(COLUMBUS, OHIO) Every time you make a phone call, stream a video or connect to Wi-Fi, your device is sending and receiving invisible signals through the air. So are your baby monitor, garage door opener, your GPS, the weather-monitoring satellites and the radars keeping planes safely apart. All of these rely on the same invisible resource: the radio spectrum.
The demand for wireless data – driven by smartphones, video streaming and billions of connected devices – keeps growing, making available spectrum scarce. But it doesn’t have to remain that way. As an electrical engineer who studies wireless communications, I’m part of a field of research working to address the radio spectrum supply crunch.
kAm%96 D@=FE:@? 6?8:?66CD 2?5 C68F=2E@CD 92G6 366? 56G6=@A:?8 :D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^%rr}]a_`e]adhaha`Qm5J?2>:4 DA64ECF> D92C:?8k^2m] %96 4@C6 :562 :D DEC2:89E7@CH2C5i x?DE625 @7 C6D6CG:?8 2 A@CE:@? @7 DA64ECF> 6I4=FD:G6=J 7@C @?6 FD6C 7@C6G6C[ 2==@H >F=E:A=6 FD6CD E@ D92C6 E96 D2>6 7C6BF6?4:6D – :?E6==:86?E=J[ 2?5 H:E9 4=62C CF=6D E@ <66A E96> 7C@> DE6AA:?8 @? 6249 @E96C’D D:8?2=D]k^Am
kAm#25:@ DA64ECF> :D 2E E96 =@H 6?5 @7 E96 6=64EC@>28?6E:4 DA64ECF>[ H:E9 7C6BF6?4:6D 36=@H >:4C@H2G6D[ =:89E 2?5 )\C2JD] *@F 42? E9:?< @7 :E 2D 2 G2DE 4@==64E:@? @7 :?G:D:3=6 9:89H2JD[ CF??:?8 2E 5:776C6?E 7C6BF6?4:6D[ 42CCJ:?8 D:8?2=D E9C@F89 E96 2:C] %6=6G:D:@?[ 2:C EC277:4 4@?EC@=[ 46==A9@?6D[ C6>@E6 D6?D:?8 @7 5:DE2?E DE2CD – E96J 2== EC2G6= @? 5:776C6?E A2CED @7 E9:D D2>6 :?G:D:3=6 C@25 ?6EH@C<]k^Am
kAm%96D6 4@>>F?:42E:@? 9:89H2JD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EFE@C:2=DA@:?E]4@>^2CE:4=6^E96\6=64EC@>28?6E:4\DA64ECF>QmDA2? 2? 6?@C>@FD C2?86k^2m[ 7C@> G6CJ =@H 7C6BF6?4:6D FD65 7@C DF3>2C:?6 4@>>F?:42E:@? 2== E96 H2J FA 36J@?5 C25:@ H2G6D E@ E96 7C6BF6?4:6D @7 G:D:3=6 =:89E] w:896C 7C6BF6?4:6D 42CCJ D:8?2=D @G6C D9@CE6C 5:DE2?46D 3FE 42? >@G6 >@C6 52E2 H:E9 H:56C 9:89H2JD] q642FD6 E96C6 :D @?=J D@ >F49 DA64ECF> E@ 8@ 2C@F?5 2D 2 >2EE6C @7 7F?52>6?E2= A9JD:4D[ 8@G6C?>6?ED 92G6 9:DE@C:42==J >2?2865 :E 3J :DDF:?8 6I4=FD:G6 =:46?D6D – 565:42E:?8 46CE2:? 9:89H2JD E@ DA64:7:4 FD6CD 2?5 E6==:?8 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 E@ DE2J @77]k^Am
kAm%9:D DJDE6> H@C<65 H6== 6?@F89 7@C 564256D[ 6DA64:2==J 3642FD6 E96 9:89H2J ?6EH@C< H2D DF77:4:6?E 7@C E96 56>2?5] $EF5:6D >62DFC:?8 24EF2= DA64ECF> FD6 @G6C >2?J J62CD 92G6 7@F?5 D@>6E9:?8 DFCAC:D:?8i {2C86 DEC6E496D @7 =:46?D65 DA64ECF> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@4D]744]8@G^AF3=:4^2EE249>6?ED^s~r\aagdcap`]A57QmD:E :5=6 >F49 @7 E96 E:>6k^2m] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 2 >:=:E2CJ C252C DJDE6> >2J @?=J @A6C2E6 :? 46CE2:? =@42E:@?D @? 46CE2:? 52JD]k^Am
