Thanks to the constant advances in the development of quantum computers and their ever-increasing performance, it will be possible in the future to decipher our current encryption processes. To meet this challenge, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are participating in an international research consortium to develop encryption methods that apply physical laws to prevent message interception. To safeguard long-distance communications, the QUICK³ space mission will deploy satellites.

While the world awaits the full rollout of the next generation of telecommunications technologies, 5G, key stakeholders are preparing for the future of telecoms: 6G. This may seem premature, given that the deployment of 5G infrastructure and base stations has not yet reached its peak. In fact, IDTechEx predicts that the high-frequency, high-throughput bands of mmWave 5G will not take off for several years.

Crop maps help scientists and policymakers track global food supplies and estimate how they might change with climate change and population growth. But obtaining accurate maps of the types of crops grown from farm to farm often requires on-the-ground surveys that only a handful of countries have the resources to maintain.

Now, MIT engineers have developed a method to quickly and accurately label and map crop types without requiring on-site assessments of each farm. The team's method uses a combination of Google Street View imagery, machine learning, and satellite data to automatically determine the crops grown in a region, from one fraction of an acre to the next.

Most computation in modern neural networks involves linear operations, such as matrix and vector multiplications and convolutions. Linear operations can also play a significant role in cryptography. While dedicated processors like GPUs and TPUs enable highly parallel linear operations, these devices are energy-intensive, and the limited bandwidth of the electronics still restricts their operating speed. Optical networks are better suited for this type of operation due to their inherent parallelism, high bandwidth, and high computational speed.

Smart devices, autonomous driving, remote patient monitoring... countless new applications are being unlocked thanks to advances in telecommunications technology, specifically the transition to 5G. 5G telecommunications introduces two new frequency bands: sub-6 GHz (3.5 - 7 GHz) and mmWave (24 - 71 GHz).

A NASA technology experiment on the International Space Station completed its first laser link with an orbiting laser relay system on December 5, 2023. Together, they complete NASA's first end-to-end, bidirectional laser relay system. NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and the space station's new demonstrator, ILLUMA-T (Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal), successfully exchanged data for the first time. LCRD and ILLUMA-T are demonstrating how a user mission, in this case the space station, can benefit from a laser communications relay located in geosynchronous orbit.

The chair established by Fractus and Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) to promote research in 6G wireless communication systems has yielded its first results, specifically in its studies on the use of smart surfaces, with very promising outcomes. The project aims to configure a smart surface capable of reflecting electromagnetic waves differently than conventional surfaces, thereby significantly improving the performance of current wireless networks.

Nokia announced today that it has set two new world records in underwater optical transmission, both of which will shape the next generation of optical networking equipment. The first sets a new optical speed record for transoceanic distances. Researchers at Nokia Bell Labs demonstrated a data transmission rate of 800 Gbps over a distance of 7,865 km using a single wavelength of light.

5G mmWave Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Extension technology is paving the way for a simpler and cheaper delivery of gigabit or multi-gigabit connectivity to apartment complexes. Previously unconnected but unused homes can now be repurposed and made profitable, allowing network operators to target a large untapped market of customers residing in abandoned MDUs (Medium-Density Units).

Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), through its Fractus-UPF Chair in Tech Transfer and 6G, and the University of California, Irvine (UCI), will create a new technological system to deploy networks of intelligent drones that will automatically perform fire monitoring and control tasks. The project proposes solutions based on wireless communication technology and artificial intelligence (AI) so that the drones can work in a networked and coordinated manner.

The European Commission has announced that part of the investment from the "Important Projects of Common European Interest" (IPCEI) program has been awarded to the Spanish semiconductor company KDPOF.

Following confirmation as one of the four Spanish companies selected to access €8.1 billion in European investment, as part of the project called IPCEI ME/CT, KDPOF confirms progress in the project to install a packaging factory for state-of-the-art optoelectronic devices, also designed by them, at their current headquarters in Tres Cantos, Madrid.

A research team comprised of Australians, Japanese, Dutch, and Italians has set a new speed record for an industry-standard optical fiber, achieving 1.7 petabits over a 67-km length of fiber. The fiber, which contains 19 cores, each capable of carrying a signal, meets global standards for optical fiber size

The percentage of optical transceivers that take advantage of silicon photonics will double from 24% in 2022 to 44% in 2028, predicts LightCounting in its newly published Silicon Photonics & Co-Packaged Optics report from May 2023.

Legislation restricting the use of "forever chemicals," or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is being debated in major markets such as the European Union and the United States. But given that some members of the PFAS family, such as fluoropolymers like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are being considered for next-generation 5G applications, how will this affect the market for low-loss materials for 5G?

Imagine sitting in a packed stadium watching a crucial football match: tens of thousands of people are using mobile phones at the same time, perhaps video chatting with friends or posting photos on social media. The radio frequency signals sent and received by all these devices can cause interference, slowing down device performance and draining batteries.

Communications Industry Researchers (CIR) has published a new report on the next generation of optical transceivers. Incorporating new approaches—such as coherent optics, copackaged optics, and more efficient designs—these next-generation transceivers will be better suited to network needs as demand increases and applications become more latency-sensitive.

Physicists at the University of Bath in the UK have created an optical fiber that uses the mathematical concept of topology to remain robust, thus ensuring high-speed information transfer.

Fiber optic networks are not structurally perfect, and information transfer can be compromised when things go wrong.

While 5G mmWave has yet to take off, research into 6G has already begun. But what exactly is 6G, and what are the emerging areas to watch?

This article provides a high-level overview of 6G, including 6G frequencies, technological development trends, and the most prominent 6G applications.

i-PRO Co has made public its main predictions for the physical security sector in 2023.

AI-based analysis within the camera itself will become the norm.

In 2023, there will be significant adoption of AI-based analytics in cameras and video management systems (VMS) as more manufacturers offer this feature within their standard camera ranges.

1. According to Ian Hood, Chief Strategist - Global Industries at Red Hat, in the telecommunications sector, service providers have begun adopting cloud-native deployments for their 5G core network applications and digital services. Cloud RAN will become even more relevant in 2023, along with a desire to enhance multicloud partnerships and edge strategies.