European telco body looks into terahertz for future 6G comms
- Reference: 1671107414
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/12/15/european_telco_body_6g/
- Source link:
According to ETSI, the newly launched [1]ISG THz already comprises 31 participating companies and recently held its initial meeting to decide upon priorities for work on terahertz frequency bands as a candidate technology for 6G, which is still at an embryonic stage of development.
The group is set to focus on two categories of use cases: mobile applications involving high data rate requirements such as virtual or augmented reality; and applications requiring both communication and sensing capabilities, such as holographic telepresence and interactive robotics.
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According to ETSI, the attraction of terahertz frequencies (which could mean anything between 100GHz and 10THz) is that there is a huge amount of bandwidth available, with the International Telecommunication's Union (ITU) identifying 137GHz of available spectrum between 275GHz and 450GHz as suitable.
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At such frequencies it is also possible to achieve extremely high data rates – up to several terabits per second, according to a separate [5]report [PDF] from the US Department of Energy – while the small wavelength of the signals allows for compact and miniaturized devices and antennas, ETSI claims.
However, there are challenges in using terahertz frequencies for communication, as the ITU also admits. These include that molecular absorption and spreading losses are much greater for transmissions in the terahertz range compared to the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies (between 24GHz and 40GHz, depending on who you listen to) that have been adopted for high-speed 5G services in many territories.
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Not surprisingly, areas of focus for the ISG THz will include analysis of specific propagation effects for terahertz communications, including molecular absorption and specific considerations regarding scattering and reflections. It will aim to define the target scenarios and specific frequency bands of interest.
Despite the obstacles, ETSI claims that several European and international initiatives focused on 6G research and development currently anticipate that terahertz wavelengths will play a part in the next generation of cellular networks, and that the ISG THz group will therefore be working in support of future 3GPP standardization work.
However Bill Ray, VP Analyst for Emerging Technology & Trends at Gartner, said he believes 6G will be much more about spectral agility, or the ability to take advantage of spectrum bands based on what frequencies happen to be available, similar to what is happening with the 6GHz spectrum in Wi-Fi 6E and 7.
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“The push to higher frequencies is driven by engineers, not end users who have already demonstrated a decided lack of interest in mmWave,” Ray said.
“The only reason ETSI is looking at terahertz frequencies is because they are technically possible, not because anyone wants them,” he added. “Terahertz signals are indeed awful for communication over any distance beyond a few centimetres.”
ETSI states that terahertz communication has certain challenges in common with millimetre wave technology. This will provide opportunity for the ISG THz group to collaborate with others within ETSI, one working on millimetre wave (ISG mWT) and the other on Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (ISG RIS), it said.
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces? No, us neither. It apparently refers to surfaces of some engineered material which is reconfigurable so as to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves by altering the properties of the surface.
[8]Nokia Bell Labs identifies six key technologies for 6G
[9]Apple seeks geniuses to work on 6G cellular modem before it's even shipped own 5G chip
[10]Tomorrow's wireless world will be fatter, faster, and creepier
[11]Obtaining US 5G supremacy is easy as Pai, says FCC commish Brendan Carr. It's all in the spectrum
Paolo Pescatore, analyst and founder of PP Foresight, told us that it is too early to be thinking much about 6G when 5G is yet not widely available, but it is still important to conduct research into what is feasible.
“An open collaborative approach towards frameworks and standards is in the best interests for all stakeholders,” he said.
Nokia is just one company that is involved in early research into 6G, as part of the German-funded [12]6G-ANNA project. [13]Earlier this year , it said it expects 6G standardization work may start in 2025, leading to the first 6G specification in 3GPP Release 21 by 2028, and possible commercial deployments around 2030. ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.etsi.org/technologies/terahertz-thz
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Y5tSsN9I2wSO@pSgmoa4wwAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5tSsN9I2wSO@pSgmoa4wwAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y5tSsN9I2wSO@pSgmoa4wwAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1838194
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Y5tSsN9I2wSO@pSgmoa4wwAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Y5tSsN9I2wSO@pSgmoa4wwAAABc&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/11/nokia_german_6g/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/04/apple_6g_jobs/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/07/20/wireless_world_of_tomorrow/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2021/03/16/obtaining_us_5g_supremacy_is/
[12] https://5g.nrw/start-des-forschungsprojektes-6g-anna/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/11/nokia_german_6g/
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Business as usual, then
Terahertz makes no sense at all. It’s short range, line-of-sight, and needs loads of R&D
But if all you need is short-range, line-of-sight for in-room use….just use LiFi: infrared LEDs as per TV remote. Technology exists, is cheap as chips, with near infinite non-interfering bandwidth, using DWDM.
Combined with data centers in space...
This is _the_ technology we need to connect the data centers in space! It'll solve the problem of the faulty hard disk. 6G will replace the motherboard, you know. The individual parts like processor, disk, RAM etc. will just be dumped out there like a fish placing its eggs and 6G will turn it into a functional computer! When the hard disk fails, it will simply go down and burn up in the atmosphere. Another hard disk from the flock will activate and replace the old one with minimal downtime. For the communication back to earth a highly powered 6G beam will be directed onto Sheffield.
6G
One of the major attractions of using terahertz frequencies is the vast amount of bandwidth available. The International Telecommunication's Union (ITU) has identified 137GHz of spectrum between 275GHz and 450GHz as being suitable for use. This means that it is possible to achieve extremely high data rates, with some reports indicating that speeds of up to several terabits per second could be achieved.
Another benefit of using these high frequencies is that the small wavelength of the signals allows for compact and miniaturized devices and antennas. This could lead to the development of new technologies that are smaller and more efficient than their predecessors.
However, there are also potential negative impacts on marine life. The use of terahertz frequencies in 6G technology could potentially interfere with the natural behaviour and communication of marine animals. For example, some species of fish and dolphins use low frequency sounds to navigate and communicate with each other. The introduction of high frequency signals into their environment could disrupt these important behaviours.
Additionally, the high energy signals used in 6G technology could also have damaging effects on the delicate ecosystems of the ocean. The intense heat generated by the transmission of these signals could cause harm to coral reefs and other sensitive marine environments.
But perhaps the most shocking revelation is the true mastermind behind the 6G project: none other than the Loch Ness Monster himself. It turns out that the legendary creature has been plotting to use 6G technology to dominate the marine world and make all water animals flee to land. His ultimate goal? To earn a measly treefiddy.
Re: 6G
But you'll never find a Nessie an a zoo.
6G should be coverage not speed.
The next mobile data standard should be about maximising coverage from existing base station locations rather than just upping the speed.
Let's fill the holes in the network before adding speed which is not needed.
Re: 6G should be coverage not speed.
There is no money in that. The money is in selling a new, altogether different set of hardware to densely built-up areas full of people who can pay.
Promises
> extremely high data rates – up to several terabits per second
But only if you hold the emitting antenna in your other hand I guess...
Business as usual, then
“ The only reason ETSI is looking at terahertz frequencies is because they are technically possible, not because anyone wants them ”
Have to justify the paycheck, right ?