kAmqFC86@?:?8 56>2?5 7@C C25:@ DA64ECF> 92D =67E D@>6 @7 E96D6 C@25D 4=@8865 H:E9 EC277:4 ;2>D[ H9:=6 @E96CD ?62C3J D:E 2=>@DE 4@>A=6E6=J 6>AEJ]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQ2 9@C:K@?E2= 492CE @G6C=2J:?8 2 D46?6 H:E9 2 =2?5D42A6 2E E96 3@EE@>[ 4=@F5D :? E96 >:55=6 2?5 DA246 2E E96 E@AQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdfgff^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_h_b\d_\2A88Ae];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m#25:@ 4@>>F?:42E:@?D @44FAJ 2 D>2== A@CE:@? @7 E96 6=64EC@>28?6E:4 DA64ECF>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>>@?D]H:<:>65:2]@C8^H:<:^u:=6it=64EC@>28?6E:40DA64ECF>[0}p$p0:==FDEC2E:@?];A8Qm}p$pk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am%C277:4 4@?EC@= 7@C C25:@k^9am
kAm|2<:?8 5J?2>:4 DA64ECF> D92C:?8 H@C< C6BF:C6D C25:@D E92E 2C6 >@C6 7=6I:3=6 E92? E96 7:I65\7C6BF6?4J 56G:46D @7 E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAm%@52J’D D>2CEA9@?6D 2?5 H:C6=6DD 56G:46D 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J 3F:=E @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^bd]bhb__`QmD@7EH2C6\567:?65 C25:@k^2m E649?@=@8J[ >62?:?8 E96 7C6BF6?4:6D E96J @A6C2E6 @? 42? 36 25;FDE65 3J D@7EH2C6 C2E96C E92? 36:?8 =@4<65 :?E@ 92C5H2C6] %9:?< @7 :E =:<6 2 42C E92E 42? DH:E49 =2?6D 2FE@>2E:42==J C2E96C E92? 36:?8 DEF4< :? @?6 =2?6 7@C6G6C] t2C=J C6D62C496CD 42==65 E96 G:D:@? 369:?5 E9:D “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_`e^qhfg\_\`a\bfcdbd\c])___`\)Qm4@8?:E:G6 C25:@k^2m” – E96 :562 @7 2 C25:@ E92E 4@F=5 D6?D6 :ED 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 252AE 244@C5:?8=J]k^Am
kAm%9:D 7=6I:3:=:EJ @A6?D E96 5@@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^y$pr]a__c]gbhbg_QmE@ 2 =2J6C65 2AAC@249k^2m E@ DA64ECF> D92C:?8] pE E96 E@A @7 E96 9:6C2C49J D:E :?4F>36?E AC:>2CJ FD6CD – E9@D6 H9@ 9@=5 6I:DE:?8 C:89ED E@ 2 7C6BF6?4J[ DF49 2D E96 >:=:E2CJ @C =:46?D65 3C@2542DE6CD] q6=@H E96>[ @E96C D64@?52CJ FD6CD 42? 2446DD E96 D2>6 DA64ECF> H96? 2?5 H96C6 E96 :?4F>36?ED 2C6?’E FD:?8 :E[ DE6AA:?8 2D:56 2FE@>2E:42==J E96 >@>6?E 2? :?4F>36?E C6EFC?D]k^Am
kAmp >@C6 6G6CJ52J G6CD:@? @7 E9:D <:?5 @7 D92C:?8 2=C625J 6I:DED :? E96 (:\u: 7C6BF6?4:6D J@F FD6 2E 9@>6] |F=E:A=6 56G:46D – J@FC =2AE@A[ J@FC A9@?6[ J@FC D>2CE %' – D92C6 E96 D2>6 DA64ECF> H:E9@FE 2 46?EC2= 2FE9@C:EJ 2DD:8?:?8 6249 @?6 2 565:42E65 D=@E] %96J 5@ E9:D 3J 3C:67=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^%r~||]a_`d]accb_c`QmD6?D:?8 H96E96C E96 492??6= :D 3FDJk^2m 367@C6 EC2?D>:EE:?8[ 2?5 3J 2FE@>2E:42==J 25;FDE:?8 E96:C DA665 32D65 @? 9@H 4C@H565 E9:?8D 86E] %96 AC@E@4@= C6D6>3=6D 5C:G6CD 2E 2 7@FC\H2J DE@A – :?7@C>2= CF=6D E92E >@DE=J H@C< H:E9@FE 2?J@?6 5:C64E:?8 EC277:4]k^Am
