Rutgers educators test wireless apps to improve Internet speed

Rutgers University–New Brunswick educators are among a team of researchers testing new classes of wireless applications to improve Internet speed.Rutgers University–New Brunswick educators are among a team of researchers testing new classes of wireless applications to improve Internet speed.

The National Science Foundation and an industry consortium are spending $100 million in the next seven years to build a set of wireless networks for U.S. researchers to test new ways of boosting Internet speeds to support data-intensive applications in robotics, immersive virtual reality and traffic safety. 

They are working with Columbia University, New York University, New York City, Silicon Harlem, the City College of New York and the University of Arizona to improve networking speeds on the New York City COSMOS network by tapping previously unused radio spectrum bands and integrating optical fibers underground with radio antennas and other equipment on city rooftops and light poles. They hope an improved network will reduce car accidents, improve accessibility for people with disabilities and make next-generation 911 systems more secure.