CMOS THz communication links for wireless applications: Where do they fit into mobile access and fixed access?

CMOS Technology for THz communication has been discussed in recent years, however many practical challenges remain for such data-links to be commercialized. We provide a brief overview of the wireless market and where THz may and may not fit in. Also, while the RF issues of THz links are well known, even more difficult issues in the baseband and modem still need to be addressed. This article discusses some of the market space as well as baseband/modem challenges in detail, including digitization and modulation of THz signals, power requirements for mobile devices, symbol spreading in multi-Gb/s channels as well as the technology outlook of solving these challenges.