kAmp D:8?:7:42?E C646?E 6I2>A=6 @7 5J?2>:4 DA64ECF> D92C:?8 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :D E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]744]8@G^H:C6=6DD^3FC62F\5:G:D:@?D^>@3:=:EJ\5:G:D:@?^4:E:K6?D\32?5\C25:@\D6CG:46\43CDQmr:E:K6?D qC@2532?5 #25:@ $6CG:46k^2m[ @C rq#$[ @A6C2E:?8 :? E96 b]d vwK 7C6BF6?4J 32?5] %96 u656C2= r@>>F?:42E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? 4C62E65 2 E9C66\E:6C DJDE6>] x?4F>36?E FD6CD – AC:>2C:=J &]$] }2GJ C252C DJDE6>D – D:E 2E E96 E@A] qFD:?6DD6D 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@?D E92E A2J 7@C AC:@C:EJ 2446DD D:E :? E96 >:55=6] p?5 E96 86?6C2= AF3=:4 42? FD6 H92E6G6C :D =67E @G6C]k^Am
kAmp 46?EC2= 4@>AFE6C DJDE6> – E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^|r~|]__`]a___hahQm$A64ECF> p446DD $JDE6>k^2m – 24ED 2D 2 C62=\E:>6 EC277:4 4@?EC@==6C[ 4@?DE2?E=J EC24<:?8 H96C6 }2GJ C252C :D 24E:G6 2?5 2FE@>2E:42==J 4@@C5:?2E:?8 2446DD 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6] (96? 2 }2GJ D9:A :D ?@E FD:?8 E96 DA64ECF> :? J@FC 2C62[ 9@DA:E2=D[ 724E@C:6D[ H2C69@FD6D 2?5 42>AFD6D 42? FD6 :E 7@C E96:C @H? AC:G2E6 H:C6=6DD ?6EH@C<D] (96? E96 }2GJ ?665D :E 324<[ 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 DE6AD 2D:56 H:E9:? D64@?5D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQEH@ D@=5:6CD :? 2 7@C6DE FD6 6=64EC@?:4 6BF:A>6?EQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fdfgfg^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_h_b\d_\ADf35`];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]`U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj7:El4=:AU2>AjHlfc_Q ^mk7:842AE:@?m%96 >:=:E2CJ 92D AC:@C:EJ 7@C FD:?8 D42C46 C25:@ DA64ECF>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@>>@?D]H:<:>65:2]@C8^H:<:^u:=6i$A64ECF>0q=:EK0ae0Whfebg``X];A8Qm&]$] pC>J A9@E@ 3J rA=] {6@?2C5 q64<6EEk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9amv6EE:?8 2C@F?5 :?E6C76C6?46k^9am
kAm%96 3:886DE E649?:42= 9FC5=6 :? DA64ECF> D92C:?8 :D :?E6C76C6?46 – H92E 92AA6?D H96? EH@ D:8?2=D @G6C=2A 2?5 D4C2>3=6 6249 @E96C[ =:<6 EH@ A6@A=6 D9@FE:?8 5:776C6?E E9:?8D :? J@FC 62C 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6] pD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^r~|$%]a_ab]bachgbdQm>@C6 56G:46D 4C@H5 E96 2:CH2G6Dk^2m[ 6249 H:E9 5:776C6?E A@H6C =6G6=D 2?5 5:776C6?E 32?5H:5E9 ?665D[ <66A:?8 D:8?2=D 7C@> 4@==:5:?8 364@>6D :?4C62D:?8=J 4@>A=6I]k^Am
kAm|J =23 2?5 @E96C C6D62C496CD 2C6 ?@H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H:??7\>J]D92C6A@:?E]4@>^i3i^8^A6CD@?2=^25>:?0H:??7@CF>0@C8^x"r6E?"\E6|"$A?:')+e6`y}p&&s0E0:q:d`eGu:Hb!"0e"n6l5&(@d~QmEFC?:?8 E@ 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 7@C 96=Ak^2m] px 42? =62C? 7C@> 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 252AE :? C62= E:>6 E@ 492?8:?8 4@?5:E:@?D – 564:5:?8 H9@ EC2?D>:ED H96?[ 2?5 2E H92E A@H6C =6G6=[ :? H2JD E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^%(r]a_ac]bc`ccagQm@=56C CF=6\32D65 DJDE6>D 4@F=5 ?