RF Spectrum Challenges in the Age of Netflix and Self-Driving Cars

Nikhil Adnani

CTO, ThinkRF

Over the past decade we have been witnessing a wireless revolution. The way we communicate with each other has been changed forever with the proliferation of smartphones and other wireless devices. How we consume audio and video has evolved as streaming technologies such as Netflix, YouTube and Spotify have replaced traditional TV, DVDs, and CDs. Soon, even the way we get around will look different as autonomous vehicles relying on communications from thousands of sensors become technologically and commercially viable. Looking ahead, the potential is there for new applications that we can’t even begin to imagine.

All of this is exponentially driving the demand we place on the wireless spectrum. To address this, wireless engineers and scientists are having to push the boundaries and come up with more creative use of the limited RF spectrum resources that are available.

Advanced modulation techniques, increasing bandwidths and higher frequencies are just some of the methods used to address the spectrum challenge. And as we continue to ask more and more of the spectrum around us, we also need to develop new ways to measure and monitor these signals. This talk will review the growing challenges associated with using, measuring, and monitoring the radio spectrum during this period of incredible innovation.

Dr. Nikhil Adnani is currently the Chief Technology Officer at ThinkRF. During his career he has worked on a number of different radio and wireless technologies. At ThinkRF he works on wideband radio receivers for spectrum and signal analysis applications. Nikhil has a BSc and MSc from the University of Manitoba and a PhD from Carleton University, all in Electrical Engineering.

Agenda

11:00 – 11:30 Refreshments and Networking
11:30 – 12:00 Lite Lunch and Welcoming Remarks
12:00 – 13:00 Seminar
13:00 – 13:30 Questions and Networking