The main technical achievements of TERAWAY can be summarized as follows:
WP2:The system requirements for the wireless Point-to-Point transport between fixed sites, application scenario of TERAWAY system defined. TERAWAY system architecture (Fig. 1) designed. The transceiver modules designs have been produced and the assemble/packaging processes have been defined. Updated simulations studies were carried out to assess the system performance, and beamforming algorithms and distance measuring method developed. Finally, a 3D ray tracing tool, simulating the propagation of THz links in 3D environments developed and calibrated using experimental data.
WP3:The design and fabrication of all photonic components that conform the hybrid PICs of TERAWAY modules completed. The PolyBoards, the InP modulator chips, the InP THz emitters and receivers and the SiN-based optical beamforming networks (Fig.2) have been developed. The development of the PolyBoards which enabled the hybrid integration of PICs with an on-chip fully-integrated injection locking scheme of several optical signals (Fig.3) the demonstration of a full-photonic THz I/Q receiver, 2D THz antenna array Tx chips and the development of ultra-low-power PZT activators on TriPleX are considered as key milestones in the applicability of photonic integration in the coming generations of wireless transceivers.
WP4:Transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) with beyond the current state-of-the-art performance -noise current <3 pA/sqrt(Hz), gain of > 45 dB-Ω up to 20 GHz) developed. The individual component interfaces, and device interconnections of TERAWAY modules defined. 3D models of the modules developed and thermo-mechanical stability studies performed. All three targeted TERAWAY transceivers, and fiber-pigtailed modules assembled and packaged (Fig.4).
WP5: 3GPP network slicing architecture implemented and validated. GUI implemented on top of slice management system for user friendly slice assignment to devices. End-to-End slices successfully tested with off-the-shelf mobile phones connected to O-RAN base stations from different vendors, and NETCONF transport controller interacting with commercial radio modules and TERAWAY modules.
WP6:The Baseband/IF Unit, interfacing with the TERAWAY optical transceivers, processing the baseband signal and mitigate the impairments induced by the optical/wireless channel designed, implemented and tested. Electronic units for controlling the optical part of the Tx/Rx PICs, developed and successfully integrated to the transceivers. Furthermore, a high-level controller following the 5G architecture including user friendly graphical interface to create, manage and allocate slices to mobile devices developed.
WP7: Testing procedures in the different development phases defined and TERAWAY developments alongside the two core technological axes incrementally tested.
The full end-to-end system tested with the TERAWAY radio part -employing the fiber-pigtailed modules integrated with the developed BIU and CEU units-, CMC 5G core and network slice manager and O-RAN base station. A fully heterodyne real-time wireless THz link based on photonic technologies, with total throughput of 8Gb/s, transmitting and receiving in real-time 1.6 GBaud signals and supporting 32-QAM modulation format (at 120 GHz), successfully established, and integrated into a 5G network.
WP8: A complete techno-economic analysis around the major aspects and application requirements impacting the future exploitation of TERAWAY within a P2P wireless x-Haul connectivity between fixed mobile access sites in public and private network scenario, defined. The consolidated exploitation strategy for TERAWAY defined, and the foreseen business models for the main reference cases analysed. All partners defined their individual exploitation and business plans. IPR worldwide monitored and evaluated. Dissemination activities have maximized the visibility of the project. 33 publications acknowledging TERAWAY have been submitted to prestigious journals and conferences and two patents filled in.
