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Gerd Bohnet, Product Manager Waveguides and Accessories March 22, 2023

What is HELIFLEX?

In this week’s blog we look at one of the stables in the RFS portfolio – HELIFLEX. Designed and produced by RFS for over 70 years, our HELIFLEX solutions have been installed across the globe. Here, Gerd Bohnet, Product Line Manager Waveguide & Air Dielectric Cable at RFS talks us through the solution and how it is used.

Radio Frequency Systems, March 8, 2023

IWD 2023: Inspirational women throughout history

As we celebrate International Women’s Day today at RFS, we are also reflecting on some of the trailblazing women who have made significant contributions to STEM throughout history. From developing the foundational technology for WiFi to contributing to space exploration these are just 5 of the inspirational women that have paved the way for more women to explore careers in STEM industries.

Rani Makke, Product Director – BSA Product Line Management March 1, 2023

A guide to choosing Base Station Antennas

5G as a reality is already well underway. Most operators worldwide have already adopted 5G as their main technology to support the increased network traffic and new mobile applications requiring high bit rate. In this week’s blog, Rani MAKKE, BSA Product Line Manager at RFS, offers a guide to selecting Base Station equipment for operators that are in the process of extending their cellular networks.

Gurgen Harutyunyan, Head of Sales Central Europe, Nordics & MEA February 22, 2023

Building great relationships with distributors

Distributors play a hugely important role in the communications landscape. They are key to helping end customers make the most of the technology available to them. As a vendor we must work collaboratively with distributors to deliver the best possible deployments for end customers and in this week’s blog, we talk about the top ways we can support and build strong relationships with our distribution partners.

Farshid Degan, In-Building Systems February 16, 2023

What does digital transformation look like in the mining sector?

Mining may not be the first industry that springs to mind when it comes to Digital Transformation, but it is becoming clear that digitalization is on the cusp of unlocking significant benefits in this very traditional industry. In this week’s blog, we look at where new technologies fit in this market and how to overcome the challenges of installing the connectivity infrastructure needed to power them.

Radio Frequency Systems, February 8, 2023

Delivering the best in Metro connectivity

At RFS we have over a century of experience when it comes to designing cable solutions. From the the first insulated wire designed at Hackethal-Draht- und Kabelwerke AG, the forerunner of RFS, to our latest RADIAFLEX, HYBRIFLEX and Dragonskin offerings innovation and problem solving have always been at the heart of our solutions. This has led to RFS becoming the go-to provider for cable solutions for a number of applications, including in Metro environments.

Axel Schroeder, Product Line Manager, In-Tunnel Solutions February 2, 2023

Why fire safety should be at the top of your procurement check list

In this week's blog we look at fire safety and mission critical communications and why it is vital that procurement teams ensure they prepare for the worst at the point of installation

Leon Lenze, Product Manager January 24, 2023

A guide to RFS University

RFS solutions are used across thousands of sites across the globe. From metros to mines, oil platforms to private networks, our cable solutions are built to be reliable and long lasting. All of that begins with the installation process. Getting that right is at the heart of delivering a solution that will last for decades. To deliver this for our partners and customers, 7 years ago we set up RFS University and in this week’s blog Leon Lenze, Product Manager at RFS talks through how this works.

Steve Cass, Product Manager January 11, 2023

Delivering ‘true’ mission critical services

The wireless industry has a complex landscape made up of many layers of connectivity, serving a variety of different purposes. Some of those are the use cases we see every day – using 5G to download a TV program, or 4G to check work emails on the go. However, one of our key focuses and strengths at RFS is providing connectivity for the less visible use cases, most notably for Mission Critical applications. In this week’s blog, Steve Cass, Product Manager at RFS explores the world of mission critical connectivity and what it means to deliver ‘true’ critical services.

Radio Frequency Systems, January 4, 2023

2023 tech trends

Firstly, a happy new year to our colleagues, partners, and customers. As we start 2023, there is a lot to look forward to but also challenges that we as an industry must overcome. 2022 saw a variety of global factors that have had a significant impact on how the industry plans to move forward, however despite this, there is undoubtedly a positive outlook for 2023. So, with this in mind, the RFS team is taking stock of the landscape and looking ahead at what we think the major trends will be over the next 12 months.

Radio Frequency Systems, December 28, 2022

2022 Highlights: Best of RFS blogs

As the year draws to a close, we take look at the most read blogs of the year. Over the course of the last 12 months, we’ve covered everything from windloading to WiFi, DAS to spectrum efficiency. If you’re looking for a quick read (or two) while the office is quiet, see our top picks.

Radio Frequency Systems, December 22, 2022

An RF Night before Christmas

For those who find that the holidays simply don't have enough wireless buzz, 'The RF Night Before Christmas' may be just what you are looking for.

Erhard Mahlandt, R&D Manager, chief engineer December 15, 2022

Driving R&D innovation

In this week’s blog we sit down with Erhard Mahlandt, R&D Manager, chief engineer at RFS to chat about how the team approaches R&D. Erhard has been with RFS for 32 years and oversees cable R&D. We cover everything from what goes into the process, to how nothing goes to waste in the RFS R&D lab.

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities December 8, 2022

A communications safety-net for high-rise living

In this week’s blog Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities, Radio Frequency Systems looks at the need for reliable communications infrastructure in high rise buildings. With millions of people across the globe living and working in buildings above 75ft it is vital to ensure continuous connectivity, especially in the event of an emergency.

