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Wireless at Fiber Speeds
New millimeter-wave technology sends data at 10 gigabits per second
There's no shortage of demand for faster wireless, but today's fastest technologies-Wi-Fi, 3G cellular networks, and even the upcoming WiMax-max out at tens or hundreds of megabits per second. One way to achieve faster speeds is to harness the millimeter-wavelength frequency of the wireless spectrum.
Harnessing the millimeter-wavelength frequency of the wireless spectrum, usually requires expensive and very complex equipment. Now, engineers at Battelle, a research and development firm based in Columbus, OH, have come up with a simpler way to send data through the air with millimeter-wave technology.
Whereas Wi-Fi and cellular networks operate on frequencies of 2.4 to 5.0 gigahertz, millimeter-wave technology exploits a region from about 60 to 100 gigahertz. These waves can carry more data because they oscillate faster. Much of the millimeter region is unlicensed and open for use; it has only been neglected because of the difficulty and expense involved in generating a millimeter-wave signal, encoding information on it, and then decoding at the other end.
In the past few years, researchers at Georgia Tech, MIT, Intel, and elsewhere have made great strides in developing millimeter-wave devices. Companies such as Intel have even started pushing for standards that could help develop interoperable technologies that operate at 60 gigahertz.
Alan Crouch, director of the Communications Technology Lab at Intel, says that the Battelle work is further evidence that millimeter-wave technology could become increasingly important. "There's demand for more and more wireless communication solutions in this space," he says, adding that "there is strong industry interest."
Greene, Kate. MIT Technology Review October 03, 2008 http://www.technologyreview.com/communications/21464/?a=f
Opportunity: Makes ubiquitous wireless services possibe
Threat: Shortage of free radio frequencys
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