Chinese scientists are one step closer to 6G networks after space trials of a new satellite communications technology. The “spaceborne optical switching technology” was tested in August when it was sent into orbit by China’s Y7 carrier rocket. The South China Morning Post (SCMP) writes that this new communication technology is essential for the development of satellite internet and 6G networks.
A breakthrough in a critical communications device that could pave the way for satellite internet, a key part of 6G network development, has been announced by a team of Chinese scientists.
Once mounted on a satellite, this device can pass optical signals from one place to another without converting them to electrical signals, acting more or less like a mirror.
A team from the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has announced that it has successfully conducted a space test.
A team of scientists has spent more than a decade developing devices to improve the power, flexibility, and speed of information transfer.
The institute’s device, called “Spaceborne Optical Switching Technology,” was sent into orbit by China’s Y7 carrier rocket in August, according to a statement released by the academy last Sunday. This is the first time this has happened. By satellite.
When downloaded and deployed on the ground, the image information carried remained intact with no data loss.
According to a Chinese paper published last year by some members of the team, the device can support switching capacity of 40 gigabits per second, a significant improvement over traditional switching technology.
With the development of satellite remote sensing, supercomputing that handles large amounts of data, and 6th generation mobile communications, the demand for ultra-high-speed, large-capacity information transmission is increasing.
To achieve this, industry experts say innovative future networks should be three-dimensional networks linking terrestrial communication nodes and satellites.
“Next generation communication networks, including 6G, will go beyond terrestrial links. It should be a global network that includes satellite nodes,” the scientist said.
Meanwhile, a paper published by members of the scientific team stated that “satellite internet needs to be built” to provide global coverage and low-latency services that can be accessed in less populated areas and without geographic barriers. He added that it was necessary to do so.
So far, several industry breakthroughs, including Elon Musk’s Starlink, have introduced optical communications to transfer data between satellites, and some Chinese companies are also joining the race.