Axel Schroeder, Product Line Manager, In-Tunnel Solutions November 30, 2022

What is RADIAFLEX?

As we finish celebrating 50 years of RADIAFLEX evolution, it has been fantastic to reflect on the achievements and innovations we have delivered for this core solution. We have looked in detail at the successes of the technology, its evolution and its future. However for the final blog in our RADIAFLEX series we look at the nuts and bolts of the solution, giving a useful overview of the complete portfolio.

Andreas Bergmeister, Global Product Manager Transmission Lines November 24, 2022

Case study: Delivering in a crisis

In this week's blog we look at how our equipment can be used in an emergency setting. Mission critical is a huge focus for RFS, from offering solutions that support critical comms year-round, to our Hannover team delivering tailor-made cable fast to deliver coverage in the 2021 German floods, you can read more from Andreas Bergmeister, Global Product Manager - Transmission Lines.

Axel Schroeder, Product Line Manager, In-Tunnel Solutions November 2, 2022

RADIAFLEX Now

In our first blog celebrating the 50th anniversary of our flagship RADIAFLEX cable we looked at the history of the technology and how it has developed to ensure it is one of RFS’s industry firsts that lasts. Now we look at where RADIAFLEX is today and how it is helping customers worldwide to deliver connectivity in challenging spaces with contoured coverage delivered via our continuously innovative cables.

Scare Crow, Interactive Landscape Haunter October 31, 2022

Avoiding connectivity horror stories

It’s the spookiest day of the year, but did you know that Halloween has been celebrated for over 2,000 years? Originally an ancient Celtic festival it celebrated the end of summer with people wearing costumes to ward off ghosts, which sounds quite familiar. Over the centuries it has evolved and we have seen the addition of jack-o-lanterns, trick or treating, bobbing for apples and the holiday evolve into a celebration of all things spooky and scary. With this in mind, this week we’re taking a look at one of the scariest true stories we can think of as wireless experts.

Radio Frequency Systems, October 27, 2022

RADIAFLEX Then

RADIAFLEX has been a staple in the RFS portfolio for the last five decades. One of our most popular and widely deployed technologies we are celebrating its 50th anniversary this October. As part of the celebrations, we take a look back at the long history of the technology and how it has changed over the years.

Radio Frequency Systems, October 11, 2022

Outstanding Women: Continuing to celebrate women in STEM

It was sad to hear this week that this year's Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of Women in STEM will be the last due to a lack of funding for the event. However, it is vital that we as an industry continue to push for diversity and inclusion across our teams, so in this week's blog we celebrate four more of the outstanding women here at RFS.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director October 6, 2022

A World without Wireless?

This week we launched the new RFS landscape, giving a practical map of the environments RFS is engaged in delivering essential connectivity from deep underground in metro lines, to mountain tops. You can explore the world through our RFS lens to see the solutions we offer and the problems we are helping to solve the world over. However, in this week’s blog we wanted to look at the topic of ‘connectivity everywhere’. It’s a great phrase, very catchy and looks good on leaflets but do we really mean it or are there areas where we can live in a world without wireless? Are we in a place with connectivity everywhere, or is it hyperbole? Let’s look.

Norm Franke, System Sales Manager September 29, 2022

Case Study: Futureproofing infrastructure in Australia

This week we take a look at some of our recent work with one of our partners in Australia. We’ve worked across a range of broadcast and communications projects to address some of the key challenges faced by the organization, helping to tackle their immediate needs and work to prepare for the future.

Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager Broadcast September 22, 2022

Spectrum efficiency: Broadcast

We’ve now arrived at the final part of our four parts series looking at the importance of spectrum efficiency and how to achieve it. Following a close look at the telecoms and enterprise sectors, now Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager for Broadcast at RFS gives his take on how the topic impacts the broadcast sector. RFS is unique in sitting in both the telecoms and broadcast sector giving a unique perspective when it comes to making the best of spectrum changes and using RF equipment to maximize efficiency.

Tomasz Borodo, Systems Sales Manager Broadcast September 15, 2022

Case study: Navigating logistical challenges to deliver DVB-T2 in Poland

In this week's blog we travel to Poland and look at our recent work with broadcasters to deploy DVB-T2 ready antenna and transmission line equipment to over 60 sites serving millions of viewers across the entire country in less than 12 months.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director September 8, 2022

5G: where exactly are we?

As people head back into the office after the summer break it seems a good time to take stock of the industry landscape and how 5G roll-outs are shaping up. In this week’s blog, Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director at RFS looks through the latest analysis and news to give his take on the state of 5G.

John Pinckert, RFS Sales and Business Development Manager August 24, 2022

Spectrum efficiency: Making the most of private networks

In our last installment on the topic, we looked at how to tackle spectrum efficiency in the telecoms space. In this blog, we drill down into some of the practicalities of how we can tackle this issue looking now at private networks. Although momentum on the topic is growing across the world, the US market is leading the way, showing how businesses can make the most of private networks. With this in mind, John Pinckert, Sales and Business Development Manager at RFS, looks at how the private networks market is developing and how to address spectrum efficiency from the get-go.

