Advanced Sub-TeraHertz-to-TeraHertz and Free-Space-Optical Wireless Transceivers and Networks for Future IMT-2020/5G Radio Interface Technologies

标准化机构称为 IMT-2020 的未来第五代 (5G) 蜂窝网络将必须适应前所未有的移动数据洪流。此外，它们预计将支持增强型移动宽带（eMBB）、大规模机器类型通信（mMTC）和超可靠低延迟通信（URLLC）服务。为此，至关重要的是通过今天转向 mmWave（毫米波）频谱来扩展严重拥挤的无线电频段。该项目的目标是通过超越毫米波频段并开发新的支持 THz 和 FSO（自由空间光学）的收发器和网络来创新并解决频谱短缺的挑战，从而更能够满足 5G 及更高版本的严格要求。 5G 中设想的具有多层小区和多种无线接入技术（多 RAT）的超密集异构网络（HetNet）无疑会加剧太赫兹和 FSO 频段无线通信中的挑战性问题。为了实现这一关键目标，我们将受益于学术团队成熟的研究专业知识和记录，以及贝尔、爱立信、InterDigital、罗杰斯和 TELUS 等工业合作伙伴的宝贵支持。我们将通过开发新的亚太赫兹到太赫兹信道模型（FSO频段中的信道模型已经成熟），将这些频段的通信集成到新的链路和系统级模拟器中，评估此类通信的性能，并通过新颖的通信技术和协议进行相应的创新，为太赫兹和FSO收发器和网络的设计奠定基础。我们将提供关于最佳权衡/配置的新见解：i) 考虑不同的指标（性能、成本、覆盖范围、延迟等），因此，ii) 与设备制造商和服务提供商都相关。我们还将根据该项目的成果发布新的监管建议，以供支持组织代表加拿大为标准化工作做出贡献。我们将为加拿大工业培训准备就业的高素质人才做出重大贡献。

Future fifth generation (5G) cellular networks known by standardization bodies as IMT-2020 will have to accommodate an unprecedented mobile data deluge. Besides, they are expected to support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) services. To do so, it was crucial to extend the heavily crowded radio frequency band by moving today to the mmWave (millimeter wave) spectrum. The goal of this project is to innovate and tackle the spectrum shortage challenge by going far above the mmWave band and by developing new THz- and FSO (free space optical)-enabled transceivers and networks much more able to meet the stringent demands of 5G and beyond. Challenging issues in THz- and FSO-band wireless communications are certainly exacerbated by the envisioned presence in 5G of ultra-dense heterogeneous networks (HetNet) with multitier cells and multiple radio access technologies (multi-RAT). To meet this key objective, we will benefit from the very well-established research expertise and record of the academic team and the invaluable support of its industrial partners: Bell, Ericsson, InterDigital, Rogers, and TELUS. We will lay the foundation for the design of THz- and FSO-transceivers and networks by developing new sub-THz to THz channel models (those in FSO bands being well-established), integrating communications in these bands into new link- and system-level simulators, assessing the performance of such communications, and innovating accordingly with novel communication techniques and protocols. We will provide new insights into the best tradeoffs/configurations that: i) account for different metrics (performance, cost, coverage, latency, etc.) and, hence, ii) are relevant both to equipment manufacturers and service providers. We will also issue new regulatory recommendations stemming from the project's results for exploitation by supporting organizations in their contributions to standardization efforts on behalf of Canada. And we will significantly contribute to the training of job-ready highly qualified personnel for the Canadian industry.