Laser-powered wireless hits 360 Gbps and uses half the energy of Wi-Fi

One emerging solution is optical wireless communication, which uses light instead of radio waves to transmit data. Light offers significantly more available bandwidth, avoids interference with existing wireless systems, and can be directed with high precision. These advantages make it especially appealing for indoor spaces like offices, homes, hospitals, data centers, and public venues where many users need fast connections at the same time.

In a study published in Advanced Photonics Nexus, researchers developed a compact optical wireless transmitter that delivers both extremely high speeds and improved energy efficiency. The system is built around a tiny chip containing an array of semiconductor lasers, combined with an optical design that carefully controls how light is distributed. Together, these components create a scalable platform for high-capacity indoor wireless communication.

Tiny Laser Array Sends Massive Data

At the core of the system is a custom-designed 5 × 5 array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, known as VCSELs. These infrared lasers are commonly used in data centers and sensing technologies because they are efficient and capable of operating at very high speeds. They can also be manufactured in large arrays using standard semiconductor fabrication methods.

Each laser in the array can be controlled independently and transmit its own stream of data. By running multiple lasers at the same time, the system dramatically increases total data capacity compared to a single light source. The entire array fits on a chip smaller than a millimeter, making it suitable for compact wireless access points and potentially small enough to integrate into devices such as smartphones.

The researchers produced the chip using established semiconductor techniques and mounted it on a custom circuit board. Early testing showed consistent performance across the array, with stable output and support for high-speed data transmission.

Record-Breaking Optical Wireless Speeds

To test the system, the team created a free-space optical link spanning two meters. Each laser transmitted data using a modulation method that splits information into multiple closely spaced frequency channels. This approach maximizes bandwidth efficiency and adapts to changes in signal quality.

Out of the 25 lasers, 21 were active during testing. Individual lasers reached data rates between roughly 13 and 19 gigabits per second. Combined, the system achieved a total data rate of 362.7 gigabits per second. This is among the highest reported speeds for a chip-scale optical wireless transmitter paired with a free-space receiver.

The researchers noted that performance was limited by the bandwidth of the commercial photodetector used in the experiment. With more advanced receivers, the same system could potentially reach even higher speeds.

Shaping Light for Multiuser Connections

Using many light beams at once introduces a key challenge: preventing overlap that can cause interference. To solve this, the researchers designed an optical system that precisely shapes and directs each beam.

A microlens array first aligns and straightens the light from each laser. Additional lenses then organize the beams into a structured grid of square illumination areas at the receiving surface. This layout ensures that each beam covers a specific region with minimal overlap.

Tests showed that the light distribution achieved more than 90 percent uniformity across the illuminated area at a distance of two meters. This structured approach allows different beams to be assigned to different users or devices within the same room.

The team also demonstrated multiuser capability by activating several lasers at once. In a test with four simultaneous beams, each connection remained stable, delivering a combined data rate of about 22 gigabits per second. The results confirm that multiple optical links can operate at the same time without significant interference.

Lower Energy Use Than Wi-Fi

Improving energy efficiency is critical as wireless data demand continues to rise. Traditional radio-based systems require more power to support higher speeds, increasing both costs and environmental impact.

The optical wireless system uses laser sources that are inherently energy efficient and capable of high-speed operation without complex power demands. As a result, it consumes much less energy per bit of transmitted data compared to conventional Wi-Fi systems. Measurements showed an energy use of about 1.4 nanojoules per bit, roughly half that of leading Wi-Fi technologies under similar conditions.

Complementing Existing Networks

Researchers emphasize that optical wireless technology is not meant to replace Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Instead, it can work alongside them, handling high-capacity data traffic in indoor environments and reducing congestion on radio-based systems.

Looking ahead, similar systems could be built into ceilings, lighting fixtures, or wireless access points, delivering fast, secure, and energy-efficient connections to many users simultaneously. By combining compact laser arrays, high-speed transmission, and precise optical control, this approach offers a practical path toward next-generation indoor wireless networks that deliver greater performance without increasing energy consumption.