People Story

We bring smart cities to life: Mobile communications and connectivity - the foundation of smart cities

In smart cities, practically everything and everyone will be connected: vehicles, buildings, infrastructures and people. The entire city will have full internet coverage to enable smart traffic management, energy-saving lighting and much more.

There will be a noticeable improvement in our everyday lives. Mobile communications plays a special role in this connectivity. And providing mobile communications requires precise T&M equipment and effective security solutions. Rohde & Schwarz is a leading global supplier in both areas. But who are the creative minds behind this accomplishment? Let’s get to know a few of them.

Enabling smart cities with expertise

"The availability of mobile networks that deliver consistent and reliable data flow is what makes smart cities possible in the first place," explains Nazan Scheunert, Senior Development Expert at Rohde & Schwarz in Munich. To ensure that all signals reach the consumer devices as needed, it is necessary to test their RF characteristics. Nazan Scheunert helps develop the signaling and production testers that check these characteristics for mobile communications standards such as 5G.

Developing reliable solutions

An equally important aspect of smart cities is supplying power to off-grid components. Weather sensors and smart parking meters cannot function reliably without powerful batteries. "Our power consumption solution helps manufacturers optimize power consumption. Our goal is a battery lifetime of 10 years," says Product Manager Nikola Serdar.

Connectivity in Smart Cities

In smart cities, practically everything and everyone will be connected: vehicles, buildings, infrastructures and people.

Mobile communications in Smart Cities

Mobile communications plays a special role in smart cities. And providing mobile communications requires precise T&M equipment and effective security solutions.

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Fulfilling complex requirements

A variety of challenges must be overcome to make smart cities a reality. Component and module manufacturers and network operators face equally high requirements. All generated and transmitted signals must comply with strict specifications, e.g. for 5G, LTE or WLAN. This requires precise T&M equipment at practically every step of developing, maintaining and improving products and services.

Identifying trends

How does Rohde & Schwarz help? "Our T&M solutions allow all players to test, verify and adapt to mobile standards," explains Feng Xie, Market Segment Manager Wireless Technology. "I am constantly on the lookout for new trends in order to identify future needs in the industry." Another success factor for smart cities is smooth data flow. All network connections and data require top protection. Highly effective cybersecurity products are especially important for safety-critical applications such as smart traffic management. Product Manager Nikola Serdar is in charge of one of the Rohde & Schwarz IP connection solutions.

Turning the vision into reality

Our employees' passion and innovative talent make a decisive impact on the development of smart cities. We don't just imagine life with drones, electromobility, smart street lighting and many other smart technologies, we help shape it. Rohde & Schwarz offers and designs the necessary information, communications and security technology for the cities of tomorrow.

We help realize smart cities

Nikola Serdar, Product Manager

"My job as Product Manager is to be the interface between our development department and our customers. I am always in close contact with our customers to make sure I know what future test solutions they will need to develop and manufacture their products. I take this information and work together with the development department to define new products. I am responsible for these products throughout their entire lifecycle."

Nazan Scheunert, Senior Development Expert

"As Senior Development Expert, I am the project manager for the user interface of a signaling and production tester for 5G – a key technology in smart cities. My team and I work closely together with industry partners, hold training courses for our application and sales engineers, and collaborate with other business units in the company to provide integrated hardware and software solutions for our customers. I enjoy working on test solutions that help create the foundation for smart cities."

Feng Xie, Market Segment Manager

As Market Segment Manager Wireless Communications, the focus of my work is on wireless transmission. It is important to always see the big picture. Our T&M solutions are essential for manufacturing, maintaining, certifying and optimizing wireless applications. To make sure they remain essential, I monitor the market and approach our product and service team at an early stage to initiate new developments. I am proud that our company is laying the technological foundations for the next generation."