It is expected that 6G communication technology will achieve a peak data rate capability of 1 Tbit/s. One way of reaching this goal is to employ THz frequencies for carrying wireless signals. THz frequencies have large continuous bandwidths which allow for high data rate signals. In order to support the development of THz communications and accompanying technologies, a 6G THz Communications Testbed has been set-up at the National Physical Laboratory. In this paper, the best signal performance for a variety of different baud rates and modulation schemes is explored for both a direct connection between the waveform generator and measuring oscilloscope and for several different Over-The-Air (OTA) path lengths up to 4 m specular Non-Line-of-Sight. For the direct connection, signals of up to 210 Gbit/s were achieved and data rates of up to 150 Gbit/s were achieved for OTA transmission.

Measurements are presented from a purpose-built outdoor test facility for the assurance of situational awareness sensors for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs). The testbed included meteorological instrumentation for an accurate high-resolution picture of weather traversing the site. Static targets at ranges up to 250 m were observed simultaneously with multiple radar, LiDAR and camera systems exposed to the natural weather events over a two-year period. The aim of the testbed was to collect data over a prolonged period of time to ensure the maximum amount of variation in weather was encountered. Uniquely, the testbed treats the measurement of weather as an equal metrology challenge to that of measuring the CAV sensor response with the aim of understanding the extent to which it is possible to quantitatively correlate sensor performance degradation with weather parameters. In this paper case study examples of the testbed data for rainfall, fog and ‘ideal’ neutral conditions have been analysed. Correlations between sensor performance degradation and weather parameters were observed in several cases, including comparisons with rain rate and MOR (visibility). However, large uncertainties and complex interactions between weather-related performance reduction and secondary weather effects, like sensor window and target surface wetting, make an explicit determination of the severity at which a weather condition causes a sensor to become untrustworthy, problematic.

Passive Optical Networks (PON) are widely used to deliver fixed line communication due to their cost effectiveness and potential for high data transfer rates. However, due to the nature of their operation, every user on a PON system has access to every other user’s downstream data. Current progress in quantum computing means that the classical encryption algorithms currently used to secure communication data, including PON data, may not be sufficient in the future and so, for total information security another encryption solution, such as Quantum Key Distribution, must be found. This paper outlines the different variations of QKD on PON that have so far been proposed and summarises the current state of the art of experimental demonstrations of QKD on PON.