It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Koch, who died on 4 May 2026 at the age of 76.
As a professor at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Head of the Chair of Mobile Communications (LMK), now the Institute for Digital Communications (IDC), from 2001 to 2012, Wolfgang Koch had a lasting impact on research and teaching in mobile communications within the Department of Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Information Technology (EEI).
Wolfgang Koch studied communications engineering at the University of Hannover, where he worked as a research assistant at the Institute of General Communications Engineering under Prof. H. Kindler from 1977 to 1982. After completing his doctoral degree on speech coding, he held various positions at Philips Kommunikations Industrie AG (PKI) in Nuremberg between 1983 and 1995, including Head of Fundamental Development in the Business Unit “Cellular Infrastructure Systems”. During this period, he made significant contributions to the design of system and transmission concepts that played a key role in the introduction of digital cellular mobile communications in Europe, in particular the GSM standard. From 1995 to 2001, he continued his work on mobile communications systems at Ericsson Eurolab Deutschland (EED) in Nuremberg, where his responsibilities included serving as Head of Research with a focus on third-generation mobile communications systems (UMTS).
From as early as 1995, Wolfgang Koch inspired numerous students at FAU as a lecturer, sharing his enthusiasm for digital mobile communications. During this period, he also conducted joint research projects with FAU’s Chair of Information Transmission. In 2001, he was appointed to the newly established Ericsson Endowed Chair of Mobile Communications at FAU.
As head of the chair, Wolfgang Koch’s research focused in particular on UMTS networks, OFDM systems, and channel characterization. Teaching was always especially close to his heart. His students greatly appreciated his well-founded courses as well as his vivid, engaging, and lively style of presentation. Even after his retirement, he continued to teach for the department for several years and remained closely connected to the institute.
In Prof. Wolfgang Koch, we have lost a true pioneer of digitalization in mobile communications, whose work helped shape the field; an exceptionally dedicated teacher; and, above all, a highly esteemed, kind, and deeply pleasant colleague and supervisor.
The Institute for Digital Communications will preserve his memory with deep gratitude and respect. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family.