World Frontier Technology Development Report 2023 "World Information Technology Development Report" (6) Network and Communication Technology

Data comes from: "World Frontier Technology Development Report 2023" and the Internet

1 Overview

To meet the ultra-high-speed transmission needs of emerging technologies such as smart interaction, immersive extended reality (XR) holographic communication, and digital twins, new generation communication technology has become a global research hotspot. With the continuous application of 5G around the world, global communications powers are embarking on research and development planning and technological exploration of the next-generation network technology 6G. Driven by governments of various countries, mainstream operators and technology companies around the world have invested in 6G technology and research, and have made certain progress in the fields of spectrum, air, space and ground integration, and chips.

2. 5G and optical communications

The rise and development of 5G technology is a process of continuous evolution that inherits the past and forges ahead. With the advancement of communication technology and the development of the Internet, many new services and applications have been born. In the long term in the future, 5G and broadband communications will remain the mainstream communication methods, their performance will continue to be optimized, application scenarios will continue to increase, and business models will continue to innovate.

2.1 US researchers use electromagnetic topological insulators to double 5G spectrum bandwidth

In May 2022, Washington University in St. Louis, Columbia University in the City of New York, and The City University of New York used electromagnetic topological insulators on integrated chips for the first time. , doubling the 5G spectrum bandwidth. Topological insulators are a unique state of matter in which the surface is conductive but the bulk is non-conductive and can be used in a range of technologies, including wireless communications, radar and quantum information processing. The non-reciprocity of this substance ensures one-way propagation of electromagnetic waves and can be used for full-duplex communication. This is a method that allows data to be transmitted and received simultaneously using the same frequency in an efficient manner, doubling the spectrum capacity. Additionally, electromagnetic topological insulators prevent backscattering that would cause attenuation of signal strength if the wave comes into contact with any deformities or irregularities within the medium. Researchers were able to use precisely designed modulation of transistor switching times to achieve nonreciprocity and topological insulation properties on standard semiconductor integrated circuits without the need for special materials or extreme conditions. The research is expected to be used in emerging 5G wireless applications such as multi-antenna full-duplex wireless communications and multi-antenna pulse radar.

2.2 Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan launches a high-frequency transceiver that can access 5G networks

In June 2022, Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan launched a high-frequency transceiver that can be connected to existing 5G networks. The researchers used Doherty amplifiers and digital predistortion technology to build this millimeter-wave phased array transceiver. Developed in 1936, the Doherty amplifier has high power efficiency and is suitable for peak to average power ratio (PAPR) signal (such as 5G signal) transmission scenarios. The researchers modified the traditional Doherty amplifier design and produced a bidirectional amplifier—the same circuit can amplify both the signal to be sent and the low-noise signal received. At the same time, the transceiver is co-designed with wafer-level chip-scale packaging technology to achieve low insertion loss. In tests, the transceiver demonstrated low adjacent channel leakage and transmission errors, which is expected to promote the development of high-frequency communication technology.

2.3 Texas A&M University improves 5G millimeter wave communications through beam management

In July 2022, Texas A&M University (TAMU) improved 5G millimeter wave communications through beam management. Current millimeter wave communication equipment uses narrow directional beams to transmit signals, which means that transmitters and receivers must constantly adjust the direction of their beams, but the human body can block signal transmission from communication equipment to base stations, potentially affecting communication quality. To address the above issues, researchers at Texas A&M University have developed two solutions. The first solution, called BeamSurfer, continuously aligns communication equipment and base stations and uses the reflection of invisible light to avoid communication obstructions; the other solution, called Terra, is optimized for outdoor millimeter wave communications and uses ground Acts as a reflective medium and allows communication equipment to switch seamlessly between different base stations. Related research is expected to be applied to future directional communication system architectures.

2.4 MediaTek completed the world’s first 5G NTN satellite mobile phone connection test

In August 2022, MediaTek in Taiwan and Germany's Rohde & Schwarz cooperated to complete the world's first 5G non-terrestrial network (Non-Terrestrial Network, NTN) satellite mobile phone connection test. During the test, the smartphone directly passed Satellite signal to realize the Internet function. The test was completed in the MediaTek laboratory using test equipment from Rohde & Schwarz, simulating a real low-Earth orbit satellite constellation at an altitude of 600 kilometers, with each satellite in orbit traveling at nearly 27,000 kilometers per hour. Move quickly. The test chip uses MediaTek’s mobile communication chip equipped with 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (5G NR NTN) satellite network function. The design of the chip complies with the International Standards Organization’s Third Generation Partnership Project (3rd The spectrum definition function specified in the Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 17th version of the 5G standard.

