• BT trials new hyper-sensitive quantum radio receiver to boost next-gen 5G & IoT networks.
• Technology uses ‘excited atoms’ to deliver over 100x greater sensitivity than traditional receivers.
• The atomic receiver has the potential to reduce mobile network energy consumption, enable IoT cost efficiencies and help to close the rural connectivity divide.

BT today announced a pioneering trial of a new hyper-sensitive quantum antenna technology using excited atomic states that could boost the capability of next generation 5G and IoT networks.

Atomic Radio Frequency (RF) receiver technology represents a revolutionary new way of detecting radio waves that could find much weaker signals than conventional receivers. The receiver works by using a quantum effect called “electromagnetically induced transparency” to form a highly sensitive electric field detector. BT’s trial represents the first time a digitally-encoded message has been received on a 3.6GHz (5G) carrier frequency. Previously, simple audio has been received using much higher ...