The next generation of satellite networks will operate at unprecedented data rates, reaching beyond 100 Gbps per link to support emerging applications from real-time Earth observation to space-based internet connectivity. Achieving this requires a fundamental shift from traditional RF and Ka-band systems toward millimeter wave and sub-Terahertz frequencies, where spectral resources are abundant but technical challenges are formidable.

This seminar explores the evolution from mmWave to sub-THz communications in the context of Low Earth Orbit satellite systems, presenting both theoretical foundations and practical implementation through the TeraLink mission. The first section examines the sub-THz spectrum (100 GHz – 10 THz), including propagation models specific to space environments, hardware technology and architectures for high-frequency transceivers, and the unique opportunities for Integrated Sensing and Communication.

The second section presents TeraLink, the world’s first sub-THz CubeSat communication system operating at 220 GHz. With $1.4M in funding from NASA, AFRL, and NSF, TeraLink will be the first research platform for in-orbit experimental sub-THz research. We will detail the Antenna array design, RF frontend design, FPGA-based signal processing architecture, link budget analysis accounting for orbital mechanics, and the pathway from laboratory prototype to on-orbit demonstration. This mission serves as a critical stepping stone toward 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks, where sub-THz frequencies will enable multi-terabit satellite constellations.

About Sergi Aliaga

Sergi Aliaga is a PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering in the Ultrabroadband Nanonetworking Laboratory, part of the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things at Northeastern University, Boston, MA. His research focuses on enabling ultra-broadband communications for next-generation Non-Terrestrial Networks, with emphasis on millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) frequencies for 5G-Advanced and 6G systems. His work spans challenges across all protocol stack, from the physical layer to the network layer and beyond.

Born in Barcelona, Sergi earned BS degrees in Telecommunications Engineering and Industrial Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in 2021. During his undergraduate studies, he was a visiting researcher at MIT’s Engineering Systems Laboratory, where he worked on intelligent resource allocation algorithms for massive satellite constellations.

His work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and awards at major conference venues and journals. Beyond his academic research, he also possesses

substantial experience in the space industry through positions at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the European Space Agency, and SES Satellite.

Este evento se impartirá en inglés