Beyond 5G Wireless Communications

Even as 5G deployments begin, researchers have turned their attention to developing new network capabilities. One of the main developments is investigating underutilised radio spectrum, particularly in the Terahertz band (300GHz to 3THz). This spectrum offers the potential for extremely high data rates, but range is limited by high path losses due to absorption (by water and other molecules in the channel) and spreading. ENL researchers continue to make fundamental research contributions in areas like beam forming and tracking to direct high gain (narrow beam) signals from transmitter to receiver, and the development of algorithms for neighbour discovery and link establishment.

Key areas of expertise:

• Beam management and control shapes the beam profile and uses adaptive antenna elements to direct the beam in the preferred direction and adjusts the beam as necessary if either endpoint is mobile using geometric models and control theory.

• Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces can be placed in the signal path to enable non-line of sight communications when using highly directional beams, with software control of the dielectric properties of meta-surface patch antennas to shape and bend the beams so that the received signal is strong.

• Neighbour discovery is the first step when two nodes wish to begin directional (mmWave or THz ) wireless communication. Beam sweeping is used to locate the receiver relative to the transmitter within its communication range. Beam alignment is more complex when 3D propagation is needed, the direct path is blocked, or multiple reflection and scattering occurs.  

• Following node discovery, the network link needs to be established efficiently and maintained. Medium access protocols for directional communication need to share the medium efficiently and maintain the wireless link by boosting tracking capabilities, therefore taking appropriate networking decisions such as handover and multiple node coordination.