Wireless Communications Research
Advancing critical communications and wireless security.
If you own a cell phone, work remotely, or commute in an autonomous vehicle, the wireless spectrum is critical to your life. The spectrum is the invisible highway that allows wireless signals and data to stream across the country and around the world. How we design, use, and secure this information superhighway has major implications to national security. This is especially true as 5G and the internet of things (IoT) expands worldwide, connecting billions of devices and nodes.
For decades, INL employees have conducted research, testing and training on communications and wireless systems, including radios, cellphones and satellites. INL continues to develop award-winning and patented technologies to improve communications security and increase efficient use of the wireless spectrum.
Capabilities
Research, Testing and Demonstration at Scale
INL Wireless Test Range offers large-scale, end-to-end testing of cellular, fixed and mobile radios, wireless local area networks and telecommunications backhaul (microwave, free-space optical, fiber-optic, and satellite) systems to industry and government.
Additional facilities include:
- 5G Cellular Tower – supports Tier 1, carrier-grade cellular testing across 2G-5G and LTE networks, with ability to monitor and record cellular interfaces during testing.
- High-frequency Test Bed – enables testing of high frequency and ultrahigh frequency wireless systems in a controlled, spectrum-authorized environment.
- Satellite Test Bed – supports satellite and microwave communications testing as part of INL’s end-to-end wireless network infrastructure.
Related Facilities
Energy Security Research Laboratory
Spectrum Innovation Laboratory
Contact Information
Corinne Dionisio