Radio Frequency Systems, August 17, 2022

Summer Digest: Tackling Tower Loading

In our final summer digest blog, we look at the topic of tower loading. Maximizing the efficiency and capacity of cell sites is understandably very high up on the priority list of operators. They need to increase the capabilities of sites without spiraling CAPEX and OPEX costs and a key element is to improve tower loading. We’ve rounded up articles that focus on tackling this problem concentrating on wind loading and condensing equipment.

Paula Mennone, Global Product MarCom Manager August 10, 2022

Travel guide: managing connectivity over summer holidays

It is August and as many are heading off on their summer holidays, the team looks at how tourism and travel impacts connectivity demands. It may only be a few months of the year, but mobile customers expect to remain connected. The question for operators is, can this be achieved without skyrocketing CAPEX costs that eat into their bottom line?

Julien Touchet, Mechanical Engineer August 3, 2022

Whitepaper: Pushing the limits of wind loading on macro sites

In our latest blog, our Mobile Site Solutions team is looking at how wireless equipment designers are pushing the limits of wind loading on macro sites, looking at how test and measurement can be used to squeeze every ounce of capacity out of existing cell sites.

Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager Broadcast July 28, 2022

Summer Digest: Best of Broadcast

In the next installment of our summer digest where we round up some of the best articles and blogs over the last 12 months, we look to our broadcast team. It is an exciting time in the broadcast space with ATSC3.0 beginning to take shape along with a buildup in the noise surrounding 5G broadcast. With this in mind, Nick Wymant Global Product Manager – Broadcast gives his top picks.

Giampiero Capraro, Global Product Manager, Base Station Antennas July 21, 2022

Spectrum efficiency: Delivering for 5G

In the next installment in our spectrum efficiency series, we are looking at the traditional telecoms space. There are of course multiple elements making up the big picture of spectrum efficiency, but here Giampiero Capraro, Global Product Manager, Base Station Antennas at RFS looks at the hardware aspect and how this can be optimized to drive efficiency.

Radio Frequency Systems, July 13, 2022

RFS news roundup: May/June

The last few months have continued to see interesting developments across the entire wireless industry. From 5G broadcast demonstrations to analysis of 5G adoption rates it’s been a busy end to H1 for the industry and at RFS. In our next round up we catch up with the team to get their take on some of the biggest stories over the past few months.

Radio Frequency Systems, July 7, 2022

RFS summer digest: Best of Microwave

Microwave solutions are a real strength of the RFS team. We’re fortunate to have some of the industry’s best and brightest working on solutions to address the key challenges that our customers face when it comes to delivering comprehensive, quality coverage in a range of environments. In the first of our summer digest blogs, we take a deep dive into the topic of microwave, picking out some of our most interesting articles on the subject.

Monika Maurer, CEO and President June 30, 2022

Why pride is more relevant than ever in STEM businesses

As pride month draws to a close it has been fantastic to see businesses across every industry vocalizing their commitment to providing inclusive workspaces, free from discrimination. At RFS we are committed to being part of the movement that ensures our LGBTQ+ colleagues, customers and partners are supported and in this week’s blog we look at how and why this is positive action that is vital for our industry.

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities June 16, 2022

InTune: Why an F1 mindset is the key to unlocking connected city potential

Next in our series of InTune blogs, we take a look at connected cities. It is one of the big IoT use cases, and certainly a topic that has gained momentum with the global smart city market anticipated to reach US$2.86 trillion in 2026, growing over 20% in the next 4 years. Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities at RFS talks us through the current landscape and explains exactly what connected cities have got to do with F1.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director June 8, 2022

Unlocking doors with spectrum efficiency

There is no doubt that we are moving towards a world where frequency spectrum is one of the hottest commodities. Spectrum equals different things depending on who you are talking to, but all are united in wanting more of it, used as efficiently as possible. This week’s blog is the first in a series focusing on spectrum efficiency, what that means for governments, the environment, enterprises, broadcasters, and telecoms, and how we can look to improve spectrum efficiency in different spaces. We will be speaking to specialists across the RFS team to get their take, but first Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director at RFS gives an introduction to the current spectrum landscape.

Axel Schroeder, Product Line Manager, In-Tunnel Solutions June 1, 2022

What to expect at Critical Communications World 2022

The leading global conference for mission-critical and business critical communications is this year heading to Vienna. After two years of reduced attendance due to the pandemic, the 2022 show is set to see record numbers of visitors, highlighting the importance of the show in the industry calendar. In this week’s blog Axel Schroeder, Global Product Manager Wireless Indoor Solutions tells us what to expect from RFS at this year’s show and gives his top picks on what to see while in Vienna.

Ken Lim, VP Sales APAC May 23, 2022

What keeps operators up at night?

The challenges that operators face today when evolving their networks, operations, and business models are complex. Service providers are having to transform their mobile network to address the growing demand for high-speed data traffic and improve their subscriber experience to remain competitive. This results in a lot of questions. How do market-leading APAC operators succeed by improving their business performance in specific areas? How does the operator overcome their network, operational, and business challenges and build a scalable network to provide the best customer experience to their subscribers? Ken Lim, VP of Sales, APAC at RFS, discusses how RFS offers solutions, driven by customer challenges that align with operators' business objectives and help operators address the key issues that keep them awake at night.

