A new laser-powered wireless system uses light to deliver data at speeds exceeding 360 Gbps. It could enable faster, more efficient indoor networks while reducing interference and energy use.

Modern life runs on fast, reliable wireless connections. Video calls, streaming, virtual reality, and connected devices all depend on networks that already support billions of users. Most of this data travels over radio-based systems like Wi-Fi and cellular networks. These technologies have powered decades of growth, but they are running into limits. Radio spectrum is becoming crowded, signals can interfere with each other in busy indoor spaces, and energy use keeps rising as more devices come online.

Using Light Instead of Radio Waves

One emerging solution is optical wireless communication, which sends data using light rather than radio waves. Light has a much larger available bandwidth than radio frequencies, does not interfere with existing wireless systems, and can be directed precisely to specific locations. These advantages make it especially appealing for indoor settings such as homes, offices, 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 designed to deliver both high speeds and improved energy efficiency. The system is built around a tiny chip containing an array of semiconductor lasers, along with an optical setup that controls how light is distributed to users. Together, these components create a scalable platform for high-capacity indoor wireless communication.

Tiny Laser Array Enables Parallel Data Transmission

At the core of the system is a custom 5 × 5 array of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, or VCSELs. These infrared lasers are commonly used in data centers and sensing technologies because they are efficient and can operate 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 many lasers at once, 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 even integration into devices like smartphones.

The researchers built the chip using established semiconductor processes and mounted it onto a custom circuit board. Early testing showed that the lasers operated consistently across the array, delivering stable output and supporting high-speed modulation.

Achieving 360 Gbps Optical Wireless Speeds

To test performance, the team created a free-space optical link spanning two meters. Each laser used a modulation method that splits data into many closely spaced frequency channels, allowing efficient use of bandwidth while adapting to signal variations.

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

The researchers noted that performance was limited by the commercial photodetector used in the setup. With faster receivers, the same system could likely achieve even higher speeds.

Shaping Light for Multiuser Wireless Access

Using multiple light beams at once introduces challenges. If beams overlap too much, they can interfere with each other and make it harder to separate data streams. To solve this, the team designed a compact optical system that carefully shapes and directs the emitted light.

A microlens array first aligns the light from each laser. Additional lenses then distribute the beams into a structured grid of square illumination zones at the receiver. This setup ensures each beam covers a specific area with minimal overlap.

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

The team also demonstrated multiuser operation by activating several lasers at once. In one test using four beams, each connection remained stable, and the system delivered a combined data rate of about 22 gigabits per second. These results show that multiple optical links can run simultaneously without significant interference.

Lower Energy Use Than Wi-Fi

Improving energy efficiency is critical as global data demand continues to rise. Traditional radio-based systems require more power to deliver higher speeds, which increases costs and environmental impact.

The optical wireless system uses laser sources that are inherently energy efficient and can operate at high speeds without complex amplification. As a result, the energy required to transmit each bit of data is significantly lower than in typical Wi-Fi systems. The researchers measured an energy use of about 1.4 nanojoules per bit, roughly half that of leading Wi-Fi technologies under similar conditions.

A Complement to Existing Wireless Networks

The researchers emphasize that optical wireless communication is not meant to replace Wi-Fi or cellular networks. Instead, it could work alongside them. Optical links could be deployed in indoor spaces where high data capacity is needed, helping to reduce congestion in radio-based networks.

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