ITU 232d ago

The mmWave and sub-THz spectrum is rapidly emerging as a foundation for next-generation wireless communication and sensing systems, driven by its immense bandwidth and sub-millimeter wavelengths. Yet, deployments face fundamental challenges: severe propagation loss, susceptibility to blockage, power-demanding PHY, and the breakdown of traditional far-field assumptions. Unlocking the full potential of these frontier frequencies demands physics-native solutions that capitalize on their unique properties. This talk presents an ultra-wideband retro-directive backscatter architecture above 100 GHz that departs from conventional large-scale antenna arrays and significantly reduces power consumption. The migration to higher frequencies, together with electronically large arrays, has extended the Fraunhofer limit from a few centimeters to several meters, placing many users into the electromagnetic near-field of future base stations. Despite decades of progress in wireless communications, this near-field regime remains largely unexplored. Programmable near-field beam shaping unlocks opportunities for communication and sensing. In particular, AI-assisted self-curving beams bend around obstacles, offering a path toward seamless connectivity in the presence of dynamic blockages. Finally, unprecedented application domains of mmWave/sub-THz sensing and imaging across disciplines such as agriculture and robotics highlight the transformative potential of these frontier bands. Speaker: Yasaman Ghasempour, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Princeton University​ Moderators: Ian F. Akyildiz, Editor-in-Chief, ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies (ITU-J FET)​​ Alessia Magliarditi, ITU Journal and ITU-T Academia Coordinator, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) This webinar is organized by the ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies (ITU J-FET), an international journal providing complete coverage of all communications and networking paradigms, free of charge for both readers and authors. The ITU Journal considers yet-to-be-published papers addressing fundamental and applied research. Open topics for future research will be discussed. See more information on the ITU Journal webinar series and the open Calls for Papers for the upcoming ITU Journal’s issues here. 👉 Discover the ITU Journal on Future and Evolving Technologies (ITU J-FET) here: https://itu.int/en/journal/j-fet/ 📅 Explore the full ITU Journal webinar series programme here: https://itu.int/en/journal/j-fet/webinars/ #ITU #ITUJFET