Neil Gibson, 1.5°C Climate Ambition Project Manager May 10, 2022

InTune: Time for Climate action

Only this week, research from the UK Met Office predicted that the probability of one of the next five years surpassing the 1.5°C global heating limit set by international governments is now 50%, up from 20% in 2020. This highlights why it is more important than ever that businesses double down on the climate ambition pledges that many have made and focus on taking positive action to ensure that, for the good of the planet, the 1.5°C limit is not breached. Neil Gibson, who is leading our 1.5°C Climate Ambition project, looks at how the telecommunications industry in particular can take action now.

Radio Frequency Systems, May 5, 2022

RFS news roundup: March/April

We’re more than halfway through H1 and it has been a busy and productive year so far for both the wireless industry and RFS. In our latest round up, the RFS team looks at some of the big developments over the past two months from smart cities to 5G investment.

Radio Frequency Systems, April 27, 2022

Q&A: Navigating connectivity for mining

Going underground is nothing new for the team at RFS. As one of the biggest providers of connectivity solutions for metro environments in the world, supplying equipment in 42% of metros globally, delivering connectivity below ground level is one of our main strengths. But how does delivering connectivity deep underground change when we move into a mining environment? Axel Schroeder, Global Product Line Manager-Wireless Indoor Solutions and Farshid Degan, In-Building Systems, talk through how the challenge changes and how RFS is helping customers to meet their connectivity needs.

Todd Loney, Sales Manager, USA Broadcast April 21, 2022

A guide to investing in ATSC3.0 hardware

With NAB just around the corner it is already clear that one of the big topics for broadcasters at the show this year will be ATSC3.0. Next Generation TV has been discussed for several years but we’re now starting to move from discussions to reality and this presents a challenge for broadcasters. The new standard of course requires new equipment and only a couple of years after the repack and its associated costs, it is vital to ensure that any investment in new hardware drives returns. Todd Loney, Sales Manager, USA Broadcast at RFS gives his five dos and don’ts of getting ATSC3.0 ready.

Giampiero Capraro, Global Product Manager, Base Station Antennas April 14, 2022

Taking a load off: keeping pace with windload challenges

Windloading is not a new problem, but it is a never ending one. As networks advance and deliver more capacity than ever before, so does the need to improve windloading. It is a question that has a constantly evolving answer and we as equipment designers need to keep pace with it. We recently looked at how to address this with microwave antennas, and now Giampiero Capraro, Global Director, Product Line Management at RFS explains what is needed to stay one step ahead on windloading challenges at macro sites.

Guillaume PROT, Product Line Manager, Microwave March 30, 2022

Why high wind load is key for the future of urban backhaul

Climate change is having a profound impact on virtually every aspect of life. It is driving individuals and businesses alike to rethink the effect they are having on the planet and look to live and work in greener and more sustainable ways. This is fantastic and something that we at RFS have as a key focus, but what about in the meantime? Guillaume Prot, Product Line Manager, Microwave explains why ultimately, we need to deal with the immediate consequences of global warming as well as looking at altering the trajectory of climate change.

Alec Wang, VP Mobile Site Solutions Business Unit March 23, 2022

InTune: Connectivity Everywhere

At MWC we shared our top 10 market trends for 2022 and each of our monthly InTune blogs looks at a different one of those topics in depth. This month we are looking at the theme Connectivity Everywhere. As 5G hits its stride and moves from trials to full rollouts the next challenge for the wireless industry is delivering connectivity everywhere. But the question is, is it worth it?

Radio Frequency Systems, March 16, 2022

In-building is the key to big 5G rewards

Earlier this year, we at RFS announced we would be expanding our HYBRIFLEX portfolio with three additional solutions to address the challenges of 5G roll out in different in-building and cross campus environments. Matt Gauvin, Global Product Line Manager – Fiber and Power Solutions and Stephen Cass, EMEA Regional Sales Manager at RFS now take a closer look at the solutions and the differences they make for our customers.

Radio Frequency Systems, March 8, 2022

IWD 2022: Outstanding women at RFS - Part 2

The technology sector has taken significant steps forward in recent years with more women stepping into senior roles across the industry. At RFS we are proud on International Women’s’ Day to celebrate some of the outstanding women that work for our organization across the world.

Radio Frequency Systems, March 8, 2022

IWD 2022: Outstanding women at RFS - Part 1

Radio Frequency Systems, March 3, 2022

RFS news roundup: January February

It’s been a busy start to 2022 in the wireless communication industry with OpenRAN, spectrum allocations and CBRS high up on the conversation agenda. We take a look at some of January and February’s biggest stories with comments from the RFS team.

Radio Frequency Systems, February 28, 2022

Why RFS is unique in the industry

We understand you need to take wireless connectivity everywhere…in the most cost-effective way possible. Our solutions help you achieve every one of these goals. Discover the RFS difference.

Radio Frequency Systems, February 16, 2022

Mobile World Congress 2022: What to expect

It’s always been the biggest event in the telecom calendar and coming so early in the year, Mobile World Congress typically sets the stage for what we, as an industry, can expect for the rest of the year. As we enter February, there is the usual flurry of predictions for the show’s big topics and we at RFS have our own opinions. In late 2021 we worked with industry influencers to define the big trends for the year from our point of view and here is a look at our top 10.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director February 9, 2022

InTune with...OpenRAN

At the start of 2022 the RFS team worked with industry influencers to define our top 10 tech trends for 2022. We’ll be revealing the top 10 ahead of MWC, but as a flavour of some of the areas we will be covering, Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing and Transformation Director at RFS looks at one of the most obvious trends for 2022 – OpenRAN.

