Terahertz technology could deliver 6G speeds—up to 100 times faster than 5G—over landscapes where fibre cannot be installed.
For many Canadians living in rural and remote areas, reliable high-speed internet remains out of reach. While urban centres enjoy fast, secure wireless connectivity, sparsely populated regions often face slow speeds, limited coverage and high costs, creating a digital divide that limits access to education, healthcare, business opportunities and community connections.
The NRC's High-throughput and Secure Networks (HTSN) Challenge program is tackling this inequality head-on by developing innovative technologies to deliver affordable, secure broadband where traditional infrastructure is too costly or impractical. One promising solution is terahertz (THz) wireless communications.
Why THz technology matters
Since mobile networks emerged in the late 1970s, each new generation—from 1G to 5G—has transformed how we communicate, work and live. But these advances have not reached all Canadians equally. Fibre-based systems, while powerful, are expensive to deploy over rugged terrain and across vast distances, leaving many communities without reliable access.
THz communications operate in a largely unused part of the electromagnetic spectrum, where frequencies are measured in trillions of cycles per second. This technology could deliver 6G speeds—up to 100 times faster than 5G—over landscapes where fibre cannot be installed, enabling secure, high-capacity data transfer.
For rural and remote regions, this means increased access to high-speed internet without fibre, bringing services like telehealth, online education and remote business operations within reach, and access to reliable connections across difficult terrain, from Northern communities to coastal areas.
From lab to real-world impact
NRC researchers, in collaboration with the University of Ottawa, Canadian fibre optics firm OZ Optics Ltd., and a Canadian technical consulting company, are working to design and prototype a compact THz receiver paired with compatible transmitters.
Dr. Angela Gamouras from the NRC's Quantum and Nanotechnologies Research Centre explains: "Terahertz channels can deliver high-speed communications over rough terrain where traditional infrastructure isn't possible. This technology could be key to connecting communities that have been left behind."
The team's approach combines 2 proven THz technologies—a compact THz time-domain spectrometer and a single-photon detection technique—to create a sensitive, compact apparatus that works across distances and humidity levels. Much of the system is built from off-the-shelf components, keeping costs low and making deployment more feasible.
Overcoming challenges
THz technology is complex to design and fabricate, and signals can be affected by weather conditions such as rain or high humidity. The research team is rigorously testing how far signals can travel and under what environmental circumstances they remain reliable. Early results show promising performance over several metres, with potential for extended ranges through ongoing development.
A step toward equal access
By unlocking an unused part of the spectrum, THz technology could transform connectivity for underserved regions. Beyond rural broadband, it offers applications in secure short-range communications within buildings—ideal for hospitals, conference centres or government facilities. Ultimately, the prime motivator is to close Canada's digital divide and ensure that every community—no matter how remote—can access the opportunities that come with fast, secure internet. As Ömür Sezerman, president of OZ Optics, puts it: "Partnering with the NRC and the University of Ottawa allows us to take groundbreaking research and make it practical in the real world, where it can truly change lives."
This research was supported by grants and contributions awarded through the Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation program (CSTIP), administered by the NRC's National Program Office.