A San Diego-based wireless technology firm has struck a licensing deal with a German multinational electronics company, embedding its data-transport technology directly into test equipment used by engineers worldwide. TM Technologies announced it has entered a licensing agreement with Rohde & Schwarz to implement its Cognitive Spectrum Optimization technology, known as TM-CSO, into Rohde's test and measurement equipment.
The agreement was announced at the 2026 IEEE Military Communications Conference, which ran from October 12 to 16 in Bethesda, Maryland, according to azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic. MILCOM 2026 is a premier gathering of defense officials and military communicators, and this year's conference centered specifically on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced communications, and cyber resilience for defense operations, according to SpaceAgenda. That focus made the venue a fitting backdrop for a technology pitched squarely at defense-grade secure communications.
TM-CSO is designed to be used by telecom engineers and developers around the world, with the stated aim of increasing the efficiency, speed, and security of both terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication devices and networks, per the report. Dr. Scott Velasquez, TM Technologies' director of research and development, said Transpositional Modulation carries existing security features that, when layered on top of standard modulations, make its waveforms highly efficient and secure.
How the Underlying Technology Works
At the core of the partnership is Transpositional Modulation, a bits-in-bits-out radio frequency method that lets a single carrier wave transport two or more distinct data paths at once without disrupting standard modulations such as QAM or OFDM, according to the IEEE Communications Society. Standard radio modulations typically need separate frequencies or time slots to keep bit streams intact, so a method that layers extra data onto an existing signal without degrading it represents a notable engineering shift. TM Technologies first proved the concept back in August 2020, demonstrating over-the-air simultaneous transmission of a Transpositional Modulation signal layered directly over a QAM signal using software-defined radios in San Diego, per the same research body.
The company's engineering testing also indicates that its In-Band Full-Duplex adaptive antenna system, known as TM-IBFD, achieves up to 120 decibels of signal noise reduction, enabling simultaneous two-way transmission on the same spectrum band. The company says its waveform is protected by over 50 patents, as described on its website.
A First-to-Market Move for Rohde & Schwarz
Randy Schnell, Rohde & Schwarz's business development manager, said incorporating TM-CSO waveforms into the company's equipment offerings marks a first-to-market move for the firm. Rohde & Schwarz will offer TM-CSO waveforms directly to the developers and engineers who already use its equipment, with TM Technologies and the station's report both framing the overlay technology as a potential answer to security shortfalls and bandwidth bottlenecks across the telecom industry. Schnell added that Rohde & Schwarz is excited to work with TM Technologies and optimistic about TM-CSO's future.
The partnership carries weight given Rohde & Schwarz's scale. The Munich-based group reported sales of €3.16 billion for its 2024/2025 fiscal year, surpassing the €3 billion mark for the first time in company history while employing more than 15,000 people worldwide, according to Aerospace & Defence. The German multinational electronics group specializes in electronic test equipment, broadcast and media systems, cybersecurity, radio-monitoring, and radio-communication, serving customers across wireless communications, aerospace and defense, homeland security, and critical infrastructure, per the azcentral report.
Spectrum Crunch and a Growing Security Problem
TM Technologies pointed to accelerated activity in integrated sensing and communication, along with growing non-terrestrial-to-terrestrial telecom networks, as developments that make TM-CSO relevant now. The company believes the technology offers efficiencies and security capabilities that haven't been seen before. Wireless spectrum shortages persist, and TM Technologies describes TM-CSO as designed to make more efficient use of existing signals through its overlay approach.
That demand is sharpened by a broader security backdrop. Telecommunications infrastructure data from 2025 recorded 18,327 attacks nationwide, with attacks rising 59 percent since 2024 and affecting more than 11.8 million customers across the United States, as reported by Hoodline. Rising physical vandalism and cyber interference have made signal resilience a central requirement for network operators.
Company Roots in San Diego
TM Technologies, a privately held telecom technology firm founded in 2013, is led by Dan Hodges, its CEO. The company maintains engineering and lab space in San Diego, California, alongside administrative offices in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. It provides software licenses and integrative engineering services for advanced terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless technologies, near field communications, and in-band full-duplex solutions.
Daniel L. Hodges is listed as the contact for the announcement, affiliated with TM Technologies, Inc. The press release distributed through EIN Presswire and XPR Media carries a standard disclaimer noting that the content was distributed as-is without warranty, with EIN Presswire disclaiming responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, legality, and reliability.
