In Eindhoven, the Netherlands, researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) together with the company Aircision achieved an unprecedented wireless data transmission speed of 5.7 Tbps over a distance of 4.6 km.
This breakthrough was made possible through free-space optical communication (FSO) technology, which uses infrared beams instead of traditional cables or radio signals.
The core elements of the system were Aircision’s optical antennas, which transmit data via invisible infrared beams.
This technology enables ultra-fast, interference-resistant data transmission without the need to lay cables.
To achieve this result, a test setup called Reid Photonloop was used, applying multi-wavelength transmission techniques — previously used in fiber-optic networks — in a wireless environment for the first time.
Although the technology requires a clear line of sight between the transmitter and receiver and can be sensitive to weather conditions, its potential for use in 5G/6G networks and in locations where cable deployment is difficult is enormous.
This breakthrough opens new horizons for high-speed wireless communication, especially in densely built urban environments where traditional connectivity methods are limited.