Asad Zoberi, Director of Sales January 19, 2022

Overcoming Wi-Fi 6e interference issues

With any technology, there are pros and cons; the key to ensuring a technology thrives is finding a way to work around the disadvantages and push the advantages to their full potential. In this week’s blog Asad Zoberi, Director of Sales at RFS takes us through the potential issue of Wi-Fi 6e interference for microwave backhaul and how to address it.

Peng Lee Tan, Sales Director for South-East Asia January 11, 2022

Spotlight on South-East Asia

Consolidation has been a massive trend within South-East Asia this year, with the region's operators announcing merger deals worth a combined $30bn. The aim is to improve profitability and the services offered to customers. Following these significant changes to the telecoms landscape, we caught up with Peng Lee Tan, Sales Director for South-East Asia at RFS, to get his take on developments in the region and what we can expect in 2022.

Eric Wen, , Head of Sales of North-East Asia Region January 5, 2022

Spotlight on North-East Asia

North-East Asia is one of the most exciting and advanced telecoms regions globally. It is estimated that the region will deliver coverage to more than 95% of its population by 2027, pinpointing it as an area marching ahead for wireless and particularly 5G rollouts. As we begin 2022, Eric Wen, Head of Sales of North-East Asia Region at RFS, reflects on the last 12 months and looks ahead on what to expect in the region this year.

Radio Frequency Systems, January 4, 2022

RFS 2022 predictions

Happy new year from RFS and as we begin 2022, we catch up with the leadership team at RFS to get their predictions on what lies instore for the year ahead

Paula Mennone, Global Product MarCom Manager December 22, 2021

Santa’s workshop wireless needs

At the most festive time of the year the RFS communications team has taken the opportunity to have a little bit of fun. Offices in many parts of the world may be winding down, but there is one notable exception. For Santa and his elves, it is by far the busiest time of the year with millions of toys to make and deliver ahead of the 25th December deadline, but can wireless technology make the mammoth task a little easier?

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities December 16, 2021

A city planner’s guide to connectivity

Despite being an integral part of modern life, all too often when it comes to city planning and new buildings, connectivity is further down the list of priorities than you would expect. Ensuring the energy efficiency of new buildings is an understandable and vital priority, but the materials used to achieve this can make connectivity a challenge. Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities at RFS looks at the challenges of delivering connectivity in modern cities and how to address them.

Asad Zoberi, Director of Sales December 7, 2021

The truth about tower loading

One of the most difficult challenges facing the telecoms industry is how to add the capacity that is being demanded by consumer and enterprise alike, without significantly expanding infrastructure. Cell towers across the globe are full to physical capacity but not able to deliver with the network capacity needed. It is a conundrum that is an ever-growing concern for operators but is there a way that they can make the demand for coverage and tower loading limitations add up? Asad Zoberi, Director of Sales at RFS explains how new technologies can make this possible.

Mark Ward, Director Global Defence and Services December 1, 2021

Spotlight on high frequency solutions

High frequency solutions have been a core part of the RFS portfolio for many years. As the defense industry starts to gravitate away from satellite communications, and back to high frequency, Mark Ward, Director Global Defence and Services at RFS explores the latest trends and how this technology will evolve in the next few years.

Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager Broadcast November 9, 2021

Trialing the future of broadcast

For this week’s blog we catch up with Nick Wymant from the broadcast team who talks us through some of the most exciting broadcast projects RFS is currently involved with. As the industry looks to define what the future will look like from a technology perspective, Nick explains how RFS equipment is playing a vital role.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director November 3, 2021

5G are we there yet?

The last 12 months have seen a tangible leap forward in the state of real-world 5G deployments with operators around the world beginning to offer 5G services to customers. However, as some in the industry begin to discuss the shape of 6G, Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing and Transformation Director at RFS shares his views on whether it’s too soon to talk 6G and how far we really are down the road to 5G maturity.

Hesham Hesham El-Nahhas, General Manager Middle East and Africa October 27, 2021

Spotlight on the Middle East and Africa

In this week’s blog we continue to meet RFS’s global teams and get their thoughts on the latest trends and priorities for their markets. Middle East and Africa spans over 70 countries and encompasses a population of over 1.7 billion with connectivity a huge priority. We caught up with Hesham El-Nahhas, General Manager Middle East and Africa at RFS to get a snapshot of what is on the horizon.

Gerd Bohnet, Product Manager Waveguides and Accessories October 20, 2021

What are FLEXWELL elliptical waveguides?

In this week’s blog, we look at another of our most popular flagship products – the FLEXWELL elliptical waveguides. Since RFS pioneered the FLEXWELL solution in 1961, it has constantly evolved to meet the needs of our customers, and so we caught up with Gerd Bohnet, Product Manager Waveguides and Accessories at RFS to find out what makes this such a key solution for our customers.

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities October 14, 2021

Hiding infrastructure: why stealth needs to be a key part of 5G strategies

As 5G becomes a reality, different priorities bubble to the surface. Yes, capacity and coverage are still critical, but they are accompanied by the need for concealment. This is somewhat new as a pressing concern when it comes to telecoms infrastructure. There has always been a ‘Not in my back yard’ attitude when it comes to telecoms equipment, but when we consider the scale of equipment needed to make comprehensive 5G coverage a reality, making sure it blends into the environment is now a key priority for operators.

