Spectrum Above 90 GHz for Wireless Connectivity: Opportunities and Challenges for 6G

The spectrum above 90 GHz is foreseen as a key enabler for the next generation of mobile networks. The large amount of spectrum paves the way for high capacity wireless links. Many challenges still need to be overcome to make this technology a success. This article describes some of the scenarios for the spectrum above 90 GHz, coveted by the cellular industry for 6G. A benchmark of semiconductor technologies is discussed to highlight promising candidates and channel-bonding architectures as a suitable option for the implementation of extremely broadband RF radios with acceptable power consumption. Opportunities, challenges and some recent experimental results of D-Band transceivers implemented in CMOS technologies are discussed.