Communications Technology Laboratory

CTL promotes the development and deployment of advanced communications technologies through the dissemination of high-quality measurements, data, and research supporting U.S. innovation, industrial competitiveness, and public safety.

5G Coexistence Testbed for Today’s Challenges and Tomorrow’s Opportunities

The resiliency of the American workforce depends on trusted communications systems now, more than ever...

CTL Developed Formula That May Help 5G Be 5000 Times More Efficient

Researchers have developed a mathematical formula that, computer simulations suggest....

A Responder's Critical Path

CTL's funding is helping to create a tailored-to-public safety navigational platform to support the efficient and safe dispatch of personnel for emergency response...

News and Updates

A firefighter on the rails of a subway track

Calling All Firefighters: A New Research Study Wants to Hear from You

March 9, 2021

First responders are seeing a significant increase in the amount and types of data available to them while responding to emergencies. To maximize the value of

NIST Wireless Networks Division releases a new version of the Quasi-Deterministic Channel Realization Software

February 15, 2021

The NIST Q-D Channel Realization software, initially released in August 2019, is a Three-Dimensional (3D) ray-tracing software developed in Matlab. It provides

NIST and federally funded research labs discuss climate and advanced communications technology with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse.

February 9, 2021

The Communication Technology Laboratory was pleased to take part in the CO-LABS panel discussion with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (CO CD-2) to hear from

PSCR Staff Spotlight: Human and Tech Connections with Kate Kapalo

February 9, 2021

Kate Kapalo is the Lead User Experience Researcher at NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research Division. Dr. Kapalo’s expertise lies at the intersection of

Projects and Programs

Electric-acoustic spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions in solution

NIST’s Material Measurement Laboratory and Communications Technology Laboratory are developing a new spectroscopy for intermolecular interactions. The team is

Optical Networking of Superconducting Quantum Nodes with Transduction Devices

A collaborative team has worked since 2019 to demonstrate the world’s first “Quantum Internet” to establish the science and technology of networks for

Waveform Metrology Project

Today's economy relies on high-speed communications that ride fiber-optic networks, and CTL physicists play a crucial role in providing the means to test the

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band

This project developed test processes and performed out-of-band emissions measurements of LTE systems that will be operating in the AWS-3 band so that DOD can

Industry Impacts

Propagation-Channel Measurements and Hardware Verification

Alliance for 5G Networks

The next generation of wireless communications technology will allow many more devices to send information much faster, making possible everything from virtual

Photo of NIST scientists with the PSCR Deployable LTE Cell-on-Wheels

First Responder Communications

First responders must be able to communicate during an emergency. Too often in critical situations, communications among public safety agencies are hampered by

Tools and Instruments

This is a photo of a man in an augmented reality headset looking at the hologram of an IED.

Public Safety Communication Innovation Laboratory

Built in 2018, the PSCR Innovation Laboratory is focused on next-generation communication capabilities for first responders. The PSCR lab maintains a modernized

LTE Coverage Tool

This experimental application was developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communications Research Division (PSCR)

Awards

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Jason Coder, Adam Wunderlich, Michael Frey, Daniel Kuester, Azizollah Kord, Jolene Splett, John Ladbury, Robert Horansky, Duncan McGillivray

For development and execution of complex factor screening of wireless emissions from LTE cellular devices to enable efficient use of scarce spectrum.

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Angela Stelson, Christian Long, Nathan Orloff, James Booth

For the development and application of novel microwave microfluidic techniques to quantify the electromagnetic response of complex fluids.

2020 - Bronze Medal Award---Joshua A. Gordon

For the development of the Pixel Probe Coordinate Measurement System, which has enabled unprecedented high-frequency antenna alignment accuracy.

2020 - Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award---Melissa Midzor, Adam Wunderlich, Duncan McGillivray, Michael Frey, Michael Souryal, John Ladbury, Azizollah Kord, Jason Coder, Jolene Splett, Daniel Kuester

For pioneering innovative measurements and access to a national network of test facilities for the U.S. communications industry and federal operators.