Multi-gigabit technology promises to cut the wires

Wired computers in the home and even in enterprise data centres could soon be a thing of the past thanks to emerging super-fast wireless connectivity technology.

Scientists at the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology are investigating the use of extremely high radio frequencies to achieve broad bandwidth and high data transmission rates over short distances.

This "multi-gigabit wireless" approach could result in a bevy of personal area network applications within three years, including next-generation home multimedia and wireless data connections able to transfer an entire DVD in seconds.

The research focuses on radio frequencies around 60GHz which are currently unlicensed, i.e. free for anyone to use, in the US.

GEDC researchers reported having achieved wireless data transfer rates of 15Gbps at a distance of one metre, 10Gbps at two metres and 5Gbps at five metres.

"The goal here is to maximise data throughput to make possible a host of new wireless applications for home and office connectivity," said Professor Joy Laskar, GEDC director and lead researcher on the project along with research scientist Stephane Pinel.

GEDC's multi-gigabit wireless research is expected to lend itself to two major types of applications: data and video.

Very high speed, peer-to-peer data connections could be available in less than two years, according to Pinel.

Devices such as external hard drives, laptop computers, MP3 players, mobile phones and commercial kiosks could transfer huge amounts of data in seconds. And data centres could install racks of servers without the customary jumble of wires.

"Our work represents a huge leap in available throughput," said Pinel. "At 10Gbps you could download a DVD from a kiosk to your phone in five seconds, or you could quickly synchronise two laptops or two iPods."

Users of multi-gigabit technology could also wirelessly connect to any device that currently uses Firewire or USB.

Wireless high-definition video could also be a major application. Users could keep a DVD player by their side while transmitting wirelessly to a screen five or 10 metres away.

Pinel said that the biggest challenge is to further increase data rates and decrease the already-low power consumption, with the goal of doubling current transmission rates by next year.

The Georgia Tech team is seeking to preserve backwards compatibility with the Wi-Fi standard used in most wireless Lans today.

The research centres on modifying the system architecture to increase intelligence and effectiveness in the CMOS radio frequency integrated circuits that transmit the data.

Investigators are placing special emphasis on implementing a radio frequency concept called single-input-single-output/multiple-input-multiple-output which enables ultra-high data throughput.

"We are pursuing a combination of system design and circuit design, employing analogue and digital techniques," said Pinel. "It is definitely a very exciting mixed-signal problem that you have to solve."