The researchers of Korea have developed a technology to triple the frequency efficiency by using the vortex characteristics of radio waves, and laid the basis for more effective use of limited frequency resources.

Electronic and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has unveiled on March 22, that the Institute has developed ``frequency efficiency improvement technology`` that transmits data while rotating radio waves like a vortex using an antenna widely used for satellite communication earth station.


So far, the radio wave is considered to move only in one direction, vertical or horizontal, and the data is transmitted only in two directions. Therefore the frequency efficiency has been low. The researchers used the principle of ‘orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode’, in which the propagation travels along a specific orbit, just as the Earth revolves around the sun.

It is now possible to transmit different data based on the shape (mode) of each radio wave energy by varying the rotation frequency and the rotation direction at the same frequency, thereby improving the frequency utilization efficiency.

The researchers generated three radiated orbit angular momentum modes in a single antenna that do not turn right, left by using a ‘millimeter (mm) wave’ band (30-300 GHz). And it succeeded in generating the signal. The technology that can easily generate the angular momentum mode of various radio wave orbits has been secured, thereby improving the frequency utilization efficiency.

This technology can be applied to 5G mobile communication integrated network construction, satellite communication, high resolution radar, etc. The technology is expected to be commercialized within 4 years.


Byun Woo-jin, the head of Radio wave resource research group of ETRI stated, ‘We expect that the angular momentum mode of the orbits will increase the size of the receiving antenna if the transmission distance gets longer, and if it is solved, we will be able to accelerate the commercialization’.


Daejeon=By Lee Joon Gee bongchu@


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