Dr. Dobb's | Researchers Achieve 15 Gbps Wireless Speed

Researchers Achieve 15 Gbps Wireless Speed

Researchers at Georgia Tech have transfered data at speeds between 5 and 15 Gbps over short distances using free, unlicensed spectrum in the 60 GHz range.

July 20, 2007
URL:http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/researchers-achieve-15-gbps-wireless-spe/201200176

Georgia Tech scientists have demonstrated extremely high data transfer speeds with a wireless technology utilizing an ultra-high-frequency part of the spectrum, near 60 GHz. The transmission works only over short distances, with 15 Gbps transfers at 1 meter, 10 Gbps at 2 meters, and 5 Gbps at 5 meters. This sort of data rate would allow for the transmission of an entire DVD in seconds.

This part of the spectrum is currently unlicensed in the United States. The researchers envision this technology ultimately being a huge boon for home networking and consumer electronics, as well as eliminating tons of wiring between rack-mounted servers in large data centers.

The commercial appearance of the networking technology is at least two or three years away, according to the researchers. One limitation is that current devices' I/O systems can't handle these speeds.