RF Spectrum testing expertise, facilities and equipment hire

Real-world testing environments for technology validation 

Aberystwyth University's RF Spectrum Testing capabilities provide organisations with access to large-scale outdoor RF testing environments, academic expertise and end-to-end data analysis services to validate wireless, sensing and communications technologies under real-world conditions. 

With access to over 500 hectares of rural, remote and coastal environments, we offer one of the UK's most distinctive outdoor technology testbeds, enabling organisations to assess how RF systems perform across varied terrain, distances and real-world operating conditions. 

Our academic and technical experts can support the entire testing lifecycle, from experiment design and data collection through to analysis and interpretation, helping organisations generate robust evidence to support technical decision-making, investment and commercialisation. 

For projects requiring additional specialist input, we can also draw on expertise from across Aberystwyth University in areas including robotics, drones, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, remote sensing and advanced sensor technologies, enabling the testing of complete systems.

Who is it for?

This service is designed for organisations developing technologies that rely on radio frequency performance and need to understand how those technologies operate in real-world environments. 

Typical clients include: 

  • Telecommunications and wireless technology companies 
  • Defence and security organisations 
  • Aerospace and satellite technology developers 
  • Automotive and autonomous systems manufacturers 
  • IoT, robotics and sensor technology companies 
  • R&D teams advancing technologies towards deployment 

The service is particularly valuable for organisations working at mid-stage development (TRL 4–7) that require robust performance data before commercialisation, procurement or operational deployment.  

Clients can access: 

  • Large-scale outdoor RF testing environments 
  • Low-interference locations for realistic spectrum testing 
  • Workshops, laboratory and support facilities 
  • Technical and operational support 
  • Specialist RF equipment through trusted partners 
  • Academic expertise in experiment design, testing and analysis 

From facility hire for independent trials through to fully managed testing programmes, our service can be tailored to meet the needs of your project.

Benefits and value

Access world-class expertise and infrastructure in one place 

Combine access to large-scale outdoor testing environments with specialist equipment, academic expertise and end-to-end data analysis capabilities. We help organisations run more effective trials, generate credible evidence and accelerate innovation while reducing the complexity of managing multiple partners. For organisations with broader requirements, we can draw on expertise across Aberystwyth University in areas spanning robotics, drones, sensors, autonomous systems and AI. 

Validate technology with confidence 

Laboratory testing and simulation can only take a technology so far. Real-world deployment introduces environmental complexity, variable terrain, signal interference and operational challenges that controlled environments cannot fully replicate. 

 

Our RF Spectrum Testing Facilities help organisations: 

  • Reduce technical risk - Identify performance issues early, before costly deployment or procurement decisions are made. 
  • Generate credible evidence - Produce robust, defensible data that can support investment, procurement, funding applications and commercialisation activities. 
  • Accelerate development - Reduce the time and complexity involved in securing testing locations, coordinating equipment and organising specialist support. 
  • Make better decisions - Gain a deeper understanding of how your technology performs in operational conditions, enabling more informed development and deployment decisions. 

The result is faster validation, stronger evidence and greater confidence in taking technologies from prototype to proven capability.

Choose your level of support

From simple facility hire to fully managed testing and validation programmes, our service can be tailored to your requirements. 

Bronze 
Access to facilities and testing environments for independent trials. 

Silver 
Facilities access plus technical support to help you run effective experiments and trials. 

Gold 
Facilities access plus academic expertise, experiment design, data capture, analysis and evaluation to help you generate robust evidence and accelerate development.

Related expertise available

Alongside RF testing facilities, clients may also be able to access expertise in: 

  • Robotics and autonomous systems 
  • Drone technologies 
  • Artificial Intelligence and machine learning 
  • Sensor development and integration 
  • Remote sensing and environmental monitoring 
  • Data capture, processing and analytics 

This expertise can be incorporated into bespoke testing and validation programmes where appropriate.

How to contact us:

Whether you need access to a real-world RF testing environment, support designing a validation programme, or expertise in analysing your results, our team can help. Contact us to discuss your requirements and identify the right package for your project. 

Get in touch to arrange an initial discussion.  

Email: drbi@aber.ac.uk

Our Expert

Dr Syeda Fizzah Jilani

Lecturer in the Department of Physics at Aberystwyth University, UK, where she is the Technical Lead of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Testing Facilities and the Course Coordinator for the MSc in Intelligent Wireless Communications and Networks. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules and supervises undergraduate, master's, and PhD research projects. Dr Jilani has led and contributed to multiple industry-funded research projects with organisations including QinetiQ, DSTL and L3Harris Technologies. She is a Young Professional Ambassador of the IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) and a member of the Executive Committee of the IET Antennas and Propagation Technical Network.

Dr Jilani received her PhD in Antennas and Electromagnetics from Queen Mary University of London in 2018. Before joining Aberystwyth University, she was a Research Scientist at the University of Maine, USA, where she worked on a US Department of Energy (DOE) project developing harsh-environment RF sensors for industrial applications. Her research interests include electromagnetics, radio wave propagation, RF spectrum sensing and monitoring, wireless data acquisition, remote sensing, RF spectrum monitoring, reconfigurable and flexible antennas, wearable electronics, millimetre-wave antenna arrays for 5G/6G, advanced wireless communications, metasurfaces, and surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors.

She received the Aberystwyth University Visibility Award on International Women's Day 2024 and was recognised in the global "100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G™" list for 2024. She has authored and co-authored one book, five book chapters, and over 75 peer-reviewed publications, with more than 2200 citations (Google Scholar), an h-index of 23, and an i10-index of 42. She is also a lead author of the IET book Antennas and Propagation for 5G and Beyond.