Wireless technology has set us free - Cable.co.uk

Wireless technology has set us free
We know Wi-Fi has brought an end to the days when accessing the web meant being tied to a cable
connected to our phone line, but that’s only the start. Not only is Wi-Fi helping to greatly improve
internet connectivity in rural communities, it’s also bringing vital services like healthcare to residents
in some of our most isolated communities. What’s more, technological advances are making Wi-Fi
more accessible and reliable, paving the way for a huge increase in uptake over the coming years.

We’re only beginning to realise - and take advantage of - the benefits of wireless technology. In years
to come, it will be behind everything from the energy networks that power our homes to the household
appliances that we use to store and prepare our food. And with scientists and myriad companies
working on new uses for Wi-Fi, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Several of the most noteworthy wireless
innovations are explored in this paper, but it’s exciting to consider that the future holds a plethora of
new developments that we can’t even begin to imagine yet.

There is no doubting the popularity and widespread usage of Wi-Fi among consumers, businesses
and public sector organisations alike. According to market intelligence firm Strategy Analytics, 439
million households worldwide - equivalent to one in four homes - have installed Wi-Fi networks.
Adoption is expected to surge over the coming years, with the technology set to be used in almost
800 million homes by 2016 [1].

The growth in Wi-Fi has coincided with - and been driven by - the massive rise in prevalence of smart
mobile devices, from smartphones and tablets to laptops, wireless games consoles, digital cameras
and more. The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), a global industry body focused on pushing forward
the next generation of Wi-Fi connectivity that counts AT&T, BT and Cisco among its board members,
illustrates the key role mobile devices have played in boosting Wi-Fi usage. It says smartphones are
now the most popular way for people to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, overtaking laptops [2]. In fact,
devices like the Apple iPhone are responsible for 40% of hotspot connections, while laptops and
tablets make up 39% and 17% respectively.

Now that we’ve whetted your appetite, read on for more about where we are and what the future holds...

Page 1

Demand, demand and more demand
It’s clear demand for wireless internet connectivity is still far from reaching saturation point, fuelled, at
least in part, by our appetite for the latest smartphone or tablet.

A record 225 million smartphones were sold in the second quarter (Q2) of 2013, according to global
technology research firm Gartner, up by 46.5% from Q2 2012 [3]. Tellingly, worldwide mobile sales as
a whole only increased by 3.6% in this period.

This trend for growth in wireless devices echoes the tablet market, which surged by 75% year on
year in Q4 2012, with shipments climbing to an all-time high of 52.5 million [4]. Surprisingly, tablet
purchases also rose by a massive 74% on the previous quarter, demonstrating the rapid rise in
popularity of devices like the Apple iPad. Now, that’s what we call growth...

Demand for smartphones and tablets - and thus Wi-Fi - will continue to rise for the foreseeable future,
as more and more users recognise the value of being able to connect to wireless hotspots. By 2016,
market research, analysis and advisory firm, International Data Corporation, predicts sales of smart,
connected devices - including PCs, media tablets and smartphones - will reach 1.84 billion devices,
more than double the figure recorded in 2011 [5]. This equates to an annual growth rate of 15%.

The number of homes
with Wi-Fi is expected to
rise to 800 million.

Page 2

With so many wireless-enabled gadgets set to be in circulation in the coming years, Wi-Fi will play an
increasingly important role in keeping us connected through a wide range of devices.

Wireless internet technology will have to evolve to keep pace. Not only can users look forward to
faster speeds, but coverage will also improve - a trend recognised by the WBA, which as recently as
last year revealed that 43% of firms in the telecoms industry became more “bullish” about their future
plans to invest in Wi-Fi [2].

This expected level of spending is only likely to climb further over the coming years. As coverage
rises and more people are able to connect to Wi-Fi networks, the benefits of the technology will
become ever clearer. Wi-Fi connectivity already offers ease of use to owners of wireless-enabled
devices and new opportunities in sectors consumers haven’t even thought of yet, including healthcare
and even the environment.

