And Research Center (STAR) under the National University of Singapore's College of Design and Engineering (NUS CDE), and A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), has been successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikotta, India, on Saturday, 22... Read more
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A K-/Ka-band planar shared-aperture beam-scanning array
With the rapid development of modern wireless systems such as radar and communications, there is an urgent need for the integrated development of multi-functional RF antennas. Since weight, size, and space placement are at a premium for these systems, it is desirable to combine the functionality of multiple systems into... Read more
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Full-spectrum cell-free RAN for 6G systems: System design and experimental results
A long-form review titled "Full-spectrum Cell-free RAN for 6G Systems: System design, and Experimental Results" was published in Science China Information Sciences. This study was led by Prof. Wang Dongming and Prof. You Xiaohu from Southeast University, China along with other 16 experts and scholars from scientific research institutes, colleges,... Read more
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Surface steers signals for next-gen networks
5G communications' superfast download speeds rely on the high frequencies that drive the transmissions. But the highest frequencies come with a tradeoff.... Read more
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Electromechanical resonators operating at sub-terahertz frequencies
To further advance communication systems, increasing both their speed and efficiency, electronics engineers will need to create new and highly performing components, including electromechanical resonators. Electromechanical resonators are essential components of communications systems that can be used to generate powerful waves of specific frequencies or selectively broadcast communication signals at... Read more
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Taiwan seeks satellite solutions after undersea cables cut
Taiwanese hostel worker Wang Chuang-jen's business took a hammering when undersea telecoms lines serving tiny Matsu archipelago were cut in February.... Read more
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Photonic filter separates signals from noise to support future 6G wireless communication
Researchers have developed a new chip-sized microwave photonic filter to separate communication signals from noise and suppress unwanted interference across the full radio frequency spectrum. The device is expected to help next-generation wireless communication technologies efficiently convey data in an environment that is becoming crowded with signals from devices such... Read more
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First electromechanical resonator to operate beyond 100 GHz
In what has the potential to significantly advance wireless communications and mechanical quantum systems, researchers at Yale have demonstrated the world's first electromechanical resonator to operate beyond 100 GHz.... Read more
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Google Fiber expands to new NC communities, bringing options and disruptions
Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver says her Orange County town will welcome Google Fiber—though perhaps not the construction that comes with it.... Read more
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Australians choose streaming over free TV
Paid streaming services now dominate how Australians watch scripted series and movies, with Netflix coming in as the most valued choice according to new research from QUT, which also finds free on-demand services lack extensive use.... Read more
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Designing antennas for 6G V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communication
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) are working on designing antennas that can empower 6G technology, which is instrumental in realizing efficient V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communications.... Read more
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Research on broadband in Kansas recommends statewide strategy to improve infrastructure
University of Kansas researchers have completed a two-year study of broadband access in Kansas. Their newly published report, "Broadband in Kansas: The Challenges of Digital Access and Affordability," documents extensive challenges within the current broadband landscape in the state and recommends a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges.... Read more
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Scammers can slip fake texts into legitimate SMS threads. Will a government crackdown stop them?
Are you tired of receiving SMS scams pretending to be from Australia Post, the tax office, MyGov and banks? You're not alone. Each year, thousands of Australians fall victim to SMS scams. And losses have surged in recent years.... Read more
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Spectrumchain: A disruptive dynamic spectrum sharing framework for 6G
With the advancement of the 6G, the 6G vision becomes more clear. 6G wireless network will support full spectrum, full coverage, and all-scenario applications, and is expected to achieve the ultimate connection performance with a Tbps-level transmission rate. Hence, 6G wireless networks will require hundreds of megahertz to tens of... Read more
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Scientists develop energy-saving, tunable meta-devices for high-precision, secure 6G communications
The future of wireless communications is set to take a giant leap with the advent of sixth-generation (6G) wireless technology. A research team at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) invented a groundbreaking tunable terahertz (THz) meta-device that can control the radiation direction and coverage area of THz beams.... Read more
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Comcast hypes 10G network. Is it twice as good as 5G? Actually, there's no comparison possible
Just when you finally traded up to a 5G phone, Comcast's newest marketing campaign promises to hook you up to its 10G Network.... Read more
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New 'phase shifter' technology can reduce signal loss in antenna systems
A new type of high performance "phase shifter" for use in advanced phase array antenna systems has been developed at the University of Birmingham. Researchers led by Dr. Yi Wang from Birmingham's School of Engineering created a new type of high-performance "phase shifter" using a liquid Gallium alloy, which varies... Read more
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Researchers test smart surfaces to improve wireless communication and localization
It's happened to anyone with a cell phone—dropped calls or dead air because suddenly there is no service available. Or worse, the location pin drops on the navigation app.... Read more
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Cyclone Gabrielle broke vital communication links when people needed them most—what happened and how do we fix it?
