Sweden unveils the world’s smallest communications technology

A Stockholm startup, TERASi, has developed a new piece of communications technology called the RU1. The compact radio is small enough to deploy on tripods or drones, yet powerful enough to deliver gigabit-speed links with military-grade security.

The radio is designed for groups that can’t depend on fragile or slow networks: armed forces, disaster relief teams, or industries like mining and forestry. These groups often face challenges with traditional communications technology — long deployment times, high costs, and signals that can be jammed or intercepted. Streaming high-resolution video or moving real-time sensor data is especially difficult, even though those tasks are central to intelligence, surveillance, and AI-driven operations.

Reliance on commercial providers only adds to the problem. Ukraine’s war has highlighted the risks of depending on services like Starlink. In 2022, when Elon Musk limited Starlink coverage during a counteroffensive, it disrupted drone surveillance and targeting. Beyond control risks, commercial systems don’t always provide the capacity needed for demanding missions — particularly as communications technology requirements evolve.

A different approach

TERASi, a spinout of Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, built RU1 to sidestep these weaknesses. Instead of microwave signals, the unit uses millimetre-wave radios operating above 60 GHz. These produce focused, laser-like beams that are harder to jam or intercept.

At the heart of the design is TERASi’s patented Aircore technology. The result is a radio up to 40 times smaller and 100 times lighter than comparable equipment. With speeds up to 50 times faster than satellites, RU1 creates private, high-speed networks that can be deployed in minutes, providing communications under the operator’s direct control.

Manufactured in Stockholm, RU1 runs on low power, which makes it suitable for battery use in the field. It can be mounted on drones to expand coverage across rough terrain or disaster zones without building towers or laying power lines. For industries like construction and mining, that could mean faster, cheaper, and more flexible connectivity.

Inside TERASi’s communications technology vision with CEO James Campion

To understand the thinking behind RU1 and where it fits into the broader landscape of communications technology, Telecom Tech News spoke with James Campion, Co-founder and CEO of TERASi.

Campion began by explaining Aircore, the company’s core innovation. The design replaces conventional circuit boards — which absorb much of the radio signal — with miniaturised 3D structures that are air-filled and metal-coated. “This creates a fully enclosed ‘pipe’ waveguide structure with the optimal environment for the RF signals,” he said. By eliminating the losses common in traditional boards, efficiency rises from around 40–50% to over 90%. For a field unit, that difference means lighter gear, longer battery life, and far more practical deployment of advanced communications technology.

Performance is another area where Campion believes RU1 stands apart. While satellite services like Starlink are widely used, he said they cannot match the capacity or responsiveness of mm-wave radios. RU1 supports data rates of up to 10 Gbps, with more than 1 Gbps sustained over distances of 20 kilometres. Future versions could double that to 20 Gbps, offering what Campion described as “a true wireless alternative to fibre.”

Latency is also key: with sub-5 millisecond response times, RU1 can support applications that Starlink cannot, such as drone detection and rapid-response systems where delays of even a fraction of a second matter.

Breaking through mm-wave scepticism

Despite these technical advances, Campion acknowledged that mm-wave radios face an image problem. Once billed as a foundation for 5G, the technology lost credibility when early deployments failed to deliver wide coverage and smooth performance. “Technical challenges related to beam alignment, user tracking and limited coverage resulted in a lack of commercial traction,” he said. That disappointment created a stigma around mm-wave that still lingers.

For TERASi, the solution is not to push mm-wave back into mainstream telecom, but to show its strength in different environments — from defence to disaster relief to industrial settings. “We aim to change that by proving the value of mm-wave in domains outside of conventional telecoms, where its potential value is much larger than just offering commuters more Netflix,” Campion said.

Linking communications technology with AI systems

Another priority for TERASi is making sure RU1 works hand in hand with AI-driven systems. As sensors, drones, and autonomous machines flood operators with data, centralised analysis becomes critical. RU1’s high-capacity links are designed to collect and transmit this data in real time, creating a full picture of the operating environment.

Campion explained that relying on AI at the edge is not enough, since “no one device has the complete picture.” By aggregating streams of information through RU1, centralised AI can make faster, more accurate decisions. He also described scenarios where RU1 units could be mounted on autonomous vehicles to create adaptable networks.

In such a setup, the infrastructure itself would move in response to threats and operational needs, with RU1 acting as the backbone of command and control.

Lessons from conflicts and disasters

Events of recent years have reinforced the urgency of sovereign communications, Campion noted. The Ukraine conflict, along with disasters where commercial networks failed, highlighted the dangers of relying on outside providers for critical infrastructure.

“Sovereign entities have learnt that being dependent on a single provider of mission critical technologies and infrastructure is a huge operational risk,” he said. In his view, the ability to operate independently of foreign-controlled services is no longer optional — it is a necessity.

Dual-use potential

While defence is a clear application, TERASi has ambitions for RU1 beyond the battlefield. The company sees opportunity in civilian sectors where fast deployment can save time and lives. Disaster relief is one example, where teams often need instant connectivity to coordinate rescue and recovery.

Campion also pointed to the potential role in 5G and 6G networks, where RU1 could replace legacy backhaul and fibre in dense environments thanks to its compact size. “We aim to be a true dual-use company which solves problems and sells products in both sectors,” he said.

The future of sovereign communications technology

When asked about the future, Campion was clear that sovereign, high-capacity communications will not remain a niche capability. In the next decade, he expects systems like RU1 to become standard across industries that cannot afford downtime — from energy and mining to transport and emergency response. “Just like we take satellite coverage for granted today, we’ll expect deployable, high-capacity links to be available anywhere, anytime, under our own control,” he said.

For Campion, the rise of AI makes this shift even more critical. As he put it, “Data will be the new currency in an AI first world; controlling it will define who thrives.”

(Photo by TERASi)

See also: UK full fibre adoption surges despite stagnant broadband market

Looking to revamp your digital transformation strategy? Learn more about Digital Transformation Week taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with IoT Tech Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, and other leading events.

Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: ai, communications, connectivity, europe, featured, network, networks, starlink, telecoms