By allowing business users to get online wherever they are, Wi-Fi will boost productivity and have
a positive effect on the national economy. One company set to take advantage of the productivity
benefits offered by Wi-Fi is leading UK regional property consultant Bidwells, which deployed a
wireless network across 12 offices to support the extensive use of laptops, iPads and iPhones.
Delivered by cloud-controlled Wi-Fi, routing and security firm Meraki, the Wi-Fi solution has brought
about a cultural change at the company by freeing employees from their desks. Nick Haynes, IT
manager at Bidwells, explains:

“Meraki has enabled a new ‘work anywhere’ culture, giving people the ability
to drop in to any office, stop by someone’s desk or visit the coffee lounge and
keep working on a laptop [6].”
Bidwells’ Cambridge headquarters originally had an ad hoc collection of wireless access points, while
other offices had no wireless connectivity. Thanks to this rollout, property agents can visit clients
across the country before calling at their nearest regional office and logging on to the network via
laptops or Apple iPhones, thus boosting their productivity.

How and where are we using Wi-Fi?
In the UK, Wi-Fi coverage has shot up as communications providers such as BT, Virgin Media and Sky
ramp up their rollouts. With tens of millions of people passing through areas served by Wi-Fi networks
on a daily basis and demand ever increasing, it comes as no surprise that usage is so high.

BT’s global Wi-Fi network comprises more than eight million hotspots, five million of which are in the
UK alone. Of these, more than 543,000 are situated in the Greater London area. The Greater London
Wi-Fi network was put through its paces during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when an
estimated 50% of the 170,000 spectators visiting the Olympic Park each day were using wireless-
enabled devices [7]. There’s no question that London 2012 was well and truly the first social media
Olympics with such high take-up amongst fans that, at one point, the IOC had to request tweeters to
limit their output during a crucial bicycle race through London [8].

Another example is Sky’s The Cloud, which provides Wi-Fi to partners including pubs, coffee
houses and eateries, and sees an estimated seven million people pass through its network every day.
Combined, users connect to its UK hotspots for more than 200 million minutes per week [9].

Page 3

Current levels of coverage are impressive, and are only set to become stronger over the coming
years. Despite this, it seems Wi-Fi still offers huge untapped potential as a means of providing internet
access in public spaces. Ofcom data shows there are now 16,000 Wi-Fi access points in cafes, transport
hubs and other public areas across the UK; but intriguingly, users prefer to rely on their mobile
provider when it comes to connecting to the web on the move. Around 25 times as much data is
downloaded over mobile networks as via Wi-Fi hotspots, indicating the unexploited opportunity for
public Wi-Fi to meet our ever-growing thirst for data anywhere and at any time. Ofcom speculates
that this trend could be down to the sometimes complex process of logging on to Wi-Fi hotspots,
but adds: “This may change as new technologies enable more seamless access [10].” Encouragingly,
Deloitte, the global consultancy firm, says 43% of smartphone users see Wi-Fi as a means to avoid
breaching monthly data allowances [11]. So we may indeed be reaching a turning point.

There are numerous advantages to using Wi-Fi rather than a mobile data connection, from improved
battery life to removing the risk of users exceeding the data caps on mobile contracts. A study
conducted at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that when transferring data, the energy
consumed by Wi-Fi is “significantly smaller” than either GSM or 3G [12]. Data limits are another pressing
issue, particularly as super-fast 4G mobile services become more widely available. In 2012, 4G
connections generated an average of 19 times more traffic than non-4G connections [13]. Unless 4G
customers have sizeable (or unlimited) data allowances, many will need to take full advantage of
Wi-Fi to ensure they do not surpass their monthly cap and incur a charge.

Fast-forward several years and demand for wireless technology will have climbed to levels that seem
scarcely imaginable even in today’s ultra-connected world. Cambridge Wireless, an organisation
made up of more than 300 companies with expertise in wireless networks and related solutions,
sees a future in which 50 billion everyday devices could be connected to each other, with wireless
technologies able to create an online digital presence for “any number of physical objects” [14].

Exponential growth... what does this mean for consumers?
Wi-Fi adoption is already huge and companies in the Wi-Fi sector are making significant strides
towards maximising the potential of the technology as they prepare for an exponential rise in
demand for wireless connectivity. The WBA reveals some operators are seeing as much as 75% of
all traffic in the home being carried over Wi-Fi networks, compared to only 5% outdoors. The WBA
insists out-of-home Wi-Fi-based internet access can only be expected to climb over the coming
years, particularly as it becomes easier to log on to public networks [15].

