UCL Researchers Advance Terahertz Wireless Communications For Ultra-Fast Data Transfer

UCL EEE researchers have helped demonstrate how terahertz frequencies could enable ultra-fast, secure wireless communications, achieving data rates far beyond previous systems.

Researchers from UCL EEE have contributed to a new study demonstrating the potential of terahertz frequencies for next-generation wireless communications, paving the way for faster, more secure data transmission without the need for physical cables.

The findings are reported in the paper “Free-space optical communications at 4 Gbit/s data rate with a terahertz laser”, published in Communications Physics, and were produced through a collaboration with colleagues at the University of Leeds.

Terahertz waves sit between microwaves and infrared light and offer significantly greater bandwidth than the radio frequencies currently used in Wi-Fi and 5G networks. However, exploiting this region for reliable, high-speed communication has long been a technical challenge.

In the study, the team demonstrated a free-space optical communication link by directly modulating a terahertz quantum cascade laser with data and detecting the transmitted signal using a specialised semiconductor device. UCL researchers contributed expertise in communication systems and photonic design, helping to enable stable, high-speed signal transmission without reliance on fibre or cabling.

Using this approach, the system achieved data transmission rates of up to 4 Gbit/s - a substantial leap compared with earlier terahertz communication demonstrations, which were typically limited to much lower speeds.

The findings highlight several potential applications for terahertz communication technologies. These include ultra-fast, flexible connections between server racks in data centres; high-capacity links between satellites, where atmospheric interference can be avoided; and highly secure point-to-point communications, as the narrow, directional nature of terahertz beams makes them difficult to intercept.

The research forms part of a wider UK collaboration involving partners at the University of Cambridge and Swansea University and is supported by a £7M Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) programme grant. The team is now working to extend the system to more advanced data modulation techniques, with the aim of achieving even higher data rates and easing pressure on increasingly congested wireless frequency bands.