China has overtaken SpaceX’s Starlink in developing high-resolution laser transmission between space and the ground, a technology with potential for 6 G.
According to a South China Morning Post report, the breakthrough came from the commercial satellite company Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., which achieved a data transmission rate of 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) from its Jilin-1 constellation satellite to a truck-mounted ground station, ten times faster than previous records.
Wang Hanghang, the head of laser communication ground station technology, stated that while Starlink has developed an inter-satellite laser communication system, it has yet to implement satellite-to-ground laser communication. “We believe they might possess the technology; however, we have already commenced large-scale deployment,” Wang explained. He added that his company plans to equip all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation with this technology by 2027.
This transmission rate enables the transfer of 10 full-length movies in just one second, effectively transforming a single-lane highway into thousands of lanes, Wang illustrated.
Although entities like MIT and NASA’s TBIRD system have also reached laser transmission speeds over 100Gbps, Wang highlighted that his system’s payload is larger and heavier, weighing 20 kg, and uniquely mobile due to its truck-based ground receiving unit.
What is 6G?
6G represents the next generation of wireless communication technology to enhance network integration across terrestrial, aerial, and satellite platforms for universal coverage. Expected to achieve data speeds over 1 Tbps and reduce latency to 100 microseconds, 6G will likely utilize higher frequency bands than 5G, including the terahertz (THz) spectrum.
The report also notes China’s recent development of the world’s first mobile 5G base station designed for battlefield conditions, capable of providing high-speed, secure communications for up to 10,000 users within a three-kilometre radius.
The technology, developed jointly by China Mobile Communications Group and the People’s Liberation Army, has been tested in various conditions at speeds of 80km/h, showcasing its robustness in urban and mountainous terrains and under electromagnetic interference.
