MINTS: Looking ahead to the future

The European project has presented an introductory video about their research, explaining about B5G applications and how they will impact our future daily life

16 February 2021

We are all getting used to mobile video, useful for supporting our favorite applications from Netflix to YouTube to Zoom or Teams meetings. More is possible with digital communication technology, such as immersive experiences, virtual and augmented reality, safe autonomous cars, and the Internet of Things. To enable these demanding applications, wireless technology will have to rely on the mmWave spectrum. While this part of the spectrum has the potential to carry up to 100 times more bits than possible with currently used spectrum-frequences, these fragile frequencies were not yet used to date as they are simply absorbed by the oxygen in our atmosphere, and blocked by all obstacles larger than a few millimeters. The MINTS researchers (Joerg Widmer is Principal Investigator for IMDEA Networks) are finding solutions to work around these limitations, and the video explains everything needed to know about using and enabling mmWave communication.

This beyond 5G technology will provide even larger capacity, more diverse applications, such as very precise indoor location and radar, in addition to communication. With challenges as the following:

1) Building up a highly skilled labour force in the mmWave technology sector.

2) Mitigating the impact of network dynamics and density on the performance and resilience of mmWave networks.

3) Advancing mmWave technology in order to leverage it in emerging EU and international markets.

Project financing: European Union H2020-MSCA-ITN-2019 (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks)