Project description
Tapping the terahertz potential for 5G and beyond
The terahertz (THz) frequency range, between radio waves and infrared, can ‘see’ inside materials, meaning much research has focused on THz spectroscopy and the detection of things such as drugs and explosives. Its potential as an enabler of 5G and beyond is largely untapped. The EU-funded ThoR project is planning to exploit this potential with components operating in the standardised 60 and 70 GHz bands and aggregated on a high-performance 300 GHz radio frequency wireless link for a real-time data rate capacity of more than 100 Gbps. The project’s ultra-high bandwidth, high dynamic range transceiver operating at 300 GHz and state-of-the-art digital signal-processing units will support ultra-high data rate 5G applications.
Objective
Data traffic densities of several Tbps/km2 are already predicted for 5G networks. To service a fully mobile and connected society networks beyond 5G must undergo tremendous growth in connectivity, data traffic density and volume as well as the required multi-level ultra-densification. The ThoR project will provide technical solutions for the backhauling/fronthauling of this traffic. The ThoR consortium brings together the leading Japanese and European players from industry, R&D and academia, whose prior work defines the state-of-the-art in high data rate long range point-to-point THz links. This team has been instrumental in defining and implementing the new IEEE 802.15.3d Standard “100 Gbps Wireless Switched Point-to-Point Physical Layer.” ThoR’s technical concept builds on this standard, in a striking and innovative combination using state-of-the-art chip sets and modems operating in the standardized 60 and 70 GHz bands, which are aggregated on a bit-transparent high performance 300 GHz RF wireless link offering >100 Gbps real-time data rate capacity. ThoR will apply European and Japanese state-of-the-art photonic and electronic technologies to build an ultra-high bandwidth, high dynamic range transceiver operating at 300 GHz combined with state-of-the-art digital signal processing units in two world-first demonstrations: a)>100 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using pseudo data in indoor and outdoor controlled environments b)>40 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using emulated real data in a live operational communication network.This will require specific THz PHY technology advances (KETs) in photomixers, amplifiers including Travelling Wave Tube amplifiers, receivers, upconverters and channel aggregation. The success of ThoR will represent the first operational use of THz frequencies in ICT and this influential and powerful consortium will directly influence and shape the frequency regulation activities beyond 275 GHz through agenda item 1.15 of WRC 2019.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationstelecommunications networksmobile network5G
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technology
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Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
38106 Braunschweig
Germany