Most noticeable for consumers today are improvements to the hardware that keeps them wirelessly
connected. Companies deliver regular updates, with BT’s latest wireless router - the BT Home Hub
4 - featuring smart dual-band technology designed to identify interference and automatically select
the strongest available channel [16].

Hardware manufacturers have also begun launching the first wireless routers supporting 802.11ac,
the next generation of Wi-Fi standard from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Cisco
describes 802.11ac as being “like the movie The Godfather Part II”, explaining: “It takes something
great and makes it even better [17].”

A faster and more scalable version of 802.11n, this combines the performance of a gigabit Ethernet
connection with the freedom of wireless. It allows for more channel bonding - a computer networking
arrangement that combines two or more network interfaces for increased throughput - from the
maximum of 40MHz offered by 802.11n to 80 or even 160MHz. This results in respective speed
increases of 117% and 333% over the previous standard.

Page 4

Common causes of weak Wi-Fi signal and how to overcome them

   Wi-Fi, as with any form of technology, is not perfect. Your wireless connection may be slow
   or even disconnect due to a variety of issues. Common causes include distance from
   the router, obstructions between the user and the connection and the presence of other
   wireless-enabled devices. Among the other issues that can crop up are interference from
   household appliances, while energy-efficient light bulbs are a particular culprit as they can
   leak radio signals.

   Fortunately, there are several tried-and-trusted techniques that should improve the
   performance of a Wi-Fi link, meaning optimal speed and an improved connection. For a
   more reliable Wi-Fi service, try the following:

   • Check to see if other wireless devices can be switched to different frequencies. The least
     crowded channels can be identified using a Wi-Fi scanner. There are up to 14 channels
     available, but only a 5MHz gap exists between each, while interference from different
     channels can affect up to 11MHz on either side.
   • Move closer to the router - attempting to connect from a different storey of the building,
     or even outside, means the wireless signal can be weakened by having to pass through
     brick walls.
   • Update router firmware. Remember to check for firmware updates for a router, as while
     these are normally highlighted by some sort of notification where business networking
     devices are concerned, this does not always hold true for home routers and other
     consumer products.
   • Likewise, network adapters on PCs and laptops are subject to firmware updates. Find the
     name of the adapter by exploring network settings, then visit the relevant manufacturer’s
     website to make sure the latest firmware has been downloaded.
   • Steer clear of common sources of interference. Water absorbs wireless spectrum, so
     avoid water tanks, while mirrors and radiators can also block or slow down Wi-Fi signals.
     Energy-saving lighting fixtures should also be avoided, as surprisingly they can interfere
     with the signal.

The future is fascinating
Wireless technology is already fulfilling a wide range of functions, but it offers many more uses that
are only just starting to be adopted. From bringing broadband connectivity to isolated communities
to allowing greater interoperability between the machines upon which we rely, wireless connectivity
has the potential to dramatically improve our daily lives and the world around us. With Cisco predicting
a future in which Wi-Fi is as secure and easy to use as mobile, it’s easy to imagine myriad ways that
adoption and functionality can grow even further [18].

Page 5

Wi-Fi as a rural broadband solution
When it comes to innovations in the Wi-Fi sector, enhanced hardware is only scratching the surface.
Many providers are using the technology to bring faster speeds to communities that are beyond
the reach of fixed-line broadband networks. A prime example is eXwavia, which has rolled out a
fixed wireless broadband solution to Wales covering parts of Anglesey, Bodedern, Clwyd, Holyhead,
Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan. Vast swathes of these areas were left struggling with slow or
non-existent broadband (Ofcom rating them as among the worst in the UK when it comes to fixed-line
broadband performance), until this service was launched [19] [20].

And the good news is Welsh residents and businesses have been clamouring to sign up for the
Welshpool-based provider’s wireless service. Managing director Annette Burgess says: “Demand for
this technology delivery in rural areas is higher than the ability to install.”

For rural communities, the improved connectivity offered by Wi-Fi offers benefits beyond the ability
to stream videos, send emails and access social networks. The technology also makes it easier for
people to work from home, allowing them to remotely access corporate networks, send and receive
large files and conduct video conferences. This is an important consideration for rural residents who
may be based some distance from the office. According to mobile network operator EE, Cumbria’s
Northern Fells - one of the most rural regions in England - contains the highest concentration of home
workers in the UK [21].

