MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) technology for wireless communication uses multiple antennas at both the source (transmitter) and the destination (receiver). These antennas at both ends of the circuit minimize errors, optimize data speed and improve the capacity of radio transmissions by enabling data to travel over many signal paths at the same time.

Prof. Arogyaswami Paulraj, a former Indian navy technologist shifted to Stanford University and pioneered the MIMO concept in 1992. The technology got traction in 1998 and attracted further research and development.

Prior to MIMO, the data rates could be increased either by more bandwidth of spectrum or higher transmit power. Both these were constraints and MIMO overcome these.

Prof. Arogyaswami has been awarded this year’s Faraday Medal. In past, he had also received Alexander Graham Bell Medal (2011) and the Marconi Prize (2014).

The Indian government has awarded him Padma Bhushan in 2010.

Several billion mobile phones the world over use MIMO.