ENGINEERING THE FUTURE (Produced by Discovery)

"A challenge to the unknown" - Underwater wireless optical communication

02.27.2025

"ENGINEERING THE FUTURE" delves into the stories of the engineers aspiring to create the technologies of tomorrow. In collaboration with Discovery, we explore the minds of engineers who embody a spirit of challenge and curiosity. Discover what kind of future they dream of at the intersection of advanced technology and a passion for creation.

At present, high-speed wireless communication, such as 5G, is mainstream on land. But underwater, radio waves attenuate significantly, and a sufficient communication environment has not been established. As a solution, attention has shifted towards using GaN^*1 (gallium nitride) lasers, which are less prone to attenuation in water and capable of transmitting large amounts of data at high speeds. The goal is to address the challenges of poor radio wave reception by employing high-efficiency, high-output lasers to create a new network based on next-generation high-speed wireless communication, known as Li-Fi^*2.

There are many useful expected applications for underwater wireless optical communication, including energy and infrastructure facility inspections, the development of the fishing industry, smart aquaculture, and monitoring of the marine environment. Many innovations are expected to be created based on this technology, and further developments are attracting attention.

*1: Gallium nitride. A next-generation semiconductor material used in light-emitting devices and power devices.
*2: Abbreviation for Light Fidelity. A communication technology that uses infrared light, etc., as opposed to Wi-Fi, which uses wireless radio waves.