Due to its propagation characteristics, THz spectrum (1 tetrahertz = 1,000 gigahertz) has been widely thought to be a candidate for fixed wireless access or near field communication. But, using proprietary antenna technologies, SoftBank Corp. has demonstrated tetrahertz outdoor coverage for connected cars.
“Due to the significant propagation loss of THz waves, research has been carried out to utilize the narrow beam of high-gain antennas and extend communication distance to make THz wireless communication practical,” Softbank said in a press release.
In the development of technologies that achieve throughput of over 100 Gbps, THz spectrum is anticipated as a potential solution, as it offers a wider frequency band compared to millimeter wave bands used in 5G. By increasing the coverage of communications over THz, the potential increases for high-speed applications in areas where laying optical fiber is challenging or not feasible.
Expanding the coverage area using THz spectrum, according to engineers, results in increased power dispersion, which leads to a reduction in the THz wireless communication area.
“SoftBank conducted a verification experiment to establish THz coverage specifically for vehicles by limiting the communication area only to roadways,” the company said. “This approach prevents power dispersion and enables the expansion of the communication area for vehicles driving outdoors.”
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