China's first full-band 6G chip uses photonic technology to achieve 100Gbps transmission speeds, laying the foundation for AI-native wireless networks.

According to the South China Morning Post, Chinese researchers have developed the world's first "full-band" 6G chip, capable of delivering mobile internet speeds exceeding 100 gigabits per second. This breakthrough is expected to help narrow the digital divide between urban and rural communities by expanding coverage across the entire wireless spectrum.

The team, led by scientists from Peking University and City University of Hong Kong, integrated the entire spectrum from 0.5 GHz to 115 GHz into a thumbnail-sized chip. Traditionally, such coverage would require nine separate radio systems.

Measuring just 11 mm x 1.7 mm, the chip combines millimeter-wave and terahertz communications with low-frequency microwave bands.

This allows for seamless switching between frequencies suitable for long-range coverage and high-speed applications.

China Science Daily quoted Professor Wang Xingjun of Peking University as saying, "There is an urgent need to address the challenges of 6G development. With the rapid growth in demand for connected devices, next-generation networks must fully leverage the advantages of different frequency bands."

High frequencies offer enormous bandwidth and ultra-low latency, making them useful for applications such as virtual reality and surgery.

Lower frequency bands provide wide-area coverage and are crucial for reaching remote mountainous areas, the ocean floor, and even outer space.

Photonics is the core

Traditional wireless hardware operates within a narrow range, making it costly and complex when multiple systems are required. To overcome this obstacle, researchers turned to photonic-electronic fusion technology.

A broadband electro-optical modulator converts wireless signals into optical signals. The optical signals are processed by photonic components, and transmission utilizes frequency mixing between tunable lasers.

All functional units are packaged within a small chip.

During testing, communication quality remained stable across the entire frequency spectrum.

The system achieved 6 GHz frequency tuning in 180 microseconds, hundreds of times faster than the blink of an eye, and achieved a single-channel data rate exceeding 100 Gbps.

In comparison, industry estimates suggest that the average mobile internet speed in rural areas of the United States is approximately 20 megabits per second.

According to Guangming Daily, "the system can quickly, accurately, and noiselessly generate communication signals at any frequency in the 0.5-115 GHz range."

The chip also features "frequency navigation," automatically switching to a clear channel when interference is present. "If any frequency band encounters interference or obstruction, the system can automatically and immediately switch to a clear channel, just like an experienced driver smoothly changing lanes in traffic, ensuring continuous and uninterrupted communication," said Professor Wang Cheng of City University.

AI-enabled and versatile

Peking University Professor Shu Haowen said the device achieves "multi-purpose programmability and dynamic frequency adjustment," striking a balance between size, power consumption, and performance.

This makes it suitable for crowded areas such as concerts or stadiums, where thousands of devices are connected simultaneously.

Wang Xingjun said the chip also lays the hardware foundation for AI-native networks. "For the first time, it establishes the hardware foundation for a truly 'AI-native network' - a network that can dynamically adjust communication parameters through built-in algorithms to cope with complex electromagnetic environments while performing real-time environmental awareness," he told Guangming Daily, citing a report in the South China Morning Post.

The researchers' current goal is to create plug-and-play communication modules no larger than a USB memory stick.

These can be embedded in smartphones, base stations, drones, and IoT devices, potentially accelerating the arrival of flexible and intelligent 6G networks.

Source: Content compiled from interestingengineering

View more at EASELINK