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FCC Fines Pirate Radio Stations
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The FCC has proposed fines against four alleged pirate radio
operators in Connecticut and Ohio, with penalties ranging from $40,000 to
$60,000. While not the largest fines the agency has issued, these enforcement
actions stem from incidents in 2024, confirmed by FCC field agents under the
PIRATE Act. This legislation established a base fine of $20,000 per observed
instance of illegal broadcasting, doubling the pre-PIRATE Act penalty.
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China Gets New Microwave Weapon
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China’s NORINCO has advanced its counter-drone capabilities
with the Hurricane-3000 High-Power Microwave (HPM) Weapon System. Recent
reports indicate successful field tests of the system, designed to combat the
rising threat of drone swarms. Despite its promising performance, the
Hurricane-3000 has yet to be deployed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The system can detect targets up to 6 kilometers away, track them optically
within a 4-kilometer range, and precisely neutralize even micro-drones beyond 3
kilometers.
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Source: Jesus Roman | X Account |
Report: MMIC Market to Reach $29 Billion by 2030
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According to a new report by MarketsandMarkets, the global
monolithic microwave IC market is projected to grow from USD 14.53 billion in
2025 to USD 23.91 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast
period. The rising demand for high data throughput in cellular and wireless
networks, driven by the growing popularity of multimedia applications and
broadband Internet, is fueling this expansion. Frequency bands such as K-band
(18–27 GHz) and Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) offer substantial spectrum availability,
making them ideal for high-capacity wireless communication. Their adoption is
increasing to meet the expanding bandwidth requirements of modern networks.
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Drexel Creates Kirigami Antennas
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Researchers at Drexel University and the
University of British Columbia believe kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of
cutting and folding paper to create intricate three-dimensional designs, could
provide a model for manufacturing the next generation of antennas. The
Drexel-UBC team showed how kirigami — a variation of origami — can transform a
single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D
microwave antenna whose transmission frequency can be adjusted by pulling or
squeezing to slightly shift its shape. The figure shows the prototype of the
MXene-based Kirigami resonant surface in the unstrained states. The next phase
of this research will explore new materials and geometries for the antennas.
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Source: Drexel University |
The Rise of Non-Terrestrial Networks
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If you thought 5G was a big deal, non-terrestrial networks
(NTNs) would be an even bigger one and could reduce dependence on terrestrial
base stations while also replacing millions of small cells required for 5G’s
high-frequency operations. How big a deal? Once all the pieces are in place to
make NTNs commercially viable for voice, text, and data, analysts predict that
the global market could reach $60 billion a year. Early adoption will focus on emergency messaging and rural
broadband expansion through 2026. Between 2027 and 2030, hybrid integration
will introduce expanded voice and data services, automatic
terrestrial-to-satellite switching, and increased affordability. By 2030–2035,
satellite-to-cell services may become mainstream, with some nations
prioritizing satellite connectivity over traditional infrastructure. Beyond
2035, improved latency and cost reductions could lead to full NTN integration,
reducing reliance on terrestrial cell towers.
Despite their advantages, NTNs face challenges, including
bandwidth constraints, higher latency, significant infrastructure costs, and
regulatory hurdles in spectrum allocation. However, as technology advances and
costs decline, NTNs may eventually carry a substantial share of global mobile
traffic, and the first efforts are already underway. For example, T-Mobile and SpaceX are testing Starlink
Direct-to-Cell (DTC), initially supporting text messaging, but later expanding
to voice and data. AT&T, partnering with AST SpaceMobile, is developing a
satellite-based 5G network, while Verizon and Amazon’s Project Kuiper aim to
expand rural broadband. Vodafone has demonstrated satellite-based mobile video
calls and plans a European commercial launch by 2025.
Satellite networks differ significantly from terrestrial 5G
millimeter-wave technology, which provides high bandwidth in dense urban areas
but requires extensive small-cell deployment. While NTNs have broad coverage,
they offer lower capacity and higher latency, making them unlikely to replace
millimeter-wave use in cities where high-density capacity is crucial. Instead,
NTNs will complement terrestrial networks, reducing reliance on sub-6 GHz base
stations in rural areas while keeping mmWave infrastructure necessary for urban
cores.
The 3GPP’s upcoming Release 19, expected in 2025, may
introduce enhancements like regenerative NTN architecture, improved indoor
access, and expanded IoT NTN applications. Regardless of the final
implementation, NTNs are set to play a crucial role in the future of global
communications, ushering in a new era of connectivity. |
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Anatech Electronics, Inc. focuses on the design and manufacturing of RF and microwave filters and related products. Anatech Microwave, Inc. focuses on supplying quality RF and microwave products. |
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©Anatech Electronics, Inc.
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