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 Demo Adds Key Capability to Atom-Based Radio Communications

This gets us one step closer to a true atom-based communication system to benefit 5G and Beyond...

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

NIST has developed a method for using radio signals to create real-time images and videos of hidden and moving objects...

News and Updates

Cell towers broadcast signals through two trees, one of which has green leaves while the other is bare. A cellphone behind the greenery indicates a poorer signal than the phone behind the bare tree.

NIST Helps Next-Generation Cell Technology See Past the Greenery

January 4, 2022

As 5G technology gets fully implemented over the next several years, cellphones and other wireless tech will grow more powerful with increased data flow and

A Mailbox Theory for 6G - an intelligent network

NIST and University Researchers Offer Future 6G Network Concept

December 29, 2021

In 6G Cognitive Information Theory: A Mailbox Perspective, published in MDPI, October 16, 2021, NIST and international researchers propose a "cognitive" 6G

IEEE Approves Cloud Computing Standard, Aided by NIST

December 21, 2021

On December 8, 2021, the IEEE Standards Association Standards Board approved the IEEE 2302-2021 Standard for Intercloud Interoperability and Federation produced

NIST Achieves New Levels of Radio Frequency Signal Synthesis with Quantum-based Accuracy.

December 20, 2021

CTL in collaboration with the University of Colorado has demonstrated a tenfold increase in the amplitude of microwave-frequency waveforms generated by a

Events

PSCR Webinar - Voices of First Responders: PSCR's Survey Analyzer Tool in Action

Thu, Jan 27 2022, 11:00am - 12:00pm MST

This January, NIST's Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) Division will host a webinar featuring the new Survey

Projects and Programs

5G & Beyond

Ongoing

“5G and beyond” refers to future generations of mobile wireless communication systems. The vision for these next-generation systems are to enable groundbreaking

700 MHz In-Building Coverage App & Measurement System Development

Ongoing

The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program is researching the development of in-building apps for RF coverage evaluation, which is critical for

A measurement-based approach to 5G supply chain security

Ongoing

Revolutionizing the American economy comes from advancements in communication networks that enable a fully connected world through millions of devices providing

Advanced High Frequency Devices

Ongoing

The Advanced High Frequency Devices Program develops measurement methods to determine the characteristics of advanced electronics and devices at high

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

Mary Theofanos demonstrates NIST-designed fingerprint overlays on a fingerprint-scanning system in 2011.

Mary Theofanos Honored with INCITS Award

Mary Frances Theofanos is recognized for numerous contributions to the INICTS/M1 – Biometrics and INCITS/SSE – Software and Systems

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.

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

CTL Demo Adds Key Capability to Atom-Based Radio Communications

NIST Method Uses Radio Signals to Image Hidden and Speeding Objects

Our Focus Areas

News and Updates

NIST Helps Next-Generation Cell Technology See Past the Greenery

NIST and University Researchers Offer Future 6G Network Concept

IEEE Approves Cloud Computing Standard, Aided by NIST

NIST Achieves New Levels of Radio Frequency Signal Synthesis with Quantum-based Accuracy.

Events

PSCR Webinar - Voices of First Responders: PSCR's Survey Analyzer Tool in Action

Projects and Programs

5G & Beyond

700 MHz In-Building Coverage App & Measurement System Development

A measurement-based approach to 5G supply chain security

Advanced High Frequency Devices

Industry Impacts

Alliance for 5G Networks

First Responder Communications

Tools and Instruments

Public Safety Communication Innovation Laboratory

LTE Coverage Tool

Awards

Mary Theofanos Honored with INCITS Award

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

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

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

Taking Measure Blog

That’s a Wrap: Selects From the NIST Invent Calendar

In Case You Missed It From NIST: 2021 Edition

Finding the STAMP of Human-Made Pollutants in Seabird Eggs

Detecting the Flavors of Important Elements With Neutron Depth Profiling

Contacts

Director, Communications Technology Lab and Director, NIST Boulder Laboratory