2025
IEEE ERIC E. SUMNER AWARD
Sponsored by Nokia Bell Labs
“For originating the Massive MIMO technology in wireless communications.”
Thomas Marzetta’s pioneering work on Massive MIMO has revolutionized wireless communication theory and practice. His analytical approach, documented in the seminal textbook “Fundamentals of Massive MIMO,” has transformed the way wireless communication theory is taught. Massive MIMO’s impact extends beyond academia, enabling new services that change the way we live—services ranging from video conferencing in the present to augmented and extended reality in the future. It also offers the potential for significantly reduced power consumption in base stations, paving the way for energy-efficient IT infrastructure. By 2027, there is projected to be 41 million Massive MIMO deployments worldwide, generating $43 billion in revenue.
An IEEE Life Fellow, Marzetta is Distinguished Industry Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, and Director of NYU WIRELESS, Brooklyn, New York, USA.