Chinese scientists make breakthrough in optical communication, 6G technology

A Chinese research team has developed an integrated communication system bridging optical fiber and wireless networks, setting a new world record for data transmission speed, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

The increasing demand for computing power in AI data centers and the development of next-generation 6G wireless networks require high-speed, low-latency signal transmission across diverse scenarios.

However, differences in signal architecture and hardware between optical fiber and wireless communication systems have made it difficult to achieve high-speed, compatible end-to-end transmission between the two systems on the same infrastructure, posing a major challenge for high-speed telecommunications networks.

The research team, comprising researchers from Peking University, the Peng Cheng Laboratory, ShanghaiTech University, and the National Optoelectronics Innovation Center, has developed a converged communication system that achieves single-channel signal transmission of 512 Gbps over optical fiber and 400 Gbps over wireless.

According to Wang Xingjun, one of the paper's corresponding authors at Peking University, the new system supports dual-mode transmission via both optical fiber and wireless networks, not only avoiding bandwidth limitations and noise accumulation but also enhancing anti-interference capabilities.

The team also simulated a large-scale 6G user access scenario, demonstrating multichannel real-time 8K video access across 86 channels, achieving a transmission bandwidth more than ten times that of the current 5G standard.

Beyond enabling ultra-large-capacity communication, the system exhibits excellent performance in terms of energy consumption, cost and scalability for large-scale deployment. The system's all-optical architecture enables seamless integration with existing optical networks, fostering deep convergence between mobile access networks and optical fiber networks.

Wang noted that the new system has significant application potential in scenarios such as 6G base stations and wireless data centers and could reshape the architecture of telecommunication systems, laying the foundation for next-generation ultra-broadband, high-speed integrated fiber-wireless communication.

Chinese scientists make breakthrough in optical communication, 6G technology

Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Monday.

As solemn music played and the golden doors slowly opened, Xi and Vucic entered the hall together, followed by Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Vucic's wife Tamara Vucic.

Applauding guests rose to their feet, and paid respect to the two heads of state.

A Guard of Honor escorted the Friendship Medal into the hall, and amid solemn music, Xi formally presented the medal to Vucic.

Xi highlighted Vucic's long-standing commitment to advancing China-Serbia friendship and underscored the significance of the honor.

"President Vucic has long stayed committed to China-Serbia friendship, and he has always given China the firmest and clearest support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. He gains the respect from the Chinese people. This medal is not only a high recognition of President Vucic's contributions to bilateral friendship, but also carries the earnest expectations of both peoples for building a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi said.

The Friendship Medal is China's highest state honor for foreigners, reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive, promoting exchange and cooperation between China and the world, and safeguarding world peace.

At the invitation of Xi, Vucic is on a state visit to China from Sunday to Thursday, with this marking his first state visit to China and his ninth trip to the country overall.

Xi awards Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic China's friendship medal