6G-ADLANTIK

The 6G-ADLANTIK project is part of Germany’s broader effort to shape the development of sixth-generation mobile communications and strengthen technological sovereignty in Europe. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with a total project volume of €7.49 million. The project ran from November 2022 to October 2025. Its starting point is the recognition that future 6G applications in industry, medical technology, and everyday life will place entirely new demands on communication systems, particularly with regard to data transmission rates and latency, that cannot be met by today’s technology.

To address this challenge, 6G-ADLANTIK pursues the development of components for the terahertz (THz) frequency range, based on the integration of photonic and electronic technologies. Concretely, this involves the development of stabilized laser systems and optical frequency combs, from which THz signal sources are constructed. Microwave Photonics’ task was to achieve low-phase-noise THz generation using SiN Kerr microrings in order to reach a high signal quality. In parallel, innovative waveguide structures tailored to the target frequency range are designed and manufactured. These waveguides are then integrated with the photonic components to form complete transmitter and receiver units, which are ultimately brought together to demonstrate a high-performance wireless transmission system covering nearly the entire frequency range envisioned for 6G.

The potential of the developed technology extends well beyond mobile communications. The THz components can also be used for innovative measurement applications, enabling the precise characterization and performance optimization of future 6G system components and concepts. Additionally, their applicability in sensing and imaging opens up further use cases across other industries. By developing and producing these components in Germany, the project makes a tangible contribution to reducing technological dependencies and strengthening Europe’s position in the global race to define and deploy 6G. The project is led by Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG (Munich) and carried out in collaboration with TOPTICA Photonics AG (Gräfelfing), Microwave Photonics GmbH, Technische Universität Berlin, Fraunhofer Institute HHI (Berlin), and Spinner GmbH (Munich) as an associated partner.