The strategic importance of microwave technology in modern telecommunications cannot be overstated. Its capacity for supporting a larger bandwidth is the primary driver for its use in transmitting the enormous volumes of voice, video, and data that define our connected world. To put this in perspective, the larger bandwidth of a microwave carrier (e.g., at 6 GHz) can carry thousands of times more information than a lower-frequency radio carrier (e.g., at 600 kHz), making it essential for modern data-intensive applications like video streaming and high-speed internet backhaul.

The specific applications within communications and broadcasting are extensive and can be categorized by their operational scale and purpose:

• Point-to-Point Terrestrial Communications
  • Long distance telephone calls
  • Studio-to-transmitter links for broadcasting networks
• Broadcast Services
  • Outdoor broadcasting transmissions for live events
  • Broadcast auxiliary services, including remote pickup units
  • Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), satellite television, and XM radio services delivered directly to consumers
• Personal and Local Area Wireless Systems
  • Bluetooth for short-range device connectivity
  • WIMAX operations for wireless broadband access
  • Personal Communication Systems (PCSs)
  • Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
  • Cellular Video (CV) systems
  • Cell phones and pagers

The functionality of these systems is enabled by highly specialized microwave components. Travelling Wave Tubes (TWTs) serve as critical power output tubes in communication satellites and as repeater amplifiers in wide-band communication links, boosting signals to ensure they can travel long distances without degradation. Furthermore, the development of Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs), which integrate entire systems onto a single chip, has been instrumental in miniaturizing devices and reducing costs, making consumer applications like DTH satellite receivers and modern telecom systems economically viable.

These communication technologies lay the groundwork for a closely related field where microwaves are equally indispensable: radar and navigation.