Pulsone
Pulsone Technology is a wireless communications technology and business unit developed by Cohere Technologies for Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) networks and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).[1][2] Launched in October 2025, Pulsone is based on the Zak-OTFS (Zak-Orthogonal Time Frequency Space) waveform, which operates in the delay-Doppler domain rather than the traditional time-frequency domain used by OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing).[1][2][3]
The technology is designed to address challenges in high-mobility communications, satellite links, and radar applications.[1][3] Unlike OFDM-based systems that struggle with Doppler shifts and delay spread in Non-Terrestrial Networks, Pulsone Technology leverages the inherent stability of the Delay-Doppler domain for improved performance in dynamic environments.[1][3] The name combines "pulse" (radar sensing) and "tone" (communications), reflecting the technology's dual-use capability for ISAC applications.[3]
Pulsone is positioned for 5G enhancement, 6G networks, defense applications, and satellite communications.[1][2][4] The technology has attracted interest from defense sectors for applications including drone swarm detection, missile defense systems, and secure military communications.[1][4][5]
History
[edit]Cohere Technologies began development of OTFS technology in 2011, with the Pulsone Technology brand trademarked several years prior to its commercial launch.[3] The company announced Pulsone as a distinct business unit on October 20, 2025, focusing on ISAC and NTN applications separate from its existing Universal Spectrum Multiplier (USM) product line for 4G/5G networks.[1][3][4][2][6]
The first public demonstration occurred at NVIDIA's GTC government conference in Washington D.C. from October 27–29, 2025, featuring a real-time neural receiver running on NVIDIA's Jetson platform.[1][4][6][2] This demonstration was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Duke University and Virginia Tech.[1][4][2] In January 2026, Cohere announced accelerated development efforts for NTN applications and expanded academic partnerships including the 6G@UT Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin.[7]
Technical Architecture
[edit]Delay-Doppler Domain Processing
[edit]Pulsone Technology operates fundamentally differently from OFDM-based systems by processing signals in the delay-Doppler domain rather than the time-frequency domain.[1][3][8] This approach provides inherent stability in high-mobility scenarios where conventional OFDM experiences significant performance degradation.[9][8] The Zak-OTFS waveform uses the Zak transform to convert delay-Doppler information into time-domain signals for transmission over the wireless channel.[8][10]
In the delay-Doppler representation, each propagation path appears as a point in two-dimensional space, with delay (τ) corresponding to distance and Doppler shift (v) corresponding to relative velocity.[9][11][8] This natural coordinate system for radar and high-mobility communications allows the channel to remain quasi-static even when the time-frequency channel is rapidly varying.[12][8] For ISAC applications, direct communication signals and reflected sensing signals naturally separate in the delay-Doppler domain.[9]
Waveform Flexibility
[edit]Zak-OTFS is designed as a configurable "mother waveform" that can emulate existing 3GPP waveforms, including 5G CP-OFDM, through parameter tuning and pre-coding.[1][2][13] This backward compatibility allows deployment on existing 5G hardware infrastructure without immediate equipment upgrades.[3][2][14] The waveform supports gradual migration from 5G to 6G through software configuration changes rather than hardware replacement.[3][2][14]
Neural Receiver Implementation
[edit]The Pulsone implementation includes a real-time neural receiver that operates without offline training, addressing a key limitation of conventional neural receivers.[4][2] The receiver uses online learning to adapt within a single symbol time, providing low-complexity universal reception that works across both OFDM and OTFS waveforms using the same structural framework.[4][15] For ISAC applications, the neural receiver enables data-driven sensing without additional capacity overhead by leveraging the stability of the delay-Doppler domain.[4][16]
Applications
[edit]Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC)
[edit]Pulsone Technology's primary application is ISAC, which combines wireless communications with radar-like sensing capabilities in a single system.[2][1][3][4][6] Operating natively in the delay-Doppler domain provides theoretical advantages for sensing applications, with research indicating potential for detecting four times the number of targets with four times better resolution compared to OFDM-based ISAC systems.[5]
Key ISAC applications include:
- Defense and national security: battlefield situational awareness, and secure communications.[1][4][5]