@Ek^2m] pE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``_h^%(r]a_ad]bece`gdQm?6H 492==6?86Dk^2m 2C6 6>6C8:?8[ DF49 2D D2E6==:E6D 2?5 8C@F?5\32D65 ?6EH@C<D :?4C62D:?8=J ?665:?8 E@ D92C6 E96 D2>6 7C6BF6?4:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 H2J C25:@ DA64ECF> :D >2?2865 >2J ?@E D66> =:<6 2 <:E496? E23=6 :DDF6[ 3FE :E D92A6D 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> 9@H 72DE J@FC A9@?6 =@25D 2 G:56@ E@ H96E96C 2 724E@CJ 42? 2FE@>2E6 :ED 7=@@C[ E@ E96 C6=:23:=:EJ @7 2 CFC2= D49@@=’D :?E6C?6E 2446DD] uFEFC6 H:C6=6DD E649?@=@8:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E9@D6 E92E 4@??64E D6=7\5C:G:?8 42CD 2?5 6?23=6 C6>@E6 DFC86CJ[ H:== 56A6?5 @? 92G:?8 2446DD E@ 6?@F89 DA64ECF>] sJ?2>:4 DA64ECF> D92C:?8 :D 9@H E@ >2<6 C@@> 7@C 2== @7 :E H:E9@FE 5:D>2?E=:?8 E96 DJDE6>D 2=C625J :? A=246]k^Am
kAm%96 2:CH2G6D 2C6 7:?:E6] qFE H:E9 D>2CE6C >2?286>6?E[ E96J 42? 5@ 72C >@C6 E92? @?46 E9@F89E A@DD:3=6]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^2J=:?\J6?6C\`daheehnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQmpJ=:? *6?6Ck^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^E96\@9:@\DE2E6\F?:G6CD:EJ\fdhnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQm%96 ~9:@ $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H92E\:D\d8\2?\6=64EC:42=\6?8:?66C\6IA=2:?D\`fb`henFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQm(92E :D dvn p? 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C 6IA=2:?Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7C@>\9@C>FK\E@\E96\4@4<A:E\9@H\H2C72C6\2?5\4C:>:?2=\24E:G:EJ\F?56C>:?6\8AD\2?5\E96\C246\E@\D2768F2C5\?2G:82E:@?\ag``_enFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQmuC@> w@C>FK E@ E96 4@4<A:Ei w@H H2C72C6 2?5 4C:>:?2= 24E:G:EJ F?56C>:?6 v!$ 2?5 E96 C246 E@ D2768F2C5 ?2G:82E:@?k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^9@H\d8\AFED\2:CA=2?6D\2E\C:D<\2?\6=64EC:42=\6?8:?66C\6IA=2:?D\`fdb_enFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\aefd`hQmw@H dv AFED 2:CA=2?6D 2E C:D< – 2? 6=64EC:42= 6?8:?66C 6IA=2:?Dk^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?mpJ=:? *6?6C 92D C646:G65 7F?5:?8 7C@> %96 }2E:@?2= $4:6?46 u@F?52E:@?[ s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?[ pC>J #6D62C49 {23@C2E@CJ^~77:46[ }2E:@?2= $64FC:EJ p86?4J[ sp#!p[ &$ |2C:?6 r@CAD[ q6? uC2?<=:? %649?@=@8J !2CE?6CD[ !6??DJ=G2?:2 x?7C2DECF4EFC6 %649?@=@8J p==:2?46[ !:EED3FC89 s:8:E2= vC66?9@FD6[ p%U2>Aj% u@F?52E:@?[ r:D4@ #6D62C49[ w@?52 #U2>Ajs p>6C:42D[ #2JE96@?[ %6=4@C5:2] $96 :D 2 76==@H 2?5 2 G@=F?E66C @7 %96 x?DE:EFE6 7@C t=64EC:42= 2?5 t=64EC@?:4D t?8:?66CD WxtttX] $96 :D 2 76==@H @7 E96 p>6C:42? pDD@4:2E:@? 7@C p5G2?46>6?E @7 $4:6?46] $96 :D 2? 6=64E65 >6>36C @7 E96 $4:6?46 p4256>J @7 %FC<6J]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^aefd`h^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.