The Wireless Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Jonathan Chisum has been granted a two-year experimental license by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), enabling advanced wireless research and real-world 5G experimentation on the University of Notre Dame campus.
This experimental authorization allows Professor Chisum and his research group to conduct mobile wireless testing across multiple frequency bands critical to next-generation communications, including:
- 3300–3800 MHz (FR1) – up to 2.5W ERP
- 5925–7125 MHz – up to 2.5W ERP
- 24.25–27.5 GHz (FR2) – up to 31.62W ERP
- 37–40 GHz (FR2) – up to 31.62W ERP
The license supports mobile transmissions within a 2.5 km radius of Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering, creating a unique outdoor test environment for evaluating cutting-edge wireless systems. With high-gain antenna systems developed in Chisum’s lab, the platform enables radiated power levels of 1–2 watts in millimeter-wave bands—providing a powerful and flexible infrastructure for experimentation.
This capability will directly support ongoing efforts in 5G New Radio (NR) functional testbed development, allowing researchers to explore real-world performance, propagation, and system design challenges in both sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave frequencies. The license also opens the door for collaborative experiments across the Notre Dame research community.
This experimental license is part of the Wireless Institutes partnership with the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons (SCMC) Wideband Test Lab, also housed at the University of Notre Dame, to enable transition from the lab to the fab and to the broader wireless industry.
“This experimental license represents a significant step forward in our ability to test and validate advanced circuits and antennas for emerging wideband, power-efficient wireless technologies outside of the lab,” said Professor Chisum. “We welcome collaborators interested in leveraging this capability.”
Through collaboration with partners such as the Pratt Research Group, this initiative reinforces Notre Dame’s leadership in wireless innovation and its commitment to advancing the future of connectivity.
About the Wireless Institute
The Wireless Institute at the University of Notre Dame brings together researchers across disciplines to drive innovation in wireless systems, spectrum sharing, and next-generation communication technologies.
—Originally published on April 6, 2026, at wireless.nd.edu by Julia Hahn, the Wireless Institute at Notre Dame. For more information on this story or the Wireless Institute, contact wireless@nd.edu.