Freeband Profile

Freeband Communication is a Dutch national research program aiming to create a leading knowledge position for the Netherlands in the area of ambient, intelligent communication. Freeband comprises more than 27 organisations, including all-important technology providers and many representative end-user organisations.

People today are surrounded by communication means. The last few decades have lead to an explosion of different means of communication. We are on the edge of a new 'paradigm change' which will move the centre of information control to the individual. The equipment that surrounds him will, moreover, become 'intelligent' and will react on his commands and wishes as he moves around. This future vision is called the 4th generation of communication (4G). It is communication with a maximum of freedom and flexibility for the user who plays a key role, has almost unlimited Internet access and is always capable of interacting with anybody, anywhere. Communication infrastructures, applications and services are effective extensions of people’s capabilities. It is a great challenge to realise this vision. Companies, universities, research institutes and user groups need to work together to establish the envisioned shift towards user-oriented 4G communication. Freeband Communication aspires to attain a leading intelligence position in the area of 4G.

Freeband addresses the knowledge chain of the new ubiquitous communication paradigm. New knowledge is needed in the most important components of that chain, including:

• Society, Users and Applications:
  Researches how the end-user can be supported in his application domain through ubiquitous communication and ambient intelligence.
• Middleware for communication, applications and user interaction:
  Focuses on the development of service platforms and technology components that enable a new generation of intelligent, wireless and broadband applications.
• New enabling technologies:
  No new services emerge without adequate technology; conversely, it is the technology that drives the new paradigms! We need new electronic and optical technology for broadband wireless access, house networking, optical switching, body area networks.

Freeband is especially active in the healthcare, entertainment and safety domain, researching and stimulating the use of the ambient communication paradigm to enable new applications and ways of working in these areas.

Freeband Communication is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs through the BSIK program (BSIK 03025)