Communications

Qualcomm has validated Anritsu’s MT8000A comms tester for sub-6GHz 5G NR small cells using Qualcomm’s 5G RAN platform and its QDART (development acceleration resource toolkit). “The Qualcomm FSM100 5G RAN Platform is a very capable 5G NR small cell solution that is used widely by mobile operators,” according to Anritsu. “The platform is designed to help OEMs reuse their software ...

The MIPI Alliance and ETSI have adopted the ‘I3C Interface for SSP’ specification, allowing the MIPI I3C Basic specification to serve as a physical and logical link layer for the ETSI SSP (Smart Secure Platform). ETSI SSP is a platform for USIM (universal subscriber identity module) and ‘secure elements’ for emerging IoT, 5G and other security-sensitive applications. SSP specifications define an open platform for multiple applications ...

ESA is looking into using lasers to send data from Earth to geostationary orbit. It operates the European Data Relay System (EDRS) – two payloads, on two different satellites, which communicate with a constellation of low earth orbit planet-monitoring satellites called Sentinels. Currently Sentinel-EDRS communication is by laser and the EDRS-Earth downlink is radio. “The challenge is that the growing ...

Advanced test equipment is required for new forms of passive optical networks, says Richard Martin of Electro Rent. The prevalence of fibre-oriented communication infrastructure continues to grow across the continent of Europe. A recent report compiled by market consultancy firm iDate predicted that the number of fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fibre-to-the-building subscribers within the EU/UK will grow from 49 million today ...

Engineers at Lancaster University have transmitted, received and decoded data sent over a stream of fast neutrons. The proof-of-concept involved modulating neutrons from a calfornium 252 source using an Arduino-controlled mechanical shutter built from high-density polythene. Detection involved a one litre tank of scintillating meterial, a photo-multiplier and a ‘mixed-field analyser’ (made by Hybrid Instruments, based at the university) to separate ...

NXP is aiming at 5G infrastructure with silicon-germanium transmit pre-drivers and dual-channel receive front-end modules. BTS6201U 2.3 – 4.2GHz pre-driver 3 x 3 x 0.85mm 16pad HVQFN BTS6302U 2.3 – 5GHz pre-driver 3 x 3 x 0.85mm 16pad HVQFN BTS7203H 2.3 – 2.7GHz +37dB dual LNA 5 x 5 x 0.85mm 32pad HVQFN BTS7203U 3.3 – 4.2GHz  +36dB dual LNA 5 x 5 ...

Renesas has revealed an automotive gateway design. Based around its R-Car S4 SoCs and power management chips, it is aimed at vehicle computers, communication gateways, domain servers and application servers. “As the vehicle architectures evolve, safe connection to cloud services and secure management with in-vehicle control systems are major challenges,” said Renesas automotive general manager Takeshi Kataoka. “We have addressed ...

Standards body ETSI is to create a specification for reflective RF ‘reconfigurable intelligent surfaces’ (RISs). “RIS is a new type of system node leveraging smart radio surfaces with thousands of small antennas or metamaterial elements to dynamically shape and control radio signals,” according to the organisation. The surfaces can be used to modify system coverage or capacity, as well as ...

ETSI has identified problems arising from pervasive encrypted traffic in communications networks as part of a programme to integrate encrypted traffic. At issue is end-to-end encryption, which can hamper network management, anti-fraud operations, cybersecurity and regulatory monitoring. ETSI’s Industry Specification Group on Encrypted Traffic Integration (ISG ETI) is looking into the problem, and has made public an ‘Encrypted traffic integration problem statement’, ...

Lockheed Martin has created a novel millimetre-wave dish antenna for satellites and ground terminals, particularly for space-based 5G communication. Called ‘wide angle ESA fed reflector’ (Waefr), it is a hybrid of a phased array electronically steerable antenna (ESA) and a parabolic dish, and is claimed to increases coverage area by 190% compared to traditional phased array antennas, at lower cost. ...