Keysight extends beyond 5G with participation in 6G flagship program

The next generation of wireless communications is expected to leverage spectrum above millimeter waves.

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/keysight-extends-beyond-5g-participation-6g-flagship-program

by Monica Alleven

While the wireless industry is firmly entrenched in deploying 5G networks—and in many cases, busy debunking myths surrounding it—plenty of academics and others are exploring what’s going to happen after 5G.

Test and measurement company Keysight Technologies, which has been there throughout the 5G standards process and even before that, recently announced that it has joined the multi-party 6G Flagship Program supported by the Academy of Finland and led by the University of Oulu, Finland.

Keysight actually has had a long relationship with Oulu University and has an R&D team based in Oulu, according to Roger Nichols, 5G program manager at Keysight, so it’s not as if this is coming out of the blue. According to a press release, however, Keysight is the only test and measurement provider thus far invited to take part in the program.

Keysight said its early research capability, complemented by a range of software and hardware for design, simulation and validation, will help the program accomplish its overarching goals. Those goals include supporting the industry in finalizing the adoption of 5G across verticals, developing fundamental technologies needed to enable 6G such as artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent UX, and speeding digitalization of society.

The next generation of wireless communications is expected to leverage spectrum above millimeter waves. The terahertz waves, from 300 GHz to 3 THz, form an important component in delivering data rates of up to one terabit per second and ultra-low latencies, but they are still very much in the experimental territory.

“A lot of what’s happening up there now is still in the research phase because as you can imagine in those higher frequencies, it’s challenging to get things to work the way you want them,” Nichols told FierceWirelessTech. “We’ve been involved in that territory for quite a while,” having sub-100 GHz capability in its equipment for decades and using third-parties to extend that up into the terahertz range.

It’s not just about higher frequencies but what can be done with the wide bandwidths. For the sake of 6G, “really this is about: can we get an even wider bandwidth to deal with new applications that we haven’t thought about that have a demand for data rates that are well beyond anything we’re considering for 5G?” he said. “Obviously, going to terahertz super wide bandwidth is only part of 6G, just like millimeter wave is only part of 5G.”

Nichols points to an ITU Network 2030 white paper that describes the Network 2030 initiative and provides a comprehensive analysis of the applications, network, and infrastructure envisioned for the next big wireless transformation. That paper points to holographic type communications, multi-sense networks, time-engineered applications and critical infrastructure as emerging applications or use cases.

But nobody is suggesting it's a good idea to get ahead of themselves. Part of Keysight’s success in 5G was getting involved early and knowing where that technology was headed and the tools that are needed, plus developing relationships with academia and industry. “Clearly, we’re going to spend our time ensuring that we stay on top of that business opportunity, which is far from being over,” he said.

Nokia leading effort to push for spectrum above 95 GHz

https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/nokia-leading-effort-to-push-for-spectrum-above-95-ghz

Nokia is joining together with other technology leaders, including Virginia Diodes and Keysight Technologies, in becoming founding members of the mmWave Coalition, which will advocate for the use of radio frequencies above 95 GHz at the FCC, other U.S. government agencies and the ITU.

“The mmWave Coalition member companies are united in the objective of removing regulatory barriers to technologies and using frequencies ranging from 95 GHz to 450 GHz,” wrote Nokia’s Paul Norkus in a blog post.

“While 5G and possibly even 6G(!) might look at these as potential frequency bands to use, the Coalition is not limiting itself to supporting any particular use or technology," Norkus said. "Instead, it is working to create a regulatory structure for these frequencies that would encompass all technologies and all possible uses, limited only by the constraints of physics, innovation and the imagination.”

RELATED: Nokia plans to conduct 90-96 GHz tests

The coalition has an ally at the head of the FCC, so that should make its job a little easier.

During a speech at Carnegie Mellon University in March, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai noted that frequencies above 95 GHz haven’t traditionally been used for mobile wireless technologies.

“But I believe that, instead of having regulators decide which frequencies are useful, we should put spectrum out there as a testbed and leave it to the innovators to figure out how to use it,” Pai said at the time. “Applications for experimentation above the 95 GHz band could qualify for Section 7 treatment. And this determination, in turn, could accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge wireless services and other innovations.”

RELATED: Editor's Corner—U.S. risks ceding leadership if it remains passive about 95 GHz+

There are others advocating for this spectrum to get unleashed. In January of this year, industry consultant Michael Marcus, head of Marcus Spectrum Solutions and retired associate chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology, gave a presentation (PDF) to FCC staffers about the importance of opening 95-475 GHz to commercial use and the technical and policy challenges.

The presentation noted that NTT used a 125 GHz system at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and that the mission of ETSI ISG mWT is to promote the use of millimeter wave spectrum from 50 GHz up to 300 GHz for present and future critical transmission applications and use cases.  

Possible uses of spectrum at 95-450 GHz include point-to-point terrestrial communications.

Meanwhile, in comments (PDF) to the FCC related to spectrum bands above 24 GHz, Brown University School of Engineering Professor Daniel Mittleman said that for over 20 years, his area of specialization has been the science and technology of submillimeter and terahertz waves and their uses in spectroscopy, imaging and sensing. He and his colleagues feel strongly that this region of the spectrum is poised to have an enormous economic impact—a feeling that’s based on the rapid pace of technological progress in the field, as well as the “astounding acceleration in recent interest on the part of many companies, both in the U.S. and abroad.”

One solution that’s gaining favor among researchers, as well as groups such as the IEEE 802.15 WPAN Terahertz Interest Group (IGTHz), is the idea of developing new network capabilities, not to replace, but to supplement the existing cellular architecture, according to Mittleman.

