Kyocera claims 5.2 Gbps underwater laser data blast in lab tests

Kyocera has demonstrated underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) technology that achieved 5.2 Gbps in lab tests, targeting video feeds and sensor data for ocean exploration and underwater robotics.

The Japanese corp aims to enable real-time, large-volume data transmission for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and drones used in marine surveys, structural inspections, and resource exploration.

Underwater communication faces significant challenges: acoustic systems manage only a few Kbps, while radio frequency delivers a few Mbps at short range. Military submarines use very low frequency radio waves to communicate over long distances while submerged, understood to support data rates of only about 300 bits per second.

The system Kyocera tested is currently limited to short distances, however, the company is aiming to extend the range and achieve higher data rates with ongoing research.

In laboratory tests using freshwater, the research ...