- A team of Chinese scientists has achieved a 1 GBPS data transmission from a satellite
- The satellite operates 22,807 miles above ground while Starlink -Stellites are about 341 miles
- This kind of speed may be revolutionary for internet connections in remote areas on earth but also in space
It’s no secret that getting a stable, reasonably fast internet connection in non-surbane areas is still a challenge (and even those of us who live in cities sometimes fight). Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet Service, StarlinkGoing far towards making the Internet more accessible across the globe – but it was just largely overshadowed by a small team of Chinese researchers.
This new breakthrough within satellite -internet technology (via Interesting technique) Was obtained by Liu Chao from the Chinese Science Academy and Professor Wu Jian from Peking University of Posts and Telecommunications. The researchers developed a new method of combating the greatest obstacle that satellite laser connections face: Atmospheric turbulence.
Combining two already established technologies and using them in Synergy resulted in shockingly fast data transmission. But this is not just about speed (although it is arguably the best part for us, Internet users). It is also about the distance to the satellite and the ridiculously low watt of the laser used by the Chinese scientists.
Super -fast satella rifts with a surprisingly low error rate
An important advantage of this method lies in the relatively low error speed during data transmission, increasing the chance of achieving useful signals by almost 20%(formerly 72%, now 91.1%). As we all know, speeds are only part of the equation when it comes to internet connections, and anyone who has ever had to deal with an unreliable ISP knows that stable is often better than faster.
Still, Chinese scientists were reportedly able to achieve both through a mixture of adaptive optics (AO) and fashion diversity (MDR). The former sharpened light, and the latter prisoners scattered signals. Only when combined does these two separate methods, however, achieve 1 Gbps in data transmission, and the researchers praise this method for successfully avoiding drops in the quality of communication.
They performed the test at the Lijiang Observatory in China using a 5.9-foot telescope containing hundreds of small mirrors-it is the adaptive optics system in play. These mirrors transform inbound laser light to explain atmospheric turbulence. Speaking of lasers: The team used a two-watt laser for this experiment, which can be compared to a night light. Of course, this refers to laser power and not the total energy consumption of the satellite.
Once treated and extracted, the light is divided into eight basic mode channels, and eventually a special algorithm decides which of these channels is the most promising, in real time. Choosing the top three signals out of eight gave the researchers a big boost in the signal strength while dramatically surpassing Starlink’s downlink speeds – especially impressive considering the much larger orbital distance.
This can be good news for internet users all over the world (and beyond)
Comparison of this new breakthrough with Starlink reveals a few key differences. First, data transmission speed, which reaches up to 1 Gbps is not something that Starlink can currently achieve; In our StarLink review, we found that the average for downloads sat at 71 Mbps, and Starlink promises to deliver between 25 to 100 Mbps on the standard plan. Second, signal strength and reduced data transmission errors, despite the huge distance to the satellite, are both promising.
Cutting down on errors and snags in the connection is crucial for users who want to stream videos or send larger files. If this technology is ever made into mainstream, we may be able to use the Internet, even in remote areas without having to compromise on what we can or cannot do. Goodbye, and waited for five minutes for that text to get through – we really wouldn’t miss you.
But the consequences here are enormous, even if you think bigger than just having a reliable connection everywhere. Increasing signal speed, distance and strength through this method of laser communication could spell good news for satellite navigation. It can even affect the ability to connect to space missions, such as with ISS, more trouble -free and without delays.
Right now this is just a proof of concept – an interesting performance described in Acta Optica Sinica journal. Let’s hope this picks up and gives Starlink a serious race for his money.
