Next-Gen Wireless Tech: UK and Ireland Team Up for 6G Breakthrough

In a groundbreaking effort to shape the future of wireless communications, researchers from the UK and Ireland have embarked on an ambitious project aimed at developing advanced technologies for the next generation of wireless networks. The initiative, dubbed Active intelligent Reconfigurable surfaces for 6G wireless COMmunications (AR-COM), brings together engineers from the University of Glasgow and the Tyndall National Institute’s Wireless Communications Laboratory (WCL).

With a robust funding of £1 million from UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and an additional €500,000 from Research Ireland, the AR-COM project seeks to enhance the design of intelligent reconfigurable surfaces (IRS). These smart materials are expected to play a pivotal role in the ultrafast 6G wireless networks of the future.

Founded in 2020 by former Nokia Bell Labs scientists, Tyndall’s WCL is at the forefront of communications research. The collaboration aims to develop new materials and methods that will allow IRS technologies to reach their full potential within the millimetre-wave and terahertz ranges of the communications spectrum. These intelligent surfaces can intercept weak wireless signals, guiding them to devices and boosting their strength, thus maximizing performance.

As the demand for improved indoor wireless signals grows, IRS devices could revolutionize mobile coverage in buildings with poor reception. They promise to enable reliable high-speed internet connections and support new 6G applications that require extremely dependable wireless links.

The AR-COM project will unfold in four key stages. Initially, researchers will focus on creating advanced switches from transition metal oxides (TMOs) to allow precise control over wireless signal strength. The second stage will involve developing technology to steer wireless signals through carefully designed layers of metal and TMO materials, finding innovative ways to navigate obstacles in complex indoor environments.

In the third phase, miniature signal amplifiers will be developed using resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs), which can enhance weakened signals while consuming minimal power. The final stage will integrate all newly developed components into a fully functional IRS system, capable of manipulating wireless signals with low latency and no signal loss, ensuring high-quality connections even in challenging settings.

Professor Qammer H. Abbasi, the principal investigator of AR-COM, highlighted the limitations of current materials used in wireless communications, particularly at the higher frequencies required by 6G networks. He emphasized the collaboration’s goal to leverage expertise from both the University of Glasgow and the Tyndall Institute to create next-generation technologies.

Dr. Senad Bulja, leading Tyndall’s contribution to the project, noted the potential of resonant tunnelling diodes and transition metal oxides to overcome existing bottlenecks in IRS technologies. Together, these innovations aim to create surfaces that not only redirect signals but also amplify them with minimal energy consumption.

As the project unfolds, it promises to address the challenges of delivering robust 6G networks and enabling the next wave of wireless applications. The AR-COM initiative is supported by industry giants such as Analog Devices Inc (UK), Ericsson Silicon Valley, Nokia, Samsung Electronics UK Ltd, and Virgin, marking a significant step towards a more connected future.