China Achieves World’s First Long-Distance Terahertz Communication That Can Boost 6G

In a remarkable achievement, Chinese researchers have successfully completed the world’s first long-distance terahertz communication, a technique that promises to change next-generation communication systems like 6G. They broke the previous record in the frequency range above 0.5 THz for terahertz wireless communication by sending high-definition video signals 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) apart.

The experiment was conducted at a submillimeter-wave astronomical observation base situated over 4,000 meters altitude on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, between September 27 and October 1. The test was conducted under ideal conditions due to the high altitude site. A major technological milestone was reached when superconducting terahertz receivers were used for long-distance wireless communication for the first time.

Positioned midway between microwave and infrared frequencies, terahertz waves have larger bandwidths than current communication technologies, enabling quicker data transfer. Terahertz communication, according to Li Jing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Purple Mountain Observatory, “expands that road to six or eight lanes if we see microwave communication as a two-lane road.”

Despite the breakthrough, long-distance terahertz transmission still faces challenges, notably severe signal attenuation. To overcome this, researchers utilized highly sensitive superconducting receivers, capable of detecting faint signals transmitted at a power of just 10 microwatts, which is one-millionth of the output from a standard mobile phone base station. Even with this weak signal, they successfully transmitted a high-definition video.

This success highlights the enormous potential of terahertz technology for high-speed data applications, including real-time video streaming, space communication, and air-to-ground transmissions. However, challenges like reducing the size and cost of terahertz devices remain before this technology can be widely adopted.

This advancement lays a critical foundation for future developments in terahertz communication and multidisciplinary platforms at submillimeter-wave observatories, signaling a new era in high-speed, high-capacity communication systems.