2.5 The results of the Australian International Radio Astronomy Research Center are expected to promote the application of wireless optical communications

In November 2022, a research result by researchers at the International Center for RadioAstronomy Research (ICRAR) in Australia improved the stability of wireless optical communications and is expected to promote the application of this technology. The currently widely used radio communication has the disadvantage of slow speed. The wireless optical communication speed is fast but unstable due to the influence of atmospheric turbulence. ICRAR researchers have developed a method to lock on to fast-moving targets with an uninterrupted high-speed signal that can correct the effects of atmospheric turbulence hundreds of times per second. This means advanced optical wireless transmissions can be used in more environments, reducing reliance on slower radio transmissions. Researchers are currently trying to commercialize the technology for a variety of applications including spacecraft communications, meteorology, defense and disaster management.

3. 6G technology

With the large-scale commercial deployment of 5G, the world's major economies have begun exploration and research into 6G communication technology. 6G has larger information capacity, lower transmission delay, larger number of device connections, higher spectrum efficiency and higher energy efficiency. The exploration of 6G networks will bring more development opportunities and also involve more new key technologies and challenges.

3.1 South Korea’s Samsung Electronics held the first 6G Forum

In May 2022, South Korea's Samsung Electronics held the first 6G Forum. The forum was themed "Next Generation Hyper-Connected Experience". Many experts from global industry and academia discussed 6G air interfaces and 6G intelligent networks based on artificial intelligence, in order to lead the research and development of 6G related technologies and standards. formulated. Samsung said that 6G will bring new experiences to users through next-generation hyper-connectivity capabilities. Before holding the first 6G forum, Samsung Electronics has released the "6G Spectrum White Paper", outlining the 6G vision of "ultra-bandwidth, ultra-low latency, ultra-intelligence and ultra-spatialization".

3.2 Osaka Public University in Japan regards magnetic superstructure materials as a potential key technology for 6G

In June 2022, researchers at Osaka Public University in Japan detected unprecedented high-frequency resonance in the magnetic superstructure of a chiral spin soliton lattice (CSL) material. This research heralded the development of chiral spiral magnet materials carrying CSL. It is expected to be a potential key technology for 6G. The researchers used a magnetic field to modulate the oscillation frequency of the CSL material and used a dedicated microwave circuit to detect the magnetic resonance signal. Research has found that the characteristics of CSL materials under Kittel Mode Resonance are different from traditional ferromagnetic materials. When the magnetic field weakens, its frequency increases instead. This means that CSL materials, with their excellent structural controllability, can control the resonant frequency within a broadband range up to the sub-terahertz band, which is helpful for the development of 6G high-frequency communication technology.

3.3 German and Korean researchers triple the 6G transmission distance

In September 2022, researchers from Germany's Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute and South Korea's LG Electronics successfully increased the transmission distance of 6G data to 320 meters, tripling the record set by the team a year ago. . The researchers completed this outdoor data transmission experiment at frequencies between 155 and 175 gigahertz, using amplifiers at the signal transmitter and receiver to enhance the signal. The output of the transmitter amplifier was increased from 15 dB milliwatts in the previous test to 20 dB milliwatts. The receiver is equipped with an amplifier that reduces noise for clearer signal reception. This research is expected to become a milestone in the progress of 6G technology and promote the practical use of 6G technology.

3.4 US market research institutions predict that the 6G market will reach US$340 billion by 2040

In October 2022, the US market research organization Market Research released a research report, conducting a comprehensive study of the 6G market by components, communication infrastructure, equipment use, end uses and regions, and predicted that the market will grow by 58.1% between 2031 and 2040. The compound growth rate increased to reach a scale of US$340 billion. The report states: By component, infrastructure/hardware will lead the market during the forecast period; by communications infrastructure, fixed facilities will lead the market; by device usage, mobile devices will lead the market; by end use, industrial use will have the lion's share. Currently, nearly half of the world’s 6G patent applications come from China. In the future, the Asia-Pacific region will have the largest revenue share in the global 6G market. In addition, Market Research pointed out that the main challenges facing 6G in the future will be size, cost and power consumption.