Wireless communication has been rapidly evolving over the past decades, providing us with the convenience and connectivity that has become an integral part of our daily lives. With the ongoing deployment of 5G networks, researchers are already envisioning the future of wireless systems beyond the current generation. To meet the ever-increasing demand for higher data rates and broader bandwidths, wireless platforms will need to venture into higher frequencies, beyond the familiar gigahertz range. This brings us to the realm of sub-terahertz wireless communications, an area of intense research and exploration.

Traditional wireless systems have mainly operated below a few gigahertz, but the surge in wireless traffic necessitates seeking new frequency bands with larger bandwidths. The millimeter-wave range, accessed by modern Wi-Fi and 5G technologies, offered a significant boost in data rates. However, the pursuit of even higher data rates has driven researchers to explore frequencies above 100 GHz, commonly known as the “terahertz (THz) range.”

Within the terahertz range, research has primarily focused on specific broad spectral bands, including the waveguide D band (110−170 GHz) and the higher frequency bands defined by IEEE 802.15.3d standards document (252−322 GHz). These frequencies are beyond the highest millimeter-wave bands found in current Wi-Fi and 5G standards. Operating at these ultra-high frequencies poses new challenges and opportunities that necessitate innovative solutions.

This Nature Communications article, explores within sub-terahertz wireless communications while presenting solutions and future possibilities that lie ahead for 5G and beyond.