- Enterprise automation: Factory floor monitoring, warehouse management, autonomous robotics, and predictive maintenance through real-time object tracking.[17][18]
- Consumer applications: Autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, and enhanced location services requiring precise environmental sensing.[9]
Non-Terrestrial Networks
[edit]Non-Terrestrial Networks present significant challenges for conventional OFDM-based systems due to large Doppler shifts (typically 20–48 kHz depending on carrier frequency and elevation angle), extended propagation delays (25-100 ms for LEO, 250+ ms for GEO), and large cell footprints creating differential delays across coverage areas.[3][7][19][20][21] OFDM's sensitivity to Doppler shift causes severe inter-carrier interference in satellite scenarios.[8]
Pulsone Technology addresses these challenges through native Doppler handling in the delay-Doppler domain.[3][7] Each satellite appears at a distinct delay-Doppler coordinate, enabling natural multi-satellite diversity and full frequency reuse across satellites. Research has demonstrated approximately 50% capacity improvements using two-satellite diversity in LEO scenarios. The technology reduces dependency on GNSS positioning systems required by 3GPP Release 17 NTN solutions for OFDM-based communications.[22]
Industry Positioning and Standards
[edit]Cohere Technologies has submitted Zak-OTFS for consideration in 3GPP 6G standardization processes.[1][3][5] However, the company maintains a path to commercialization independent of standards adoption, positioning Pulsone as a proprietary technology that can operate alongside or on top of existing 3GPP standards.[1][3][6]
The technology faces competition from established OFDM-based infrastructure and incremental improvements to existing standards.[5] Industry analysis suggests significant resistance to fundamental waveform changes given the extensive investment in OFDM-based systems across 4G and 5G networks.[6][5] Defense and government sectors have shown stronger interest due to specific requirements for ISAC and secure communications that are difficult to address with conventional approaches.[1][4]
Research and Development Partnerships
[edit]Pulsone Technology development involves collaboration with academic institutions and industry partners:[1][4][2][7]
Academic partnerships:
- Duke University - Dr. Robert Calderbank (Research Faculty Fellow)[1][7][23]
- Virginia Tech - Dr. Lingjia Liu, Wireless@Virginia Tech[1][4][2][23]
- IIT Delhi - Dr. Saif K. Mohammed (Research Faculty Fellow)[7]
Industry partnerships:
Commercial Status
[edit]As of early 2026, Pulsone Technology remains in development with working prototypes scheduled for the first half of 2026.[4] Cohere Technologies has stated the company is fully funded following capital raises in 2024-2025.[3] The technology is being demonstrated to mobile network operators, satellite operators, and defense organizations.[1][3][4]
Defense applications have received priority focus, particularly for the Golden Dome missile defense system ($24.4 billion allocated by US Congress) and NATO-funded sensing and communications initiatives.[1][4] Commercial mobile network deployments face longer development timelines due to standards considerations and infrastructure compatibility requirements.[1][6][5]
Intellectual Property
[edit]Cohere Technologies has filed over 330 patents related to OTFS technology since 2011.[1] Pulsone is a registered trademark of Cohere Technologies.[1][3] While OTFS research exists globally, including development in China, Cohere maintains the most extensive Western patent portfolio for OTFS-related technologies.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Intel-backed Cohere launches Pulsone in bid to disrupt 6G". Light Reading. October 20, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Cohere Reveals 'Mother of Waveforms' to Power Next-Gen Networks". SDxCentral. October 20, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Cohere Technologies broadens OTFS reach with Pulsone". Mobile World Live. October 20, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Cohere launches the Pulsone as it banks on defence push for OTFS commercialisation". The Mobile Network. 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Morris, Iain (February 16, 2026). "Interdigital warns new waveform would be 'disruptive' in 6G". Light Reading. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cohere launches Pulsone in a bid to bring situational awareness to 5G and 6G". Telecoms.com. October 20, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cohere Technologies to Accelerate Nextgen Wireless Waveform | Microwave Journal". www.microwavejournal.com. Retrieved 2026-04-10.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Imran Ali Khan; Saif Khan Mohammed; Hadani, Ronny; Chockalingam, Ananthanarayanan; Calderbank, Robert; Monk, Anton; Kons, Shachar; Rakib, Shlomo; Hebron, Yoav (2026). "Does 6G Need a New Waveform: Comparing Zak-OTFS with CP-OFDM". arXiv:2601.15602 [eess.SP].
