Record data transmission speed set

Japanese scientists say they've broken the record for wireless data transmission, achieving a rate 20 times higher than the best commonly used WiFi standard.

Researchers from the Tokyo Institute of Technology focused on frequencies in the terahertz band, as consumers seeking high data rates have overwhelmed standard lower-frequency bands.

Writing in Electronics Letters, the researchers said the so-called "T-Ray" band could offer large capacity for data transmission, the BBC reported Wednesday.

Occupying the region between microwave and far-infrared on the spectrum, the terahertz band is presently not regulated by telecommunications agencies.

Its most common current use is in research, as terahertz waves can penetrate many materials as effectively as X-rays but cause less damage because they penetrate with less energy.

Although terahertz WiFi would be limited in range to about 30 feet, it could support data rates up to 100 gigabytes per second, around 15 times higher than the next-generation 802.11ac WiFi standard currently being worked on.