Keysight Technologies, Virginia Diodes, Inc. Selected by Chalmers University of Technology to Create World’s First System for Network,Spectrum Analysis up to 1.5 THz

Measurement Capabilities Enable Deeper Insights as Chalmers Pursues Research into New Materials, Devices and Circuits

Highlights:

• Unique capabilities enhance free-space, on-wafer and waveguide measurements of materials, devices and circuits at terahertz frequencies
• Solution uses Keysight’s PNA-X microwave network analyzer (10 MHz to 67 GHz) with integrated spectrum analysis capabilities
• External extension modules from Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI) provide frequency coverage from 50 GHz to 1.5 THz

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161004005540/en/Keysight-Technologies-Virginia-Diodes-Selected-Chalmers-University

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS) today announced that it has collaborated with Virginia Diodes, Inc. (VDI) to create a 1.5 THz measurement solution for Chalmers University of Technology, a leading research university located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Already up and running in Chalmers’ national laboratory for terahertz characterization, this industry-first solution provides network and spectrum analysis capabilities for research on new materials, devices, and circuits for applications at micro-, millimeter- and sub-millimeter-wave frequencies.

Chalmers’ researchers are working in the terahertz gap between radio waves and infrared light. The measurement equipment from Keysight Technologiesprovides new capabilities that are enhancing their work with free-space, on-wafer and waveguide measurements in the terahertz gap.

The system is built around the Keysight PNA-X microwave network analyzer, which covers 10 MHz to 67 GHz and reaches 1.5 THz with external extension modules from VDI. Achieving insightful understanding of device performance and behavior requires network and spectrum measurements, and the PNA family is the first to provide integrated spectrum analysis capability that reaches into the terahertz range. The ability to access both capabilities in a single test setup—and make multiple measurements through one set of connections—saves time and enhances insight.

“Working in concert with VDI, we’re proud to be Chalmers’ solution provider of choice for terahertz network and spectrum measurements,” said Gregg Peters, vice president of Keysight’s Aerospace & Defense Solutions Group. “As we keep reaching higher in frequency, our history of innovation will continue to enable new breakthroughs in science and technology.”

“We are pleased to provide this premier research institution with extension modules that enable world-class science and engineering,” added Tom Crowe, president and CEO of VDI. “It’s another example of our ongoing work to open the terahertz spectrum for commercial and scientific applications.”

Additional information is available at www.keysight.com/find/1.5THZ.

About Chalmers University of Technology

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and offers education in technology, science, shipping and architecture in pursuit of its global vision for a sustainable future. Chalmers is well known for providing an effective environment for innovation and has eight priority areas of international significance: Building futures; energy; information and communication technology; life science engineering; materials science; nanoscience and nanotechnology; production; and transport. Additional information is available atwww.chalmers.se/en.

About Virginia Diodes, Inc.

VDI’s mission is to make the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum as useful for scientific, military and commercial applications as the microwave and infrared bands are today. VDI manufactures state-of-the-art test and measurement equipment for millimeter-wave and terahertz applications. These products include extension modules that take the capabilities of high-performance microwave measurement tools—vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and signal generators—to higher frequencies. More information is available at www.vadiodes.com.

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS) helps customers bring breakthrough electronic products and systems to market faster and at a lower cost. Keysight’s solutions go where the electronic signal goes, from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in the network. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, internet infrastructure, aerospace & defense, automotive, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $2.9B in fiscal year 2015. More information is available at www.keysight.com.

Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at www.keysight.com/go/news.

Contacts

Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Janet Smith, +1 970-679-5397 (Americas)
janet_smith@keysight.com
Twitter: @KeysightJSmith
or
Sarah Calnan, +44 (118) 927 5101 (Europe)
sarah_calnan@keysight.com
or
Connie Wong, +852 3197-7818 (Asia)
connie-ky_wong@keysight.com

Agilent Technologies Reveals Name of Electronic Measurement Spin-Off Company

Keysight Technologies Reflects Ability to Unlock Measurement Insights for Engineers

http://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/21317

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today revealed the name of the electronic measurement company it expects to spin off in early November 2014 as Keysight Technologies.

The name Keysight conveys the ability to see what others cannot, offering the critical or key insights to understand and unlock the changing technology landscape. The new company's tagline, "unlocking measurement insights for 75 years," commemorates the 1939 birth of the original Hewlett-Packard Company, from which Keysight originated.

"Keysight reflects our rich heritage-a direct line from both Hewlett-Packard's standards of integrity and innovation and Agilent's premier measurement business," said Ron Nersesian, president and CEO of Keysight.

"This name captures the spirit of our organization-innovative, insightful and forward-looking," said Nersesian, who added, "While Keysight is built on 'firsts' dating back to the birth of Silicon Valley, as a new company we are committed to bringing our customers a new generation of firsts-unlocking insights for them so they can in turn bring a new generation of technologies into the world."

Keysight will concentrate solely on the electronic measurement industry, focusing on its test and measurement customers. The business, currently a part of Agilent, is the world leader in test and measurement, holding the No. 1 position in its industry segments of wireless data ecosystem; aerospace and defense; and industrial, computers and semiconductors. The new company will include the entire portfolio of Agilent electronic measurement products and the largest sales and support team in the test and measurement industry.

Expected to become a standalone company in early November 2014, Keysight will be headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., and have approximately 9,500 employees in 30 countries.

The company's website is www.keysight.com

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in chemical analysis, life sciences, diagnostics, electronics and communications. The company's 20,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries. Agilent had revenues of $6.8 billion in fiscal 2013. Information about Agilent is available at www.agilent.com.

On Sept. 19, 2013, Agilent announced plans to separate into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff of its electronic measurement business. The new company is named Keysight Technologies, Inc. The separation is expected to be completed in early November 2014