Among the most important activities of the National Institute of Telecommunications is scientific research and development, which covers all areas of telecommunications and statutory works, for instance: surrounding intelligence network, optoelectronics, software engineering, knowledge management, decision support and structural, functional and development aspects of telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, works of interdisciplinary nature are carried out, related to such issues as telecommunication law and telecommunication economics. Apart from that, other subjects related to social and economic, legal and technical aspects of information society are undertaken.

Research problems are adjusted to the world and European trends; in particular, it is connected with the participation of the Institute in the 6^th EU Frame Program and other European-like undertakings.

Advance research is financed by the Ministry of Education and Science, which placed the Institute in the first, top category in the research and development units ranking. Other research is conducted on orders received from various institutions and by utilising own funds of the Institute. There are telecommunication operators and telecommunication branch companies among regular contracting parties. Works are conducted also for the Ministry of Transport and Construction, Ministry of Interior and Administration, Office of Electronic Communications (Polish regulatory body for telecommunications and broadcasting) and other principals operating in telecommunication market.

Research works are carried out effectively by experienced scientific employees of the Institute (many of whom have scientific degrees and titles) and young people who have open paths for scientific promotion. Moreover, the Institute offers access to modern research equipment and very good housing conditions.

Publications are a significant result of conducted works. About 200 publications are issued in the Institute every year as articles in journals and papers in conference proceedings including many published abroad and in respected journals. Also monographs and books are prepared. Two journals published by the Institute ("Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology" and "Telekomunikacja i Techniki Informacyjne" ["Telecommunications and Information Techniques"]) enable its employees to publish results of their work. The Institute commenced also publishing books.

Doctorates are the result of scientific research, too. The Scientific Council has authorisation to give PhD titles, which encourage undertaking of doctoral theses by employees.

An important area of the Institute activity being a research and development center are implementations which are often a natural continuation of research work and which bring profits to the Institute. Implementations usually have a complex information part which may be developed due to advanced tools and properly qualified employees of the Institute.

Scientific research and implementations are facilitated by modern computer network (covering centres in Warsaw, Gdańsk and Wrocław), access to databases related to research and publications and a very well equipped library.

Subject matters of scientific and development works as well as implementation is linked to the scope of the activity of the Institute, which is specialising in certain areas.

Topics of the Institute's scientific, research and implementation worksi

1. Radio Communications Department (Z-1)
   Works in the field of radio communications systems, in particular related to:
   • mobile land radio communications;
   • radio access systems and radio local area networks;
   • microwave radio lines;
   • satellite systems;
   • radio broadcasting and television systems;
   • electromagnetic compatibility of telecommunications devices and systems;
   • methods for testing radio devices and systems;
   • propagation of radio waves;
   • synchronization of frequency and time in telecommunications networks.
2. Convergent Networks Department (Z-4)
   Works associated with development of convergent networks, in particular related to:
   • transformation of existing telecommunications networks into convergent networks;
   • implementation of signaling protocols and services in convergent networks (with particular focus on VoIP and broadband multimedia services);
   • network protocols and mechanisms in new generation networks (NGN);
   • methods for assuring Quality of Service (QoS) and security within networks;
   • numbering and addressing in convergent networks;
   • maintenance of switching systems;
   • management of telecommunications networks;
   • interoperation of traditional and new generation networks.
3. Power Systems Department (Z-5)
   Works on modern power supply systems, in particular related to:
   • communications power engineering, power supply systems and devices satisfying needs of the telecommunications sector;
   • development and application of renewable and electrochemical energy sources in telecommunications;
   • systems for control and supervision of power supply and air conditioning equipment.
4. Advanced Information Technologies Department (Z-6)
   Development of advanced information systems integrating telecommunications and information technologies, in particular referring to the following specific areas:
   • distributed data communications systems;
   • theory of design, control and analysis data communications networks;
   • decision support systems, intelligent systems and knowledge management;
   • exploration of telecommunications data (data mining, data warehouses);
   • fundamentals of telecommunications and information technologies, including applications of mathematics in telecommunications and information technologies.
5. Marine Communications Department - Gdańsk (P-8)
   Works in the areas of:
   • ground and satellite sea radio communications systems;
   • emergency communications systems (GMDSS);
   • propagation conditions in sea radio communications, with particular focus on the A1 zone.
6. Department of Electronic Communications Technologies Applications (Z-10)
   Works in the scope of application of electronic communications technologies, in particular:
   • special purpose electronic communications systems for needs of the state administration and public safety and rescue services;
   • applications of special purposes systems, information tools for needs of testing applications;
   • research into quality of networks, telecommunications and postal services;
   • cooperation of public telecommunications networks with special purpose networks;
   • security of special purpose electronic information, systems and communications networks;
   • use of special purpose electronic communications systems and networks and their elements;
   • telematic systems in multi-modal transport;
   • unique systems and devices for needs of special purpose electronic communications systems.
7. Regulation and Economic Issues Department (Z-11)
   Works referring to:
   • development of the telecommunications market, and particularly:
     • structure of the market for telecommunications services and entities providing such services,
     • influence of regulatory policy on market operations of telecommunications enterprises,
     • inter-operator cooperation and settlements,
     • prices for telecommunications services,
     • costs of providing telecommunications services,
     • quality of telecommunications services;
   • development of postal market, including in particular:
     • structure of the market for postal services and entities providing such services,
     • prices and charges for postal services,
     • quality of postal services;
   • forms of regulations for telecommunications and postal market in Poland in the context of international experiences, with particular focus on legal regulations applicable in the European Union;
   • use of telecommunications (electronic communications) in various areas of business and social life, with particular focus on the issues of information society.
8. Central Chamber for Telecommunications Testing (P-12)
   Works in the field of providing measurement units and assuring measurement consistency in telecommunications in the scope of:
   • electric values;
   • time, frequency and time frames;
   • optoelectronics and optical fiber technologies;
   • theory of uncertainty;
   • computer aided metrology.
9. Department of Transmission and Optical Technology (Z-14)
   Works in the field of fully optical networks and optical transmission, transport and access systems, in particular:
   • ultra-high speed transmission in terabit optical transparent networks;
   • wavelength multiplexing (WDM) in optical networks;
   • non-linear optical effects in optical transmission;
   • application of innovative technologies: photonic crystals, micro-structural fibers and quantum communications in optical transmission and optical signal processing;
   • convergence of broadband wireless networks and optical networks;
   • security and reliability in optical networks;
   • quality of services (QoS) in optical packet networks;
   • testing of optical communications systems and its components.
10. Electromagnetic Compatibility Department - Wrocław Branch (Z-21)
    Works associated with electromagnetic compatibility, in particular referring to:
    • electromagnetic compatibility of electric and electronic circuits, devices and systems;
    • internal and mutual compatibility of systems used by various radio services;
    • antenna and electromagnetic field technologies, exposure to electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic interference and protection against radio interference;
    • radio propagation;
    • management of radio frequency spectrum, planning of analogue and digital radio systems and networks;
    • research methods used in radio spectrum engineering.