- 1 2 3 4 Shtaiwi, Eyad; Abdelhadi, Ahmed; Li, Husheng; Han, Zhu; Vincent Poor, H. (2024). "Orthogonal Time Frequency Space for Integrated Sensing and Communication: A Survey". arXiv:2402.09637 [cs.IT].
- ↑ Mehrotra, Nishant; Mattu, Sandesh Rao; Calderbank, Robert (2025-05-12). "Zak-OTFS with Spread Carrier Waveforms". IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. 14 (10): 3244–3248. arXiv:2505.08079v3. Bibcode:2025IWCL...14.3244M. doi:10.1109/LWC.2025.3590254.
- ↑ Cohan, Arman; Goharian, Nazli (2018). "Interference Cancellation and Iterative Detection for Orthogonal Time Frequency Space Modulation". arXiv:1802.05242 [cs.CL].
- ↑ Raviteja, P.; Phan, Khoa T.; Hong, Yi (2018). "Embedded Pilot-Aided Channel Estimation for OTFS in Delay-Doppler Channels". arXiv:1808.08360 [cs.IT].
- ↑ Mehrotra, Nishant; Mattu, Sandesh Rao; Calderbank, Robert (2026-02-08). "A Design Framework that Unifies 6G Modulation Schemes for Double Selectivity". IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. 15: 2149. arXiv:2511.09418. Bibcode:2026IWCL...15.2149M. doi:10.1109/LWC.2026.3671985.
- 1 2 Mohammed, Saif Khan; Prakash, Saurabh; Ubadah, Muhammad; Khan, Imran Ali; Hadani, Ronny; Rakib, Shlomo; Kons, Shachar; Hebron, Yoav; Chockalingam, Ananthanarayanan (2025-08-05). "Zak-OTFS over CP-OFDM". arXiv:2508.03906v2 [eess.SP].
- ↑ "Cohere Technologies drives ahead with innovation vision". The Mobile Network. 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
- ↑ Liu, Lingjia; Zheng, Lizhong; Yi, Yang; Calderbank, Robert (2026-02-17). "A Universal Neural Receiver that Learns at the Speed of Wireless". arXiv:2602.15458 [cs.IT].
- ↑ Sundarum, Meesha (2025-06-30). "Transforming Industries with Integrated Sensing and Communication". 5G Americas. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ "Use Cases for ISAC in 6G: A Look Ahead". interdigital.com. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
- ↑ 3GPP (June 2019). 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Study on New Radio (NR) to support non-terrestrial networks (Release 15) (PDF) (Technical Report). V15.1.0. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ 3GPP (December 2019). 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (NTN) (PDF) (Technical Report). V16.0.0. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Lin, Xingqin; Lin, Zhipeng; Löwenmark, Stefan Eriksson; Rune, Johan; Karlsson, Robert (2021-08-17). "Doppler Shift Estimation in 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks". arXiv:2108.07757 [cs.NI].
- ↑ D’Andrea, Luca; Garcia, Armando; Gomez, Isabel (2023). "LEO Satellite Diversity in 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks: OFDM vs. OTFS". IEEE Wireless Communications Letters. 27 (11): 3013–3017. Bibcode:2023IComL..27.3013B. doi:10.1109/LCOMM.2023.3320793. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
- 1 2 Parisi, Claire; Khammammetti, Venkatesh; Calderbank, Robert; Huie, Lauren (22 Apr 2025). "Over-the-Air Transmission of Zak-Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) with Spread Pilots on Sub-THz Communications Testbed". arXiv:2504.15947 [eess.SP].