Some of the biggest hurdles in reaching 6G communications – more data sent much faster on unrestricted bandwidth – could have been unlocked by a team of scientists in Australia.
They say they have developed a polarisation multiplexer that significantly improves current availability that could be key to realising the ambitions of 6G mobile tech.
The multiplexer makes it possible for several input signals to share one device or resource – such as the data of several phone calls being carried on a single wire.
6G – the next generation of wireless communication – expands on the infrastructure of 5G but will also be designed to surpass it.
6G aims to operate at one terabyte – 1,000 gigabytes of data at one microsecond, while 5G delivers 20 gigabytes at 1,000 microseconds.
The scientists from The University of Adelaide, whose work is published in the journal Laser & Photonic Reviews, say their work brings 6G communications much closer.
“Our proposed polarisation multiplexer will allow multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency band, effectively doubling the data capacity,” said Prof Withawat Withayachumnankul from Adelaide’s School of Electrical Engineering.
“This large relative bandwidth is a record for any integrated multiplexers found in any frequency range.”
The terahertz frequencies – which can support unprecedented bandwidth – allow ultra-fast wireless communication and data transfer, but there have been problems in effectively managing and utilising the spectrum.
The Adelaide multiplexer could help answer those issues.
The new device effectively doubles communication capacity under the same bandwidth with lower data loss than existing devices.
“This innovation not only enhances the efficiency of terahertz communication systems but also paves the way for more robust and reliable high-speed wireless networks,” said Dr Weijie Gao, a postdoctoral researcher collaborating with Prof Masayuki Fujita at Osaka University.
“As a result, the polarisation multiplexer is a key enabler in realising the full potential of terahertz communications, driving forward advancements in various fields such as high-definition video streaming, augmented reality and next-generation mobile networks.”
The work significantly advances the practicality of terahertz technologies.
“By overcoming key technical barriers, this innovation is poised to catalyse a surge of interest and research activity in the field,” said Prof Fujita, who is a co-author of the paper.
“We anticipate that within the next one to two years, researchers will begin to explore new applications and refine the technology.”
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Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
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October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
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November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
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December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
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Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gender equality in the workplace still 200 years away
It will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe, according to a December report from the World Economic Forum.
The WEF study said there had been some improvements in wage equality in 2018 compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the first time in a decade.
But it warned that these were offset by declining representation of women in politics, coupled with greater inequality in their access to health and education.
At current rates, the global gender gap across a range of areas will not close for another 108 years, while it is expected to take 202 years to close the workplace gap, WEF found.
The Geneva-based organisation's annual report tracked disparities between the sexes in 149 countries across four areas: education, health, economic opportunity and political empowerment.
After years of advances in education, health and political representation, women registered setbacks in all three areas this year, WEF said.
Only in the area of economic opportunity did the gender gap narrow somewhat, although there is not much to celebrate, with the global wage gap narrowing to nearly 51 per cent.
And the number of women in leadership roles has risen to 34 per cent globally, WEF said.
At the same time, the report showed there are now proportionately fewer women than men participating in the workforce, suggesting that automation is having a disproportionate impact on jobs traditionally performed by women.
And women are significantly under-represented in growing areas of employment that require science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, WEF said.
* Agence France Presse
