Communication Systems

Enabling trusted communication and navigation systems for a digital and automated society

Modern society depends on communication and navigation systems that must operate reliably and remain operational under demanding conditions. The Communication Systems Research Group develops advanced technologies and integrated system solutions that ensure robust, secure and resilient connectivity across subsea, maritime, terrestrial, aerial and space domains. We address communication and navigation systems end-to-end, from signal processing and physical transmission to network architectures, system integration and operational validation—bridging fundamental research, applied research and real-world deployment. Through close collaboration with industry, infrastructure operators, public authorities and defence stakeholders, we contribute to building the communication and navigation systems future society depends on, and the functionality and performance required for their reliable and robust operation.

Our mission

We develop next generation communication and navigation technologies in close collaboration with industry and societal stakeholders — contributing a secure, resilient and sustainable society.

Strategic direction

Our research is guided by key challenges shaping the future of communication and navigation systems:

• Security and trust
  Protecting communication, positioning and control functions against evolving cyber and physical threats.
• Robustness and resilience
  Ensuring systems remain operational under interference and disruption, as well as in challenging environments.
• Autonomy and system integration
  Enabling intelligent, cooperative and safe operation of autonomous and AI-driven systems through integrated communication and navigation capabilities.

These directions reflect the increasing importance of dependable connectivity as a foundation for digital infrastructure, industrial systems and societal functions.

Research and innovation areas

Our research spans from fundamental technologies to integrated system solutions, addressing challenges across domains and applications.

Mission critical and resilient communication systems

We develop communication solutions designed to deliver high reliability and predictable performance in demanding operational environments, including:

• Communication under interference, spectrum congestion and degraded conditions.
• System design for safety- and mission-critical applications.
• Solutions for industrial, maritime and mobile operations.

Secure communication and navigation

We strengthen the robustness of communication and navigation infrastructures by addressing vulnerabilities and emerging threats through:

• Interference-resilient navigation and positioning technologies.
• Secure PNT and multi-sensor navigation solutions.
• Cyber-secure architecture for next-generation communication networks.

Subsea and maritime communication for autonomous systems

We develop communication and integration solutions supporting subsea and maritime operations, including:

• Connectivity for autonomous and remotely operated underwater systems.
• Hybrid communication technologies combining acoustic, optical and electromagnetic methods.
• Integration of subsea systems with surface, satellite and terrestrial networks.

Connectivity for AI enabled and autonomous systems

We enable distributed and autonomous operations through integrated communication and navigation solutions, including:

• Communication for cooperative and autonomous systems.
• Architectures supporting distributed AI and edge intelligence.
• Integration of communication, sensing, control and decision-making.

Quantum communication and future proof security

We contribute to the development of next-generation secure communication technologies, focusing on:

• Quantum-safe and post-quantum security mechanisms.
• Architecture for emerging quantum communication networks.
• Integration of quantum and classical communication systems.

The group contributes to the Norwegian Centre for Quantum Communication Networks and Applications (QCNA), strengthening long-term competence in future communication security.

How we work

Our work combines scientific depth with system-level perspective and practical implementation. We typically engage across the full development cycle:

• Concept development and feasibility analysis.
• Modelling, design and experimental research.
• System integration and prototyping.
• Testing, validation and demonstration in representative environments.

A key strength is our ability to combine expertise in communication, navigation, signal processing, artificial intelligence and systems engineering to develop integrated system solutions.

Who we work with

We collaborate closely with partners across sectors, including:

• Industrial companies and system integrators, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Infrastructure operators and public authorities.
• Defence and security stakeholders.
• Research organisations and universities in Norway and internationally.

Our work is typically carried out through collaborative projects funded by national and international programmes, including the Research Council of Norway, EU Framework Programmes, European Defence Fund (EDF), European Defence Agency (EDA) and European Space Agency (ESA), as well as through direct research projects commissioned by industrial partners.

Why work with us

Partners working with the Communication Systems Research Group gain access to:

• Applied research grounded in real operational challenges.
• Integrated expertise spanning communication, navigation and autonomous systems.
• System-level competence across subsea, maritime, terrestrial, aerial and space domains.
• A collaborative partner capable of taking solutions from concept to validated demonstration.