A team of Chinese scientists has achieved new results with communications equipment that could pave the way for satellite internet, a key part of the development of 6G networks.
Chinese scientists test new space-based switches that could help develop 6G networks. Photo: iStock
A research team from the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has successfully tested a new communication device in space. When placed on a satellite, the device can transmit light signals from one location to another without converting them into electrical signals, acting like a mirror, the South China Morning Post reported on October 15.
The team spent more than a decade developing the device, which aims to increase the capacity, flexibility and speed of information transmission. The device, called "space-based optical switching technology," was launched into orbit on a Chinese Y7 rocket in August. It was the first time China had tested such a device on a satellite.
When downloaded and played back on the ground, the image information is transmitted through the device intact without any loss of data. A switch is a key component of a communications network, responsible for distributing data along the transmission path. For example, when making a phone call, a switch ensures that the call is routed to the correct recipient. Traditional switching equipment typically involves converting light signals into digital or simulated data, using electricity as an intermediary. However, the new equipment bypasses that process entirely.
The device could support 40 gigabits per second of switching, a huge improvement over traditional switching technology, according to the researchers. Satellite remote sensing, supercomputers with large data sets, and 6G mobile communications networks are all driving the growing need for high-capacity information transmission at ultra-high speeds. To achieve this, experts say the future network needs to be three-dimensional, connecting ground-based communications nodes to satellites. Next-generation communications networks like 6G will go beyond ground connections and include satellite nodes.
In the past, satellite-to-ground transmission relied heavily on microwave technology, but the data transmission speed was limited due to the limited range of microwave frequencies. However, the use of lasers to transmit data, called “optical communications,” has developed rapidly in recent years. Lasers have a wider range with bandwidths capable of reaching several hundred gigahertz, so more data can be sent per transmission. As data transmission speeds reach very high levels, the challenge for conventional switching facilities is to handle more than 100 gigabytes per second. To accommodate the increasing speeds, the development of more advanced optical systems is essential.
However, the researchers stress that there is still a long way to go before the technology can be used in practice. For use in space, many parts of the new device will need to be carefully tested to ensure performance.
An Khang (According to SCMP )
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