ITMO: Light-controlled antenna for fast data transmission in 5G networks

Main articles:

• 5G (fifth generation of mobile communications)
• Development of 5G networks in Russia
• Development of 5G networks in the world

2022: Product Presentation

On February 17, 2022, ITMO University announced that its scientists had developed a light-controlled antenna for fast data transmission in 5G networks. The technology expands the coverage area even in places with a weak signal, distributing radiation from the base station to subscribers - gadgets, drones, sensors and other devices. The features of the developed antenna in front of analogues are energy efficiency, economical production and simple adaptive design.

There are more and more devices running in permanent network connection mode. These are not only mobile gadgets, but also smart home systems, unmanned vehicles, drones and various sensors. To ensure the operation of an annual growing number of devices, a transition to the 5G mobile communication standard is necessary, involving the use of high frequency bands - up to 52 GHz. But at such frequencies, uninterrupted and fast data transmission is possible only within line of sight from mobile base stations. Even an ordinary room wall can become a serious obstacle to signal propagation.

Shadow areas can be covered with additional stations, but this requires a large technical and financial cost. Scientists of the New Physicist of ITMO University have proposed a simpler and more economical solution - a modular optically controlled antenna.

"Our antenna is an array of many reflectors, each of which has a photodetector. The antenna operates on the principle of a "solar bunny" - it is installed so that it can redistribute radiation from the base station to individual subscribers in hard-to-reach places. At the same time, you can dynamically control the redistribution itself and set its direction. To do this, we use a specially created device: it, like a television console, transmits digital code to antenna elements over an infrared channel, thereby moving the focus of the 5G field to the zones we need, "- says Andrei Sayansky, researcher at the New Physicist of ITMO University.

ITMO created a light-controlled antenna for transmitting data in 5G networks
Andrei Sayansky

In the design of the antenna there is no complex and expensive electronics. It consists of the same modules, which, as in the Lego designer, can be removed or supplemented with new ones. This allows you to scale the antenna to any size, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of the development process, as well as adapting the solution to the requirements of customers. The device can be placed both on the elevation of buildings and installed indoors. In addition, the development does not require a large amount of electricity. If you hang the equipment on the outer wall of the house, then it will be enough to install a solar cell on it to power it.

As of mid-February 2022, an existing prototype was created, which already demonstrates high performance when transmitting data. The future plans of scientists are to test the antenna in various conditions and refine it to a market product.