KAUST, in collaboration with KSU and KFUPM, is working on a project initiated by the Saudi Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) to expand mobile communication coverage in remote areas of the Kingdom. The study explores utilizing the sub-700 MHz ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band, potentially reassigning it from television broadcast to mobile telecommunication networks. This band's long wavelength radio waves can travel further and penetrate obstacles more easily, reducing network infrastructure costs. Why it matters: This initiative could bridge the digital divide in Saudi Arabia by providing affordable mobile connectivity to underserved communities.
KAUST researchers published a paper in Nature Electronics outlining communications infrastructure enhancements for 6G to provide global internet access and bridge the digital divide. They propose innovations like aerial access networks, intelligent spectrum management, and energy efficiency improvements. In a separate IEEE paper, KAUST and Missouri S&T researchers demonstrate approaches for improving network throughput using UAVs and balloons in areas lacking terrestrial infrastructure. Why it matters: The research addresses the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of universal internet access and aims to bring connectivity to underserved populations, enabling access to essential services and opportunities.
A KAUST student blog post discusses optical wireless communications (OWC) as a solution to radio frequency exhaustion. OWC uses optical frequencies to carry electrical signals, offering advantages like high data rates and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Free-space optical (FSO) communication, a type of OWC, is applicable for inter-building connections and has seen use cases such as broadcasting during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Why it matters: OWC research and deployment in the region can support high-bandwidth applications and provide cost-effective connectivity solutions, especially in challenging environments or disaster scenarios.
KAUST, in collaboration with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) and Meta, has launched a Terragraph Wi-Fi project to bring high-speed internet to the Modern Architectural Contracting Company (MACC) camp near KAUST. The project utilizes Meta's Terragraph technology, a gigabit wireless system operating in the 57-71GHz band, to provide a low-cost, high-speed alternative to fiber. Weather stations will monitor climate variables affecting the hybrid RF/FSO links, validating KAUST's research in extreme bandwidth communication. Why it matters: This deployment demonstrates a practical solution for delivering affordable, high-speed internet access to underserved communities in the region, leveraging advanced wireless technologies and KAUST's research capabilities.
KAUST Ph.D. student Qurrat-Ul-Ain Nadeem received a 2018 Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar Award for her work in full-dimension (FD) massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission technology. Nadeem's research could more than double the average throughput performance of existing wireless communication systems through 3D beamforming. Her work establishes a link between the industry's vision for FD-MIMO and the theoretical study of 3-D beamforming. Why it matters: This award recognizes young researchers in Saudi Arabia and highlights KAUST's role in promoting science and technology in the region, especially for women in STEM.