Giampiero Capraro, Global Product Manager, Base Station Antennas October 7, 2021

Tonics for the biggest BSA headaches facing carriers

In this week’s blog, Giampiero Capraro, Global Product Manager, Base Station Antennas at RFS talks us through some of the biggest challenges operators are facing when it comes to managing their macro cell sites. From rising costs to overcrowding he takes us through the biggest headaches and how equipment designers can help.

Radio Frequency Systems, September 22, 2021

Delivering communications in extreme conditions

In the last 12 months from forest fires to extreme winds, rain and snow, the planet is starting to truly feel the effects of global warming, as it has a profound impact on climates across the world. In this week’s blog Jean-Pierre Harel, head of Research for MSS and Neil Gibson, head of the Climate ambition project at RFS explore how this impacts communication and what RFS is doing to address the problem.

Grace Yu, Global Supply Chain Planning Manager August 10, 2021

Why a Problem-Solving Mindset is Essential in Logistics

As cliché as it has become, the past 18 months has been completely unprecedented. There are very few aspects of life that can be described as ‘business as usual’, and logistics is no exception. In fact, it is an area that has faced more disruption than most, as the Suez Canal blockage compounded by covid delays forced businesses to think more creatively than ever before to minimize the impact on their customers. We caught up with Grace Yu, Global Supply Chain Planning Manager at RFS to find out more about coping with the challenges.

Radio Frequency Systems, August 5, 2021

The Best of RFS

It’s August, the sun is shining, and as our teams look forward to well-earned summer breaks over the next few weeks, we rounded up some of the best RFS blogs over the past 12 months for you to enjoy with something for everyone.

Ben Holt, National Director – Services July 28, 2021

Proper (RF) Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Choosing the right equipment is only part of the puzzle when it comes to delivering connectivity. From both a broadcast and telecoms perspective, a good understanding of the RF landscape ensures that a project is designed to optimize connectivity, and so in this week’s blog Ben Holt, National Director – Services at RFS tells us why good RF planning is the foundation of proper performance.

Radio Frequency Systems, July 22, 2021

Outstanding Women at RFS - Part 2

Throughout the year we have been hearing from some of the outstanding women that play a vital role in the RFS team. To coincide with International Women’s Day, we chatted with RFS CEO Monika Maurer to get her take on why it is so vital that women are encouraged to thrive in the industry, stating “We as an industry are moving in the right direction to ensure women are able to take full advantage of all opportunities that such an interesting and exciting sector is offering, and I would encourage them to have the self-belief to make the most of them.”

Radio Frequency Systems, July 20, 2021

Outstanding Women at RFS - Part 1: Sylvia Lacroix

To coincide with International Women’s day earlier this year we celebrated some of the outstanding women that play a big role at RFS. However, once a year is not enough to showcase the contribution that our female employees make. Earlier this year Sylvia Lacroix joined the RFS team as MAS Factory Director and having had a few months to settle in, we caught up with her to find out her thoughts on the industry and the role women have to play.

Rani Makke, Product Director – BSA Product Line Management July 12, 2021

Add 5G to towers without adding costs

In our final MWC MasterTalk for 2021, we talk Macro sites with Rani Makke, Base Station Antenna Director at RFS. Limited space at base station sites is a headache that has plagued operators for years, and the rising demand for connectivity and advent of 5G only serves to compound this. Operators and installers need to find a way to accommodate 5G equipment without impacting 3G and 4G infrastructure as an absolute priority.

Carla Taborda, Head of Market Technical Solutions LATAM July 9, 2021

Discover the ideal booted jumpers for any application

As we reach the penultimate installment in our RFS MasterTalk series, we hear from Carla Taborda, Head of Market Technical Solutions at RFS discussing the need for high performing booted jumper cables. In an often overlooked area of network infrastructure, we look at the real-cost of opting for inferior jumper cables.

Rick Wei, Marketing Technical Sales Director APAC July 7, 2021

Deliver the best-possible 5G performance in tunnels

In the second of RFS’s MasterTalk series Rick Wei, Market Technical Sales Director at RFS APAC talks cable. Cable for underground connectivity is an RFS specialty with our RADIAFLEX® radiating cable the world’s leading “leaky feeder” cable solution and used in 41% of metro tunnels across the globe.

Andrew Paulley, UK Managing Director July 5, 2021

Is DRS the new DAS?

5G roll outs are picking up pace and as coverage becomes much more widespread, operators face their next challenge – ensuring that the coverage extends into buildings. As mobile user habits continue to demonstrate that there is demand for coverage everywhere, Andrew Paulley, Managing Director of RFS UK, looks at the best way to tackle the 5G in-building challenge.

Andrew Paulley, UK Managing Director July 5, 2021

Bringing wireless networks closer to people

In the next MasterTalk installment, Andrew Paulley, Managing Director at RFS UK talks all things DAS. The demands of consumers when it comes to mobile connectivity have sky-rocketed; there is a universal expectation that mobile data will work seamlessly all the time. And when it doesn’t, where does the buck stop? – with network providers.

