Massive MIMO is a wireless technology that uses large numbers of antennas at a cell site to send and receive many signals at once, boosting capacity and reliability like turning a single-lane road into a multi-lane highway for data. It matters to investors because it can dramatically increase network speed and efficiency, reduce per-user costs, and drive demand for equipment and services from telecom operators and suppliers.
beamformingtechnical
Beamforming is a technology that steers wireless signals in a focused direction so devices receive stronger, clearer connections instead of spreading radio waves everywhere. Think of it like aiming a flashlight beam at a specific person rather than lighting an entire room: it boosts speed, range, and reliability while reducing interference. For investors, beamforming matters because it can improve product performance, enable new services, lower network costs, and create competitive advantages for companies selling chips, equipment, or connectivity services.
radio access network (ran)technical
A radio access network (RAN) is the collection of antennas, base stations and related equipment that connects mobile devices to the broader phone and internet network, acting like a bridge and traffic controller for wireless signals. It matters to investors because RAN design and upgrades determine how fast and reliably networks deliver services, influence a carrier’s costs and rollout speed for new technologies (like 5G), and shape which vendors or operators gain revenue and competitive advantage.
rf digital twintechnical
An RF digital twin is a virtual replica of a radio-frequency environment and the wireless equipment that operates in it, used to simulate how signals behave, interact, and interfere before anything is built or deployed. For investors this matters because it lets engineers test designs, predict performance, and fix problems in a low-cost, controlled setting—like a flight simulator for wireless systems—reducing technical risk, speeding product launches, and limiting costly field surprises.
over-the-air (ota)technical
Over-the-air (OTA) means sending software or firmware updates, settings, or data wirelessly to devices like phones, cars, appliances, or industrial equipment instead of requiring a physical connection or service visit. For investors, OTA capability affects product lifespan, customer experience, and maintenance costs—similar to how a car that can receive remote tune-ups avoids shop visits—impacting revenue, margins, liability exposure, and the pace at which a company can roll out new features or fixes.
channel state information (csi)technical
Channel State Information (CSI) is real-time data about how a wireless link is behaving—signal strength, interference and how the radio waves are being altered between a transmitter and receiver. Investors should care because CSI lets devices and networks adjust transmission to be faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient; better CSI handling can make wireless products and services more competitive, improve user experience and affect revenue and costs in communications businesses.
key performance indicators (kpis)technical
Measurable metrics a company uses to track how well it is achieving important goals, such as sales growth, profit margin, customer retention or production efficiency. KPIs matter to investors because they act like a dashboard or set of warning lights—showing the company’s health, operational focus and momentum in concrete numbers that help predict future earnings and risks.
Collaboration links digital twins with real-world measurements to reduce risk and speed development for 5G-advanced and emerging 6G networks
SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to accelerate high-precision Radio Frequency (RF) digital twins for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) development in 5G-Advanced and emerging 6G networks. This collaboration demonstrates how chipset, device, and network equipment manufacturers could more accurately predict and optimize massive MIMO performance prior to deployment, reducing rollout risk and speeding innovation for next-generation wireless systems.
As wireless networks evolve, massive MIMO performance is increasingly shaped by the unique RF conditions of each deployment site. Beamforming and precoding decisions that appear strong in simulation may perform differently once deployed. At the same time, the industry is pushing to apply AI within the radio access network (RAN), which requires high-quality channel data and repeatable benchmarks to build confidence in real-world outcomes.
Keysight and Qualcomm Technologies will jointly demonstrate how a high-fidelity RF digital twin can bridge the gap between simulation, lab emulation, and real-world network performance at Mobile World Congress 2026. The demonstration will take place at Keysight’s booth (Hall 5 #5F41) and show how a photorealistic RF digital twin of Qualcomm Technologies’ massive MIMO prototype network on the San Diego campus is created using Keysight’s Channel Studio RaySim and Qualcomm Technologies’ massive MIMO algorithms. The radio propagation modeling will capture site-specific effects which will then be verified by comparing results from Qualcomm Technologies’ end-to-end massive MIMO prototype network with lab-based testbeds using Keysight channel emulation and Qualcomm Technologies’ test devices.
The workflow demonstrates observed correlation in evaluated scenarios across key performance indicators (KPIs), including Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), rank and data throughput, when compared against over-the-air (OTA) measurements. The same validated workflow may be used to support generation of high-quality channel datasets to train and validate AI/machine learning techniques, such as Channel State Information (CSI) compression, adaptive beam management, and AI-assisted precoding optimization.
Kiran Mukkavilli, Senior Director, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., said: “Realistic RF digital twins are essential for developing and validating advanced beamforming and AI-based optimization techniques. By anchoring high-fidelity digital twins to Qualcomm Technologies’ end-to-end massive MIMO research platform, this collaboration demonstrates how high-fidelity modeling, combined with system-level testing and over-the-air validation, can improve confidence that massive MIMO algorithms will perform as expected in real deployments.”
Mosaab Abughalib, General Manager and Head of Wireless Solutions, Keysight, said: “High-precision RF digital twins help engineers connect algorithm design to measurable hardware performance. By combining raytraced digital twins with advanced channel emulation, Keysight enables customers to predict massive MIMO behavior before deployment, reducing risk and accelerating innovation toward AI-native 6G networks.”
At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product life cycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.
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