Modern communication systems need two main things: power, and what engineers call "backhaul", the connections that link cell towers and exchanges to the national network. When Cyclone Gabrielle struck, both were badly compromised.... Read more
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Starlink: SpaceX's new internet service could be a gamechanger in Africa
It's hard for many of us to imagine a world without instant, limitless internet access. Some have even argued that it should, alongside access to clean water and electricity, be considered a basic human right.... Read more
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Underwater acoustic wireless communication using TCP/IP
Acoustic communication through water is well known in many species of sea creatures—whales, dolphins and other cetaceans, perhaps being the best known examples. But, crustaceans and fish also often communicate through water with sound. People have used sonar, sound navigation and ranging, since the time of Leonardo da Vinci who... Read more
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Towards a new antenna paradigm with waveform-selective metasurfaces
When you tap on your phone screen to check something on the internet, you make use of wireless communications technology. With the advent of 5G networks, this technology has made our lives easier than we could imagine. As we progress towards 6G communication, the use of Internet of Things (IoT)... Read more
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Huawei dominates MWC mobile tech fair despite US sanctions
A contingent of Chinese companies led by technology giant Huawei is turning the world's biggest wireless trade fair into an opportunity to show their muscle in the face of Huawei's blacklisting by Western nations concerned about cybersecurity and escalating tensions with the U.S. over TikTok, spy balloons and computer chips.... Read more
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Ericsson to cut 8,500 jobs worldwide
Telecom equipment maker Ericsson said Friday it would slash 8,500 jobs worldwide, part of a cost-cutting program as financial headwinds push operators to rein in spending.... Read more
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Telecom firms aim to shrug off slump at annual get-together
Telecom companies will aim to put a positive spin on their current slump in fortunes when they gather in the Spanish city of Barcelona on Monday for the annual Mobile World Congress (MWC), the biggest event in the industry's calendar.... Read more
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New technology turns smartphones into RFID readers, saving costs and reducing waste
Imagine you can open your fridge, open an app on your phone and immediately know which items are expiring within a few days. This is one of the applications that a new technology developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego would enable.... Read more
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New transmitter design for small satellite constellations improves signal transmission
A novel transmitter design proposed in a recent study could solve some of the challenges related to signal transmission in small satellite constellations used for space applications. Developed by Tokyo Tech researchers, the new transmitter offers low power consumption along with excellent beam steering capabilities with high-speed communication, and can... Read more
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Improving the performance of satellites in low earth orbit
On-chip distributed radiation sensors and current-sharing techniques can be used to reduce the impact of radiation on the radio and power consumption of small satellites, respectively, as shown by scientists from Tokyo Tech. Their findings can be used to make small satellites more robust, which can increase the connectivity of... Read more
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Satellite data: The other type of smartphone data you might not know about
When you think about location data on your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, what comes to mind? Mailing addresses? Postal codes? These data indicate where you live, where you work, and the places you visit.... Read more
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Electronic metadevices break barriers to ultra-fast communications
EPFL researchers have come up with a new approach to electronics that involves engineering metastructures at the sub-wavelength scale. It could launch the next generation of ultra-fast devices for exchanging massive amounts of data, with applications in 6G communications and beyond.... Read more
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Slicing capacity-centered mode selection for network-assisted full-duplex cell-free distributed massive MIMO systems
Network-assisted full-duplex (NAFD) systems enable uplink and downlink communications within the same time-frequency resources, so as to avoid the overhead of switching uplink/downlink modes. However, as the number of users and access points (APs) proliferated, mass access brings significant overhead in mode selection.... Read more
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Piloting drones reliably with mobile communication technology
Drones are operating increasingly in areas out of sight of the person controlling them. However, conventional remote controls have a limited range, which makes them unsuitable for these flights. On the other hand, simple mobile network-based systems have so far been unable to guarantee a reliable connection when mobile network... Read more
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NOAA satellites can track hurricanes and hundreds of missing people sending SOS signals
Imagine being in a boat miles from shore when the engine fails, or getting lost in a remote spot while hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Having a beacon or transmitter that sends a distress signal via satellite could mean the difference between life and death.... Read more