University of Surrey’s 5G/6G Innovation Centre celebrates triple awards success

Professor Tafazolli, Director of the Institute for Communication Systems, has been recognised for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Industry’ at the recent Institute for Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) awards.

At the same ceremony, Professor Mo Zoualfaghari was named ‘Innovator of the Year’ for his innovations in 5G, IoT and Generative AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Meanwhile, Dr Paul Thompson, received the 2023 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics awards “for exceptional service in satellite and space systems design, engineering, and international collaboration".

Dr Thompson is the third Briton to receive the award after Arthur C Clarke and Peter Garland.

Professor Tafazolli, who founded the University’s 5G/6G Innovation Centre, said: “It was an honour to receive the award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Industry’ at the ITP Awards on what was a brilliant evening celebrating the Telecoms Industry.

“It is a privilege to be at the forefront of an industry that is able to transform lives and share the University of Surrey’s commitment to developing new technologies.”

Dr Thompson said: “I was delighted to receive the Aerospace Communications Award from the AIAA and would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone who has helped shape the industry during my career.

“I would particularly like to thank all of my former colleagues at the University of Surrey, without whom this award would not have been possible.”

The University of Surrey’s 6G/5G Innovation Centre (6G/5GIC) broke new ground in October 2023, successfully connecting Surrey's 5G core to a cell site through the LEO constellation, which consists of over 600 satellites in orbit and is the second-largest constellation globally.

This breakthrough will pave the way for the provision of high-speed internet access to remote mobile phone users across the world.