CEO of Mini-Circuits, USA
Title of the Talk: The Coming Wave of RF & Microwave Systems: Communication, Sensing, Energy and Beyond.
VP of Engineering, Octane Wireless, USA
Title of the Talk: Radio over Fiber Technologies for Future G Networks.
Biography: Jin Bains is the Chief Executive Officer of Mini-Circuits, a global leader in design, manufacturing, and direct sale of RF, microwave & millimeter-wave components and subsystems. Bains is a 30-year RF and microwave industry veteran who began his career as an RF engineer and R&D manager at Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies, where he worked on a variety of systems including power amplifiers, cellular base stations, and test and measurement instrumentation. He went on to build the RF/Wireless division of National Instruments before serving as the Head of SoCal Connectivity for cellular and satellite programs at Facebook (now Meta), where he directed key aspects of the effort to expand access to affordable connectivity across the globe. Prior to joining Mini-Circuits, he served as a Director of Project Kuiper at Amazon, an initiative to increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). Jin has played an active role in the industry as a senior IEEE member and has presented in numerous keynote talks and panel discussions. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the University of California Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department. Jin received an undergraduate degree in ECE from UC Davis and a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Communication Systems from Stanford University.
Abstract: The ever-expanding technology landscape is opening new possibilities for a more intelligent, connected, and resource-efficient society. RF and microwave systems are already essential to many applications fundamental to contemporary life and will become increasingly central to future advancements in communication, sensing, energy, and computing.
In this plenary talk, Mini-Circuits CEO, Jin Bains will explore several areas in which RF and microwave technologies are shaping the future of life on Earth and beyond. The discussion will survey examples including 6G, E-Band and optical satellite communications, millimeter-wave radar and sensing, quantum computing, and ongoing research toward practical nuclear fusion energy systems. The underlying microwave systems and design techniques will be examined in each case to identify opportunities for continued innovation within the industry.
Abstract: Dalma Novak is VP of Engineering at Octane Wireless (formerly Pharad) where she develops high-performance RF-over-fiber technologies for commercial and defense wireless applications. She is also an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Novak has over 30 years of experience working in the optical and wireless communications fields. She has contributed several book chapters on the design of fiber-wireless communication systems and has more than 300 publications in these areas, including several book chapters and patents. Dr. Novak has extensive technical leadership and project management experience in both the industrial and academic sectors. In 2007 Dr. Novak was elected to the grade of IEEE Fellow for her contributions to enabling technologies for the implementation of fiber-radio systems. In 2018 she received the IEEE Photonics Society Engineering Achievement Award. Dr. Novak is the 2025 IEEE Technical Activities Vice President. She received her Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (with First Class Honors) and Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland, in 1987 and 1992, respectively.
Abstract:The use of fiber-optic links for transporting radio signals in wireless networks is a well-established technology and the convergence of optical and wireless networks continues to evolve. Fiber-optic remoting of radio signals is used in a diversity of wireless networks, including indoor/in-building distributed antenna systems and outdoor cellular networks. Today the capabilities of wireless networks are progressing more rapidly than ever. The proliferation of connected high-capacity smart devices as well as the increase in the number of broadband multi-media services available to the consumer, has led to an escalating demand for wireless access to high-speed data communications. The next generation 5G+/6G network promises to deliver unprecedented data rates to the mobile user and the millimeter-wave and Terahertz frequency regions are being actively pursued for the provision of these services. This talk will describe some of the related challenges and opportunities for radio-over-fiber technologies in emerging Future G wireless systems.