TERAPOD · Project

Terahertz Wireless Links Enabling 1Tbps Speeds for Data Centres and Beyond-5G Networks

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Imagine your Wi-Fi is a two-lane road — it gets jammed during rush hour. Now imagine building a hundred-lane highway using a completely new part of the radio spectrum that nobody has used before. That's what TERAPOD did with terahertz waves, pushing wireless speeds toward 1 terabit per second. The team built working demos that beam data across short distances inside data centres, replacing the tangle of cables that currently connects servers.

By the numbers

1Tbps

Target wireless transmission speed

Consortium partners

Countries represented

Industry partners in consortium

SMEs in consortium

55%

Industry ratio in consortium

Total project deliverables

Demo deliverables built

The business problem

What needed solving

Data centres are hitting physical limits with cable-based interconnects — more servers mean more cables, more cooling, more cost, and more points of failure. Current wireless alternatives lack the bandwidth to replace wired connections for high-speed server-to-server communication. The telecom industry also faces spectrum saturation as 5G rolls out, with no clear path to the next major speed leap.

The solution

What was built

The team built 4 demonstration systems: a final point-to-point bench demonstrator proving terahertz links work, a final integrated data centre demonstrator showing the technology in a realistic server environment, and two simulation demonstrators for modelling broader deployment scenarios. In total, 32 deliverables were produced covering components, protocols, and measurements.

Audience

Who needs this

Hyperscale data centre operators (AWS, Google, Microsoft Azure)5G/6G telecom equipment manufacturers (Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei)Cloud service providers expanding HPC infrastructureData centre design and consulting firmsSemiconductor companies developing THz components

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Data Centre Operations

enterprise

Target: Data centre operators and colocation providers

If you are a data centre operator dealing with cable congestion between server racks and the cost of maintaining thousands of physical connections — this project developed a terahertz wireless link demonstrator that replaces short-range cables with ultra-fast wireless beams targeting 1Tbps speeds. The final integrated data centre demonstrator proved feasibility in a realistic rack-to-rack scenario with 11 consortium partners validating the approach.

Telecommunications Equipment

enterprise

Target: 5G/6G equipment manufacturers and network vendors

If you are a telecom equipment maker planning your beyond-5G product roadmap — this project developed terahertz components and communication protocols that push wireless bandwidth far past current limits. With 4 demo deliverables including point-to-point bench demonstrations, TERAPOD provides a tested technology foundation for next-generation wireless access products.

High-Performance Computing

enterprise

Target: Cloud service providers and HPC facility operators

If you are a cloud provider struggling with internal network bottlenecks between compute nodes — this project demonstrated terahertz wireless links that could eliminate physical cabling constraints in dense computing environments. The consortium included 6 industry partners across 5 countries who validated the technology from component level through to integrated data centre deployment.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt terahertz wireless technology in our data centre?

The project did not publish cost estimates for commercial deployment. As a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), TERAPOD focused on proving technical feasibility rather than commercial pricing. Early adoption would likely involve custom hardware from the consortium's industry partners.

Can this technology scale to a full data centre or large network?

TERAPOD demonstrated the technology at bench level (point-to-point) and in an integrated data centre proof of concept. Scaling to full production environments would require further engineering, but the 4 demo deliverables show the path from simulation through to physical deployment is viable.

Who owns the IP and can we license this technology?

The consortium of 11 partners across 5 countries jointly developed the technology under EU Horizon 2020 rules. IP ownership follows the consortium agreement. Companies interested in licensing should contact the coordinator at South East Technological University in Ireland.

How does terahertz compare to existing data centre networking?

Current data centre interconnects rely on fibre optic cables and copper, which create physical routing constraints. Terahertz wireless targets 1Tbps speeds over short distances, potentially eliminating cable management overhead. The technology is designed for the beyond-5G timeframe.

When could this be commercially available?

The project ran from 2017 to 2021 and delivered bench-level and data centre demonstrators. Based on available project data, the technology is at proof-of-concept stage and would need additional development and standardization work before commercial products emerge, likely aligned with 6G deployment timelines.

Is this technology proven or still experimental?

TERAPOD produced 32 deliverables including 4 demonstration systems: a point-to-point bench demonstrator, two simulation demonstrators, and a final integrated data centre demonstrator. This puts it beyond pure research but still before commercial readiness.

What regulatory approvals would be needed?

Terahertz spectrum allocation is still being defined by international regulators for communications use. Based on the project's focus on beyond-5G applications, commercial deployment would depend on spectrum licensing decisions that are currently in progress globally.

Consortium

Who built it

TERAPOD assembled a strong industry-weighted consortium with 11 partners across 5 countries (Germany, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, UK). With 6 industry partners and 4 SMEs making up 55% of the team, the project had significant commercial orientation for a research action. The consortium balanced 4 universities providing deep THz expertise with industry players positioned to carry the technology toward products. South East Technological University in Ireland coordinated the effort, bringing academic rigor while industry partners ensured practical relevance in data centre and telecom applications.

SOUTH EAST TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYCoordinator · IE
NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITEDparticipant · UK
INESC TEC - INSTITUTO DE ENGENHARIADE SISTEMAS E COMPUTADORES, TECNOLOGIA E CIENCIAparticipant · PT
VLC PHOTONICS SLparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BRAUNSCHWEIGparticipant · DE
VIVID COMPONENTS LTDparticipant · UK
EMC INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANYparticipant · IE
ACST GMBHparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOWparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDONparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

South East Technological University, Ireland — reach out to the THz communications research group

Order a report on this consortium See SOUTH EAST TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore terahertz wireless technology for your data centre or telecom infrastructure? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the TERAPOD research team and help evaluate fit for your specific use case.

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