Benoit Bled, Product Line Manager Microwave Antennas Solutions June 30, 2021

Take 5G backhaul long-haul with one microwave antenna

At RFS innovation has been part of our life blood since 1900 and we are proud to be involved in the development of so many industry firsts that last. Part of that success is down to the great team we have, the expertise they bring to RFS and its customers. To coincide with MWC we are celebrating that expertise with a series of MasterTalks, with our giving their take on the latest industry issues – starting with our Microwave Antenna Solutions Team.

Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager Broadcast June 2, 2021

Case Study: State of Arkansas PBS - delivering future ready infrastructure to deal with today’s challenges

2020 was a year like no other and as a result our customers came to us with some unique challenges. This week we look at one of our broadcast projects from 2020 and sit down with Nick Wymant, Global Product Line Manager at RFS and Andrew Bicknell, CTO at Arkansas PBS to find out more about a collaboration at the height of the pandemic that sought to address an urgent need, while also making a smart investment in the future.

Rick Wei, Marketing Technical Sales Director APAC May 26, 2021

Spotlight on China

Although global travel remains heavily restricted, we're continuing our virtual world tour; meeting with our international teams to learn more about how the telecoms landscape in each region. This week's stop is with Rick Wei, Marketing Technical Sales Director APAC at RFS who shares his insights.

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities May 18, 2021

The Dragon has landed: the answer to fire-safety challenges

When it comes to communication equipment fire safety is a bigger priority for procurement teams than ever before. As our customers look for ways to meet more stringent fire safety regulation, we catch up with Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager – In Building Solutions to hear how in the 12 months since the launch of DragonSkin, we have helped our customers fulfil fire safety requirements.

Britta Ferner, Global HR VP May 11, 2021

A century of turning insights into innovation

When digging in the RFS archives, we found a factory workers contract from 1907 which got us thinking about not how the company has changed in the last century, but how it has stayed the same. Britta Ferner, RFS Global HR VP tells us more about RFS’s history and how 100-year-old values are still at the heart of the business.

Radio Frequency Systems, April 28, 2021

Going Underground: delivering in-tunnel connectivity

RFS has a long and proud history of in-tunnel deployments, from the New York Subway to the Follo Line project which broke the world record for in-tunnel download speeds. This week we caught up with Axel Schroeder, Commercial Product Manager, Wireless Indoor Solutions and Nemo Galletti, Global Account and Regional Sales Manager to hear about one of our most recent metro deployments.

Neil Gibson, 1.5°C Climate Ambition Project Manager April 22, 2021

Celebrating Earth Day with plans for a greener future

Today marks the 51st Earth Day, and of course brings the topic of climate change and the impact it is having across the globe to the top of many agendas. Here at RFS we caught up with Neil Gibson who is leading our 1.5°C Climate Ambition project to find out more about RFS’s reaction to the climate crisis.

Andrew Paulley, UK Managing Director April 9, 2021

Spotlight on the UK

Spectrum auctions are part and parcel of new network generation rollouts, but they also provide insight into the mood of a particular region and how its landscape will develop over the coming years. The recent UK auction raised £1.36bn, only slightly above the £1.1bn reserve and a far cry from the £2.2bn some analysts had been predicting. So, what does this tell us about the state of the UK telecoms market? We caught up with Andrew Paulley, UK Managing Director at RFS to get his take on 5G and a range of other industry issues.

Matt Gauvin, Global Product Line Manager Fiber and Power Solutions April 7, 2021

What is HYBRIFLEX?

HYBRIFLEX cable has been a staple in the RFS solutions portfolio since 2010 and is used by dozens of operators across the globe. As it is one of our most popular products, we spent some time with Matt Gauvin, Global Product Line Manager Fiber and Power Solutions this week to take a deep dive into all things HYBRIFLEX.

Philippe Fizellier, Chief Operating Officer April 1, 2021

The best of both worlds with a global, local company

When it comes to choosing between a local partner and a global partner for infrastructure, it can be a difficult choice. Both have their benefits and drawbacks but ultimately opting for one over the other usually entails some element of compromise. In this week’s blog, Philippe Fizellier, RFS Chief Operating Officer, explores whether it is possible to find a partner that is capable of delivering the benefits of both.

Benoit Bled, Product Line Manager Microwave Antennas Solutions March 24, 2021

Dual Band everywhere: the future of 5G backhaul

Reliable backhaul is an absolutely critical part of that solid infrastructure and so one of the big challenges that operators face is how to deliver robust backhaul that marries the capacity, coverage and reliability to let 5G reach its promised potential.

Radio Frequency Systems, March 23, 2021

Tower sharing – the key to 5G?

Tower sharing is one of the hottest topics in telecoms for 2021. As operators look to leaner business models to make the roll out of 5G viable, tower sharing offers an opportunity to reduce costs while increasing capacity. Already delivering benefits for operators in a number of regions, we take a deeper dive into why tower sharing will be a crucial component of the 5G landscape.

Radio Frequency Systems, March 14, 2021

Spotlight on Outstanding Women at RFS

To celebrate International Women’s Day and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to empowering women in the industry we shine a spotlight on some of the outstanding women in leadership roles at RFS

Monika Maurer, CEO and President March 7, 2021

International Women’s Day 2021

International Women’s day is a day that celebrates the achievements of women and raises awareness of the need for complete gender equality. With the issue of women in leadership high on the agenda for IWD 2021, we took the opportunity to sit down with RFS CEO Monika Maurer to get her view.

