Scientists at the Helmholtz Center in Dresden have reached WLAN speeds in the terahertz frequency range, using extremely thin layers of a manganese and gallium compound, according to a news report. If these layers were to be used as senders in WLAN networks, speeds could be drastically increase—to up to 100 Gbps. This new method would make it possible to produce T-rays (terahertz radiation) on a mass basis.

Tarifica’s Take

The speed race continues across all types of networks. We have seen that Wi-Fi is gaining ground quite dramatically worldwide as a carrier of mobile data, in some cases taking the burden off operators’ networks, and in other cases directly challenging traditional cellular service. In any case, heavy data usage is driving demand for higher-speed Wi-Fi as well as cellular service. Ultra-fast speeds, even 100 Gbps, are clearly within the realm of possibility (and soon practicability), as this experiment in Germany indicates. For mobile operators, Wi-Fi technology capable of such rapid data transmission must be considered a challenge.