Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ThoR (TeraHertz end-to-end wireless systems supporting ultra high data Rate applications)

Teaser

Data traffic densities of several Tbps/km2 are already predicted for 5G networks. To service a fully mobile and connected society networks beyond 5G must undergo tremendous growth in connectivity, data traffic density and volume as well as the required multi-level...

Summary

Data traffic densities of several Tbps/km2 are already predicted for 5G networks. To service a fully mobile and connected society networks beyond 5G must undergo tremendous growth in connectivity, data traffic density and volume as well as the required multi-level ultra-densification. The ThoR project will provide technical solutions for the backhauling/fronthauling of this traffic. The ThoR consortium brings together the leading Japanese and European players from industry, R&D and academia, whose prior work defines the state-of-the-art in high data rate long range point-to-point THz links. This team has been instrumental in defining and implementing the new IEEE 802.15.3d Standard “100 Gbps Wireless Switched Point-to-Point Physical Layer.” ThoR’s technical concept builds on this standard, in a striking and innovative combination using state-of-the-art chip sets and modems operating in the standardized 60 and 70 GHz bands, which are aggregated on a bit-transparent high performance 300 GHz RF wireless link offering >100 Gbps real-time data rate capacity. ThoR will apply European and Japanese state-of-the-art photonic and electronic technologies to build an ultra-high bandwidth, high dynamic range transceiver operating at 300 GHz combined with state-of-the-art digital signal processing units in two world-first demonstrations:

- more than 100 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using pseudo data in indoor and outdoor controlled environments
- more than 40 Gbps P2P link over 1 km at 300 GHz using emulated real data in a live operational communication network.

This will require an innovative combination of specific THz PHY technology advances: photonic millimeter-wave generation in E-band used to drive wideband up/down-conversion into THz bands, combined with solid-state and Travelling Wave Tube amplifiers to enable long range operation. Using this concept, ThoR will enable the required multi-frequency and channel aggregation towards the new IEEE 802.15.3d Standard. The success of ThoR will represent the first operational use of THz frequencies in ICT and this influential and powerful consortium will directly influence and shape the frequency regulation activities beyond 275 GHz through agenda item 1.15 of WRC 2019.

Work performed

The ThoR project targets the demonstration of 300 GHz backhaul/fronthaul links both by hardware and software demonstration.


DEMO-1 (initial demonstration)
DEMO-1 was successfully achieved at ULIL at the end of M5 (see D6.1)
• Using available ThoR and commercial devices DEMO-1 validated the technological concept of the ThoR project
• 300 GHz wireless system superheterodyne architecture demonstrated for >40 Gbps bitrates over 10 m in air using modulation formats up to 64-QAM
• A video of DEMO-1 was recorded and is available from the ThoR website
o https://thorproject.eu/results

DEMO-2 (laboratory demonstration)
Target: Demonstrate a P2P 300 GHz wireless link with high data rates in indoor and outdoor controlled environments, with:
• >100 Gbps data rate using off-line DSP and signal analysis
• P2P links over distances ranging from 10 m to 1 km
• Investigation of different modulation formats, symbol rates and digital pre-distortion concepts

On schedule for M26

DEMO-3 (operational demonstration)
Target: Integrate a bi-directional end-to-end link at 300 GHz into an operational live communication network, featuring a 40 Gbps real-time data rate over 1 km
• 13 Gbps real-time using 60 GHz band radio modems and up to 40 Gbps real-time using 70/80 GHz modems.

On schedule for M26
• Six artificial scenarios (based on Berlin, Hannover and Shinjuku) have been defined to provide reliable simulation and demonstration environments


Good progress developing the ThoR key enabling technologies
(1) High linearity, wideband and high spectral purity THz photomixer for local oscillator (LO) generation

(2) Medium power 300 GHz solid-state power amplifier

(3) High power 300 GHz traveling-wave tube amplifier

(4) Multi-functional wideband and low noise 300 GHz solid-state receiver

(5) Multi-functional and high linearity 300 GHz solid-state upconverter

(6) Channel aggregation at the 60 GHz and 70-80 GHz bands


WRC-19
Target: Assure that the required spectrum beyond 275 GHz will be available by actively contributing to the process towards agenda item 1.15 of the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) taking place in November 2019 and by developing interference mitigation techniques, which are able to fulfill the operational constraints potentially defined at WRC 2019.

Good progress

Final results

DEMO-1 (initial demonstration)
An initial demonstration (DEMO-1) is scheduled during the six first months to validate the ThoR concept using actual devices available to the consortium, to drive the specific developments scheduled in ThoR.

DEMO-1 was successfully achieved at ULIL at the end of M5 (see D6.1)
• Using available ThoR and commercial devices DEMO-1 validated the technological concept of the ThoR project
• 300 GHz wireless system superheterodyne architecture demonstrated for >40 Gbps bitrates over 10 m in air using modulation formats up to 64-QAM
• A video of DEMO-1 was recorded and is available from the ThoR website
o https://thorproject.eu/results


Good progress across all the ThoR KETs
• Based on the first measurements on the prototype of the 77 GHz photonic LO realised during this period, the photonic LO performance should be compliant with the specifications
• The compact PA cells are functional and >10 mW of output power around 300 GHz was already measured. The measured linear output power (P1dB) is around 9 dBm
• 15 dB prototype TWTA at 265 GHz was successfully fabricated and tested
• Measurement of the initial designs for the 300 GHz front ends, in order to verify the simulation
• Design of both V-band and E-band modules based on these specifications is in progress and on schedule at the time of writing.
o Definition and specification for the V-band modem
o Definition and specification for the E-band modem
• Arrived at a generic scheme of operation to support both V-band and E-band IF frequencies
o Operation scheme supports efficient use of the terahertz spectrum

Antennas, Propagation and Interference
Good progress
• Sharing study with passive services completed
o Sharing study results have been submitted to the German National Preparatory Group, and it is now available for the process towards WRC-19
• Measurements of antenna patterns and reflection materials of building materials at 300 GHz have been completed and software simulation for automatic backhaul/fronthaul planning had started.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.thorproject.eu/.