The National Science Foundation (NSF) www.nsf.gov provided a $6.1 million five year award to accelerate advanced wireless research through NSF’s “Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research” (PAWR) program.
The NSF funding was awarded to US Ignite, Inc. and Northeastern University with plans to collaborate with NSF and industry partners to establish and oversee multiple city-scale testing platforms across the U.S.
The PAWR program is going to explore robust new wireless devices, communication techniques, networks, systems, and services that will revolutionize the nation’s wireless systems. These platforms will support fundamental research to enhance broadband connectivity and sustain economic competitiveness in the telecommunications sector.
The funding is to be used specifically to help NSF establish the PAWR Project Office (PPO) to foster use-inspired, fundamental research and development that will move beyond current 4G LTE and Wi-Fi capabilities to enable future advanced wireless networks.
After establishing the PAWR (PPO) www.advancedwireless.org, the office will work closely with NSF, industry partners, and the wireless research community on all aspects of PAWR planning, implementation, and management.
In the future, PAWR PPO will solicit other proposals to identify the platforms for research and work closely with awardee organizations to plan the design, plus the development, deployment, and initial operation of each platform.
Jim Kurose, NSF Assistant Director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE said, “NSF is pleased to have the combined expertise from US Ignite, Inc. and Northeastern University leading the project office for our PAWR program. The planned research platforms will enable research to be done in faster, smarter, more responsive and develop more robust wireless communications.