6G Terahertz Networks
Identifying and ranking THz components and network architectures to deliver fiber-like wireless throughput for holographic telepresence and the tactile internet.
Client
Tier-1 Network-Equipment Vendor
Objective
Achieve ≥1 Tb/s Links over 200m
Timeline
10-Week Sprint
Key Focus
THz Components & Antennas
The Challenge: Three Hurdles on the Frontier of 6G
The 6G vision of terabit wireless speeds looks beyond the 100 GHz frontier, but this path is blocked by fundamental engineering and policy hurdles.
Severe Atmospheric Loss
THz waves suffer extreme attenuation in open air, especially in humid conditions, demanding quasi-line-of-sight paths and massive beamforming gains.
Affordable RF Front-Ends
The indium-phosphide and graphene transistor technology needed for THz frequencies is still costly, hindering mass-market adoption.
Spectrum & Deployment Rules
Global spectrum allocation above 100 GHz is fragmented and safety limits are unsettled, delaying cross-border device certification.
Key Outcomes: Five Lead Approaches for Tera-bit Links
Our analysis delivered five leading approaches, from chip-level physics to network architecture, ready for field trials by 2028.
Hardware Approaches
- CMOS–Graphene Hybrid Front-End: Capable of 1.3 Tb s⁻¹ @ 220 GHz at high efficiency.
- 1024-element SiGe Phased Array: A powerful antenna-in-package with an integrated dielectric lens providing 55 dBi of gain.
- Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) Panel: A 1m² metasurface that provides a 19 dB boost to non-line-of-sight signals.
Network & AI Approaches
- Optical–THz Fronthaul Split: A network architecture that minimizes baseband power and latency for pole-mounted THz heads.
- Adaptive Beam-Search AI: An AI model that mitigates signal loss from rain fade and defends against beam-spoofing attacks.
Strategic Impact
The vendor green-lit a 2-km urban pilot using the SiGe phased-array front-end and RIS relays. System integration begins Q3 2026, with live tests informing ITU contribution proposals and de-risking a 2030 commercial launch. This success positions the company at the forefront of the ultra-high-capacity 6G solutions.