Wireless internet technology has even been used to boost tourism in some rural locations. For
instance, in the coastal West Dorset town of Lyme Regis, the local development trust has developed
the UK’s largest community-owned Wi-Fi network to support the popular Lyme Regis Fossil Festival.
Utilising technology pioneered in Spain that uses long-distance directional Wi-Fi antennae to link
base stations over several miles, the network allows festival-goers with smartphones to view geological
maps of the famous Jurassic coastline. In addition, users can download an ‘augmented reality’ app
that scans the local area, highlighting points of interest [22].

Rural communities:
home worker support
and boosted tourism.

Page 6

Wi-Fi in the healthcare sector
It is all too easy to view Wi-Fi merely as a means to get people online. However, the technology has
huge potential to provide services to us that many of us can’t even imagine at this stage. For example,
in healthcare, a modern hospital ward can boast numerous pieces of equipment that communicate
via Wi-Fi, from wearable wireless devices (WWDs) and smartphones to infusion pumps and sensors.
These help healthcare professionals to monitor their patients without having to be at their bedsides,
potentially increasing the number of people they can look after at any given time. Highlighting the
growing prevalence of the technology within this field, the Wi-Fi Alliance believes use of Wi-Fi in
health, fitness and medical applications will increase by 39% from 2011 to 2016 [23].

The benefits of healthcare providers using Wi-Fi are clear when the many facets of the technology are
taken into account. Wi-Fi provides proven, reliable performance and delivers the secure transmissions
that are vital to remote ‘telehealth’ applications.

What’s more, WWDs allow for greater mobility and are already
playing a key role in improving patient care. A study published
in leading medical journal ‘The Lancet’, conducted by a team of
US scientists, found that the use of wireless monitoring in heart
failure patients can reduce the need for hospital admissions
by 39%. Some patients involved in the trial were given an
implanted wireless device measuring the pressure within
                                                                              39%
arteries that connect the heart and lungs. Those fitted with the
device were less likely to be admitted to hospital than patients
who relied on recording their daily weight and self-reporting            PERCENTAGE OF HEART PATIENTS
symptoms [24].                                                            NOT NEEDING HOSPITALISATION

Wireless technology also allows people in healthcare facilities to quickly attract the attention of a
nurse or doctor - either at the patient’s own will or if their condition deteriorates and they are unable
to do so. Bluetooth and cloud-based real-time locating system provider 9Solutions has developed a
wearable device that acts as a sophisticated form of nurse call button, allowing patients to be tracked
- and to call for help - anywhere within the healthcare facility. By saving each user’s personal activity
profile, the device can automatically send an alarm if these activities differ noticeably [25].

Enterprise IP video solutions firm VBrick recognises the many benefits enjoyed by healthcare
facilities that improve their wireless coverage. A universal wireless network can eradicate paging
and messaging ‘blackspots’, potentially speeding up response times in the event of a crash or other
emergency. Wireless technology also allows for the creation of a ‘wire-free bedside’ at which the
patient can be monitored at all times, even when on the move. Furthermore, by allowing audio and
video content to be streamed to certain areas within a building or campus, wireless technology
allows healthcare professionals to effectively monitor multiple patients in real time across several
wards [26].

US hospitals are among the earliest and largest adopters of healthcare-based Wi-Fi solutions.
Highlighting this trend, data published by the Wi-Fi Alliance reveals that US healthcare facilities deployed
more than 500,000 Wi-Fi infrastructure endpoints - or access points - in 2010, marking a year-on-year
increase of 50%. Casting its eyes over the global market, New York-based market research and
market intelligence firm ABI Research foresees a surge in shipments of Wi-Fi technology to healthcare
providers, with sales expected to reach $4.9 billion in 2014. With increasing numbers of hospitals
looking to speed up recovery times by offering patients the mobility afforded by Wi-Fi technology,
usage of WWDs is also set to explode. ABI says the prevalence of these wearable devices in healthcare
facilities will rise from 1.67 million in 2010 to more than 294 million in 2015 [27]. By 2017, one in five
WWDs will be used within the healthcare sector [28].

