Performance Analysis of Multi-Hop Networks at Terahertz Frequencies

The emergence of THz (Terahertz) frequency wireless networks holds great potential for advancing various high-demand services, including Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. These use cases benefit significantly from the ultra-high data rates, low latency, and high spatial resolution offered by THz frequencies. However, a primary well-known challenge of THz networks is their limited coverage range due to high path loss and vulnerability to obstructions. This paper addresses this limitation by proposing two novel multi-hop protocols, Table-Less (TL) and Table-Based (TB), respectively, both avoiding centralized control and/or control plane transmissions. Indeed, both solutions are distributed, simple, and rapidly adaptable to network changes. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches, as well as revealing interesting trade-offs between TL and TB routing protocols, both in a real IIoT THz network and under static and dynamic conditions.