Satellite technology helps develop 6G networks

A team of Chinese scientists has achieved new results with communications equipment that could pave the way for satellite internet, an important 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 members spent more than a decade developing the device, which aims to enhance the capability, flexibility and speed of information transmission. The device, called "space-based optical switching technology," was launched into orbit aboard a Chinese Y7 carrier rocket in August. This is the first time China has tested such a device on a satellite.

When downloaded and opened on the ground, the image information is transmitted through the device intact without any loss of data. Switches are a key part of the communication network, responsible for distributing data along the line. For example, when making a phone call, the switch ensures that the call is routed to the right person. Traditional switching equipment usually 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 future networks need to be three-dimensional, connecting communication nodes on the ground to satellites. Next-generation communications networks like 6G will go beyond ground connections and include satellite nodes.

Traditionally, satellite-to-ground transmission has relied heavily on microwave technology, but data transmission speeds have been limited by the limited range of microwave frequencies. However, the use of lasers to transmit data, known as “optical communications,” has grown rapidly in recent years. Lasers have a wider range with bandwidths capable of reaching several hundred gigahertz, allowing for more data to be sent per transmission. As data transmission speeds reach very high levels, the challenge for conventional switching facilities is handling more than 100 gigabytes per second. To accommodate the increasing speeds, the development of more advanced optical systems is essential.

However, researchers stress that there is 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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