About WATRI

WATRI brings together the Curtin-based Australian Telecommunications Research Institute (ATRI) and the UWA-based Telecommunications, Electronics and Networking research group (TEN). The WATRI team has a verifiable track record of attracting significant Government and Industry R&D funding, world class research and commercialisation of research through the establishment of startup companies.

WATRI serves as an interface between university-based telecommunications activities and external business, government and community groups. The Institute will focus on developing strong industry links, with specific regard to the implementation and realisation of telecommunications and electronic technologies.

WATRI R&D focuses on five key areas: wireless systems, signal processing, networking, electronics and electro-magnetic compatibility technology. Importantly, through the cross-fertilisation of skills within the Institute and the interactions with business, the institute will contribute significantly to innovation in the many dimensions required for the establishment of viable industries.

The co-location of over 55 research staff and students in new premises in Nedlands gives the group a common and enhanced infrastructure. A Board with independent representation will govern WATRI. Finally and most important, the establishment of WATRI ensures long term continuity of high quality, industry relevant, R&D so essential for industry to be able to take advantage of industry development opportunities which will undoubtedly arise, but at unpredictable times in the future.

The key elements of the terms of reference of WATRI are:
-	to be a Institute of excellence in communications, networking and electronics research in areas of importance to industry;
-	to establish postgraduate studies programs to serve the needs of design engineers and R&D managers in relevant industries; and
-	to sustain a strong research base in Australia in information, communications and electronics technologies.

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Our Mission

To sustain a strong research and development base in Australia in the areas of telecommunications, and electronics systems, and to provide postgraduate research and training in these areas.

Our Aims

>	To be an internationally recognised leader in selected areas of research that underpin telecommunications and electronic systems.
>	To foster industrial research and industry creation in the areas of telecommunications and electronic systems through the development of strong industry links by undertaking collaborative R&D.
>	To develop relationships with other research bodies to enhance and broaden the education, research and development capabilities of the Institute.
>	To assist in creating and maintaining a specialised skill base in telecommunications and electronic systems.
>	To demonstrate selected technology developed by the Institute as a basis for early product development.

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Structure

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Under a joint agreement between Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, the Western Australian Telecommunications Research Institute (WATRI) was established in October 2002. WATRI rivals similar Engineering Institutes in Australia not only in its size, but more importantly in its track record of high quality R&D, commercialisation of R&D and industry interaction.

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Skills Profile

Electronic Systems

	Design for Signal Integrity, Design for EMC Compliance, Digital/RF Design, Analogue RF Design, ASIC/FPGA Design, Gigabit/s Interconnections, Electronics for Optical Amplifiers, Low Noise Design, Low Phase Noise Design, Multilayer PCB Design, Power Distribution Design for High Speed Mixed Mode Systems, Timing & Synchronisation Circuits, Digital Frequency Detectors, Analogue and Digital Phase Locked Loops.

Wireless Systems

	Narrowband Radio Design, Spread Spectrum Radio Design, Digital Transceiver Design, Modulation and Coding, Equalisation, Error Control, Synchronisation and Timing, Software Radio...

Signal Processing

	Digital Filtering, Antenna Array Processing, Adaptive Systems, Signal De/Coding, Digital De/Modulation, Digital/RF Processing, DSP Algorithm Development, Timing Synchronisation, Echo Cancellation, Speech Enhancement...

Embedded Systems

	Digital Design, Multiprocessor Systems, Fault Tolerant Systems, Firmware Development, DSP Systems.

Simulation & Modelling

	Wave Propagation, Digital Circuit Performance, Packet Data Network Performance, Device Simulation, Analogue Simulation, Control System Simulation, PCB Structures, Power Distribution Systems...

Broadband Networks

	ATM Systems: Cell Mgmt, QoS, Switching Network Capacity Management, Congestion Control, Rate Adaptation, TCP over ATM, ATM UNI PMD, Real Time Services, TCP/IP: Support for QoS, Real Time Applications, Switching and Multiplexing Architectures; Sharing, Arbitration and Scheduling. SDH/SONET: Multiplexer/Demultiplexer Implementation. Network Timing: Jitter Modelling, Jitter Filtering, Low Jitter Clock Recovery and Distribution, SRTS Clock Recovery.

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Startup Companies

WATRI has established 4 startup companies.

ISPire Networks Pty Ltd (www.ispirenetworks.com)

	Founded in 2006, ISPire Networks (ISPire) is focused on bringing VoIP capabilities seamlessly to the world of PSTN calls - the sector of Communications that still retains most of the industry's value. ISPire is not another VoIP player; its service model uniquely does not require broadband in the home, and there is no requirement for infrastructure at the exchange.

Sensear Pty Ltd (www.sensear.com)

	Founded in 2004, Sensear Pty Ltd, an Australian company that owns innovative technology enabling speech communication to be heard in high noise environments, without the need to remove hearing protection. This is a significant advance on present day technologies as Sensear's technology remains effective in environments above 85 dB(A). Significantly, this innovation is the latest and most effective technological advance in the fight to eliminate Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL), recently identified as the world's most common occupational health and safety issue.

Xelor Softwre (www.xelorsoftware.com))

	Founded in 2003, Xelor Software provides the first proactive solution to address the three major challenges facing enterprises with IP telephony: the reliability of phone service, the performance of the converged network, and the quality of each call.

Atmosphere Networks

	Founded in 1997, Atmosphere Networks is a leading player in providing solutions for the optical network. Atmosphere Networks enables telecommunications carriers to take full advantage of optical networks' capacities and offer their customers flexible voice-and-data service packages. With Atmosphere Networks' products, carriers can boost their competitiveness while lowering their network costs. The company was acquired in 2000 by Ditech Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DITC).

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