NSF-Sponsored Research at Iowa State Pioneers Rural Connectivity Solutions

With funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Iowa State University and partners are launching the ARA: Wireless Living Lab for Smart and Connected Rural Communities. Led by Principal Investigator Hongwei Zhang, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the project is part of the Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) program and focuses on advancing rural broadband technologies in central Iowa. Supported by $8 million in federal funding, ARA will establish a wireless living lab across rural areas, including precision agriculture applications in crop and livestock farms. The platform will enable research into high-performance, low-latency broadband infrastructure, providing affordable solutions for rural connectivity. By leveraging advanced wireless technologies like massive MIMO, low Earth orbit satellites, and programmable networks, ARA aims to drive innovation in U.S. broadband and help bridge the digital divide in remote areas.

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