Page 7

Also in the US, several hospitals take advantage of wireless technology developed by UK-based
company Plextek that gives healthcare professionals the ability to monitor electrocardiogram data
while allowing patients to roam throughout a wide indoor area, rather than restricting them to their
beds. Operating in a dedicated medical frequency band, the system is able to simultaneously
monitor almost 200 patients across a single facility [29]. In this way, Wi-Fi is helping patients in their
recovery and improving their mobility.

Closer to home, wireless connectivity has also proved vital to ensuring patients in remote rural
communities are able to access the healthcare services they require. In Lancashire and Cumbria,
eight hospitals are involved in a stroke services pilot scheme that allows any one of 15 stroke patients
to consult physicians from home using broadband technology. Patients that reach hospitals outside
of normal hours can be diagnosed by a consultant using a mobile screen known as a ‘telecart’
located at their bedside.

“We are using technology to take the stroke specialists to the patient, rather
than moving the patient long distances, around rural areas, to where the
specialists work,” explains Paul Davies, consultant stroke physician at North
Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust [30].

Healthcare:
greater mobility,
faster recovery
times, specialist
consultation,
monitoring
and immediate
notification when
help is needed.

Page 8

Using Wi-Fi to save energy: The rise of “smart” grid technology
Smart grids are electricity networks based on digital technology that supply power via two-way digital
communication, allowing providers to monitor, analyse and control usage and delivery. They are being
developed to meet global demand for efficient energy usage - and Wi-Fi has a vital role to play in
fulfilling this goal. Wireless technology provides an array of options to smart grid operators, including
- perhaps most importantly - a way to link the devices that compile data from thousands of household
smart meters (devices that record electrical energy consumption) with the back office computer
systems of utilities companies. As a proven technology, Wi-Fi fulfils the needs of many application
scenarios involved in smart grid management.

Although power grids across the world have served their purpose for so long, they are often
overtaxed and in urgent need of modernisation. Since 1982, peak demand for electricity in the US
has surpassed growth in transmission by almost 25% each year, driven by the rising population,
larger homes and more power-sapping gadgets and household appliances. Consolidated Edison,
a US energy company serving the New York metropolitan area, says its network is put under great
strain during heat waves due to the increased use of air conditioning systems. Several days of hot
weather in a row can create stress on - or even overload - electric equipment [31]. The record heat
waves that hit much of the eastern US in summer 2012 led to rolling blackouts that left around three
million people without power and utilities companies struggling to reconnect 45% of the region [32].
Despite this, the energy sector’s spending on vital research and development - needed to make the
first steps towards future innovations - is among the lowest of all industries.

Smart grids provide the answer, with a US Department of Energy report -
prepared by Litos Strategic Communication - predicting that smarter power
networks will “spur the kind of transformation that the internet has already
brought to the way we live, work, play and learn”.

The energy networks of tomorrow will
offer major environmental advantages
and reduce power outages, with Wi-Fi
playing a major role in delivering these
sizeable benefits. The need to modernise
is clear. While electricity failures may not
be commonplace in the developed world
(in the US, the electricity system is 99.97%
reliable), they have a huge detrimental
effect on the economy when they do
occur. Indeed, partial interruptions and
total outages cost America at least $150
billion every year - the equivalent of $500
for every man, woman and child in the
country. Given the scale of the problem,
smart grids connected via Wi-Fi have a
huge role to play in meeting the energy
demands of the next generation [33].

Page 9

The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is a concept in computing that describes a world in which everyday objects
can connect to the web and identify themselves with other devices and appliances. It is expected
to make our lives easier, produce substantial economic benefits and even reduce our impact on the
environment by enabling a huge degree of interoperability between different devices.

Also known as the ‘Industrial Internet’, the ‘Internet of Things’
is a term coined to describe connectivity between physical
infrastructure and devices. The name was first used by British
technology pioneer Kevin Ashton, co-founder of the Auto-
ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to
describe a system in which the physical world and the internet
are connected by ubiquitous sensors [34]. The technology
required to deliver this level of connectivity is generally referred
to as Machine to Machine (M2M).

A prime example of the Internet of Things in action is LG’s range of Smart ThinQ appliances, which
includes a Wi-Fi-connected refrigerator capable of keeping track of the food and drink it contains
and sharing this information with smartphones. Based on a family’s demographic, weight goals and
other factors, the fridge can then suggest recipes and even connect with other smart appliances; for
instance, preheating the oven once a recipe has been selected. The refrigerator is controlled via
smartphone and an inbuilt touchscreen display [35].

However, Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer Padmasree Warrior argues that the Internet of Things is
about much more than giving intelligence to household appliances. “This isn’t just about having a fun
conversation about your refrigerator, coffee machine or toaster talking to you, it’s about deploying
a sensor on a manufacturing floor that enables an enterprise to be more efficient,” he explains [36].

M2M technology offers advantages across numerous sectors. The Carbon War Room, a Richard
Branson-founded organisation that leverages the power of entrepreneurs to deliver climate change
solutions, and US mobile network operator AT&T say the incorporation of these technologies will help
companies boost their profits by reducing waste and helping them to use energy, resources and time
more efficiently. What’s more, the M2M industry is expected to be a growth market in itself, supporting
other companies along its value chain - a series of activities performed by a firm in a specific industry
to deliver a product or service - and benefiting various other sectors, including IT. In this way, a move
towards the Internet of Things is set to drive revenue and create new jobs [37].

Using agriculture as an example, business strategy advisory firm the Boston Consulting Group and
the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, an organisation that seeks to build a more sustainable world
through ICT, claim M2M technology could save the industry 1.6 gigatonnes (or 1,600,000,000 tonnes)
of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020. Systems that enable farmers to accurately measure how much
their crops need irrigating and fertilising will cut emissions significantly, while wirelessly connected
monitoring equipment means governments can crack down on the destruction of rainforests. Signifi-
cant potential for emissions abatement is also presented by technology that decreases the volume
of land required to raise livestock and lowers their methane output [38].

Page 10

Future technology
In the technology sector, new innovations and advances are constantly being worked on as research
and development departments attempt to keep pace with consumer demand for improved perfor-
mance. Recognising that the Wi-Fi services of today are by no means the finished article, companies
are striving to improve everything from the speed of data transfers to the reach of existing wireless
propositions.

Using spectrum ‘white spaces’ for broadband delivery
In the UK, some future innovations are already being tested on a small scale. One such example is
‘white space’ technology, which works by utilising unused ‘gaps’ - or white spaces - that exist in bands
reserved for the delivery of digital TV services. BT, which expects the number of broadband ‘slow
spots’ to drop to just 3% of UK households by 2017, successfully trialled the technology on the Isle of
Bute in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and most recently extended the pilot scheme to St Newlyn East
in Cornwall [39].

As a means of broadband delivery, white space technology offers speeds of up to 8Mbps, with BT
able to connect ten farmers in Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute. Chris Gibbs, director of insight,
innovation and futures at Openreach, BT’s local access network division, says white space solutions
could augment rather than replace existing copper broadband networks.

“Although it has the same characteristics as copper - the further you go
the worse the signal gets - it goes a bit further, and that’s the advantage,”
he explains [40].
Ed Richards, chief executive of telecoms regulator Ofcom, is among the leading industry figures who
believe in the potential of white spaces to bring broadband to rural areas [41]. He predicts the tech-
nology will produce “very exciting innovations, while also making use of prime spectrum that would
otherwise lay fallow”.

Fast, faster, fastest: Wi-Fi delivered via ‘T-rays’
One of the most commonly cited concerns about relying on Wi-Fi as a true alternative for fixed-line
broadband is the issue of slower speeds. As fixed providers continue to make significant steps in
boosting headline speeds, scientists are working on ways to ensure Wi-Fi does not get left behind.

Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology succeeded in breaking the record for wireless rates,
transmitting data at 20 times the speed of the best commonly used Wi-Fi standard by making use
of an uncharted chunk of the electromagnetic spectrum. The unregulated ‘T-ray’ band - located
between the far-infrared and microwave regions of the spectrum - potentially contains huge swathes
of bandwidth that can be utilised for data transmission. By using this type of frequency, band speeds
can reach 3Gbps.

At the heart of the T-ray system is a 1mm² device called a resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) designed
to disperse waves in the terahertz band - that’s 10,000 times the frequency your average FM radio
station transmits on [42]. Although the research shows that the technology is still some way from
being commercially viable, the development of the RTD appears to have brought the delivery of ultra-
fast wireless internet via T-rays closer than ever before [43].

Page 11

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