Germany Sets World Record In Fastest Wi-FI Network

KARLSRUHE INSITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KARLSRUHE, GERMANY. For the first time, researchers have now set a new world record in wireless data transmission or more popularly known as Wi-Fi network. They were able to achieve the wireless transmission of 40 Gbit/s at 240 GHz over a distance of one kilometer. Over the years, the ever-changing media usage habits of modern society demand faster transmission of increasing volumes of data being sent and received.

According to statistics from the FTTH Council Europe, Germany has already been left behind in the expansion of the fiber-optic network. Natural and urban obstacles make it even more difficult and more expensive to deploy new fiber-optic cables in Germany. That is why researchers had to come up with solutions to maximize the use of broadband radio links in order for them to effectively expand the network coverage in critical areas as well.

To make it happen, head researcher Prof. Ingmar Kallfass and his team from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology set up a long range demonstrator which could cover distances of over one kilometer between two skyscrapers which they dubbed as project “Millilink”. Prof. Kallfass said that they’ve managed to develop a radio link based on active electronic circuits, which enables similarly high data rates as in fiber-optic systems, therefore allowing seamless integration of the radio link.

Aside from the fast transmission of large volumes of data, using the high frequency range between 200 and 280 GHz also results in very compact technical assembly. It is hard to believe that the transmitter and receiver chip only measures 4 x 1.5 mm². At the same time, it also copes better with errors, especially in poor weather conditions such as fog or rain.