The hum of machinery mixes with the invisible flow of data traveling through the air. In a factory of the future, not far from us, ultra-wideband is quietly revolutionizing the way machines communicate.
With the (until recently) incredible transmission speed of 938 Gb / s, this technology is breaking down barriers that until yesterday seemed insurmountable. And in the near future it is on its way to freeing us from the constraints of cables, in industry and in our homes, changing the face of our cities and the way we interact with the digital world.
A burning shot in communications
When I first came across this data, I have to admit I had to reread it several times. 938 gigabits per second. That's a mind-blowing figure, especially when you consider that we're talking about wireless transmission. To put it into perspective, it's as if we could download the entire Vatican library.1 in a few blinks of an eye. But what makes this technology even more amazing is that it is 9000 times faster than the 5G we know today.
THEInstitute of Communications and Connected Systems (ICCS) has pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible. This is not just an evolution; it is a revolution in telecommunications.
What does all this mean in practical terms?
Ultra-broadband in everyday life
Imagine being able to download a 4K movie in less than a second, or join a virtual reality video conference without the slightest lag. Ultra-wideband promises to eliminate the frustration of slow and unstable connections, making our digital experience smoother than ever before.
In factories, this technology could mean an end to the tangled cables that often hinder production. As one of the researchers pointed out:
It can be used in scenarios where optical cabling would be difficult, such as in a factory with complex equipment arrangements.
This not only simplifies the infrastructure, but also opens the door to new possibilities for automation and real-time control.
The heart of ultra-broadband technology
At the heart of this innovation are the terahertz waves. These high-frequency waves are the key to achieving such high transmission speeds. ICCS researchers have combined electronic and photonic techniques to generate and transmit these signals, overcoming the limitations of previous technologies.
The research, published in the Journal of Lightwave Technology with the title "938 Gb/s, 5–150 GHz ultra-wideband transmission over the air using combined electronic and photonic-assisted signal generation” is a significant step forward in the field of wireless communications.
Implications for the future
I can't help but think about how this technology could transform our cities. And I imagine "data circulatory systems", completely wireless urban networks, where every device, from semaphore to the water meter, can communicate instantly. The possibilities are endless: from traffic management in real time to optimised energy distribution.
Of course, and it is always good to say, all that glitters is not gold. “With great speed comes great responsibility.” Data security and privacy will become even more crucial issues: as a society, we will have to face new ethical and regulatory challenges to ensure that this powerful technology is used responsibly.
A bridge to the future
We are definitely moving into an era where instant and ubiquitous connectivity will be taken for granted: ultra-broadband will be a catalyst for broader change in society.
And the speed of these changes is striking: 5G is still in its infancy, and ultra-wideband is already racing toward the horizon, 9000 times faster. It's a reminder that in the world of technology, the future is always coming faster than we think. And this time, it's coming at 938 Gb/s.
- La Vatican Apostolic Library It is one of the largest and most important libraries in the world. It contains a vast collection of ancient and modern texts, including about 1.600.000 volumes ancient and modern prints, 9000 incunabula, of which 65 are in parchment, 150.000 manuscript codices and archive papers and many other objects. ↩︎
