Revolutionary Solution for Contested Bandwidth

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Congested bandwidth is challenging. The recent concern about 5G deployment near US airports focuses on the problem of radio interference. Beyond the 5G issue, the radio spectrum overall is increasingly constrained by congested bandwidth. That’s critically important for warfighters flying US Air Force jets and for the US Space Force, which needs to communicate with satellites through secure signal transmissions.

Spiral modulation could be the solution. Astrapi has been awarded its second Phase II SBIR contract from the US Air Force’s AFWERX program, in order to enable warfighters to get more info while using less signal power, through a radio channel. That will address issues with both congested and contested communication channels.

AFWERX is a US Air Force program with the goal of fostering a culture of innovation within the service.

The company will implement its advanced communication capability — spiral-based signal modulation — in a Software Defined Radio (SDR) prototype, according to dallasinnovates.com. 

COVID-19 lockdowns with increased demand for videoconferencing, remote learning, telemedicine, advanced gaming, and high-definition entertainment, have put constrain on bandwidth. 

The dual-use technology is intended for both defense and commercial markets. According to the company, “it’s becoming increasingly clear that whoever controls the spectrum will control the battlespace. Astrapi’s capabilities help to achieve that critical advantage.”