Tom Kuklo, Global Product Manager Connected Cities February 17, 2021

If you can't take the heat: A guide to fire safe communications equipment

Being able to communicate is a basic expectation, but in the event of a fire it becomes absolutely critical. Those responsible for the procurement of communications equipment must consider the worst-case scenario when choosing infrastructure.

Marcos Wrobel, Channel Sales Manager EMEA February 12, 2021

Being the perfect channel partner

Valentine’s day – depending on your point of view it’s either the most romantic day of the year, or a shameless sales opportunity for florists and chocolatiers. Regardless of your level of cynicism, it is a day that shines a spotlight on relationships and at RFS we’re thinking about our channel partners.

Peter Raabe, Strategic Marketing Director February 3, 2021

5G by stealth: getting next generation mobile infrastructure right

2021 is a year for action in the telecoms industry. The past few years have focused on the sector’s vision for 5G and now operators are faced with the challenge of rolling it out, at scale, in real world environments.

Manoj Gurnani, Head of India January 26, 2021

Spotlight on India

As part of our virtual globetrotting, we’ve been catching up with the RFS team across the world to hear their thoughts on the biggest industry trends in each region. This week we sit down with Manoj Gurnani, Head of India at RFS to hear his thoughts on the India market and what the future holds.

Radio Frequency Systems, January 14, 2021

RFS regional predictions 2021

Last week you heard from our business unit executives on what they think will be the biggest trends for 2021. This week, despite continuing restrictions on travel, we head around the globe to catch up with RFS’s regional VPs and get their views on what 2021 has in store.

Radio Frequency Systems, January 8, 2021

RFS 2021 predictions

As 2021 starts, we speak to the team at RFS to get their take on what the biggest trends will be for the wireless industry in for 2021.

Nick Wymant, Global Product Manager Broadcast December 18, 2020

Creating a future proof path for US broadcasters

As the year draws to a close, Nick Wymant looks at how ATSC3.0 will change how over-the-air TV works at a fundamental level and the opportunities this presents for US broadcasters.

Laurent Cruchant, VP BU Base Station Antenna December 17, 2020

What can LEGO teach us about building a 5G network

For 62 years we have seen those distinctive bricks on Christmas morning and been amazed at the complicated structures that can be built with such simple building blocks. It’s is an interesting concept and especially interesting for the team at RFS when we apply it to 5G networks.

Wilson Conti, VP Sales LATAM December 2, 2020

Spotlight on LATAM

As the year draws to a close, we catch up with Wilson Conti, General Manager and Sales VP LATAM to reflect on the past year and get his take on the latest industry trends in the region.

Andreas Bergmeister, Global Product Manager Transmission Lines November 24, 2020

Spotlight on Germany

As RFS celebrates its 120th birthday, we look at Germany which has been a key region for us since RFS’s founder Louis Hackethal developed the company’s first invention of insulated wire in 1900. Let’s takes a look at how, over a century later, RFS is still meeting the needs of its German customers.

Benoit Bled, Product Line Manager Microwave Antennas Solutions November 20, 2020

The Real Cost of Low Cost

In our first blog on the impact of poor Side Lobes, we looked at how detrimental poor radiation pattern planning can be when it comes to performance. Now we take a closer look at the factors that can cause poor Side Lobes and the impact they have for customers.

Benoit Bled, Product Line Manager Microwave Antennas Solutions November 13, 2020

The Truth about Side Lobes

Sidelobes are a naturally occurring part of antenna design, but a poor Side Lobe is one that is either outside of specification or drifts out of specification with time. As connectivity demands increase, maximum performance is absolutely critical and ultimately that starts with antenna design.

Christian Barb, VP Sales NA November 4, 2020

CBRS: The New Wild West of Wireless?

One of the biggest disruptions in the telecoms space this year is undoubtedly the CBRS auction in the US. It has caused a ripple of excitement across the industry, and understandably so, as it has the potential to be a real game changer.

Emmanuel Saint Dizier, VP BU Microwave Antenna Solutions October 22, 2020

Backhaul to the future: Why microwave is the answer

When operators think about options for 5G backhaul, they may instinctively look to fiber solutions. However, in doing so they risk missing the opportunity of not only a more practical and cost-effective solution but one that can outstrip fiber when it comes to performance.

Laurent Cruchant, VP BU Base Station Antenna October 14, 2020

“Simplifying complexification” – with no compromises

When it comes to telecoms capacity it seems the phrase that springs to mind is ‘more is more’. The ‘more is more’ approach is not simply not feasible.

Alec Wang, VP Mobile Site Solutions Business Unit September 30, 2020

Taking a different look at in-building communications

Recently, there have been two such sayings that struck a chord with us and made us look again, with a slightly more questioning eye...

Ken Lim, VP Sales APAC September 23, 2020

Spotlight on APAC: Q and A with Ken Lim, VP Sales APAC

Over summer, Ken Lim joined RFS as the new VP Sales for APAC. We sat down with him to find out more about the biggest trends in the region and his vision for RFS over the next 12 months

Christian Barb, VP Sales NA July 28, 2020

Spotlight on North America

Christian Barb joined the RFS team in March earlier this year. He takes us through his first 100 days with the company, and what the next 100 hold, especially for the North America Market.

Axel Schroeder, Product Line Manager, In-Tunnel Solutions July 16, 2020

An eye on the future of in-tunnel connectivity

How do operating metro services meet the consumer need for high and reliable connectivity?