Institute for Communication Systems

Pioneering the next generation of information and communication technologies

Welcome to the Institute for Communications Systems (ICS), home of the 5G/6G Innovation Centre (5G/6GIC), one of the largest and most renowned academic research centres in its field in Europe. Leveraging the wealth of technical and commercial experience among our industry partners, we are setting out a socially and commercially credible vision for beyond 5G and 6G (PDF), and pioneering technologies which will underpin the future.

Read our paper 6G Wireless: A New Strategic Vision (PDF)

Global research for 6G

We are taking the global lead on research topics which will be crucial for the successful deployment of 6G, and will enable a rich new fabric of digital services. Our research and innovation strengths include:

5G Advanced
6G
Integrated Satellite and Terrestrial 5G and 6G
AI-Networking
Reflective and Transmitive Intelligent Surfaces
THz communications and components
Positioning and Image sensing
High Quality Time and Frequency Transmission

Teleportation
Connected transportation
Ultra Massive MIMO
Terabits Per Second Communications
Internet of Senses
AI-Wireless
Network and Physical Layer security.

6G research strategy

Get an overview of our 6G research strategy on Integrated Communication and Sensing in a Network of Networks (PDF)

Lit up dots connected across a cityscape

5G/6G Innovation Centre

Our Centre brings together leading academics and key industry partners in a shared vision to help define and develop the 5G and 6G infrastructure.

Members network

Help us shape a world-class centre of excellence in 5G/6G. You'll gain access to world-class academics and researchers, and to our state-of-the-art 5G/6G technology evaluation facility.

The Institute for Communication Systems drives innovation in many transformative areas of research including terrestrial mobile, satellite and high altitude platform communications, and "internet of things" (IoT) technologies such as connected vehicles and connected health.

These IoT technologies use artificial intelligence and context information to enable intelligent communications, and connectivity capabilities to provide an unparalleled user experience cost effectively. We are working with key partners to provide critical national infrastructure to ensure the security and resilience of networks, in line with our strategy of contributing to the economy and improving quality of life for society. Regius Professor Rahim Tafazolli FREng, Head of the Institute for Communication Systems

Key areas

We are working in key areas where context is used to enable advanced communications capabilities that will provide an unparalleled user experience. These include artificial intelligence, satellite communications, ‘internet of things’, connected vehicles, mobile communications, drone communications and large intelligent surfaces.

Facilities

Research

Join us

We offer a wide range of masters courses as well an Information and Communication Systems PhD. We have numerous partnerships with businesses around the globe and are always looking to work with national partners.

Female student studying the Library writing in a notebook

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Our people

Professor Rahim Tafazolli

Head of the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS)

Rahim Tafazolli is Regius Professor of Electronic Engineering, Professor of Mobile and Satellite Communications, Founder and Director of 5GIC, 6GIC and ICS (Institute for Communication System) at the University of Surrey. He has over 30 years of experience in digital communications research and teaching. He has authored and co-authored more than 1000 research publications ...

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