Amateur Radio Takes Centre Stage at FOSDEM 2027 in Brussels!
Date :
29 /
10 /
2026
Author :
IARU R1 & FOSDEM27
Open-source software, Software Defined Radio, satellite experimentation and wireless innovation will come together at FOSDEM 2027, providing a fantastic opportunity for amateur radio to demonstrate its continuing relevance in the modern technological world.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 has announced that FOSDEM 2027, being held in Brussels, Belgium, on 30–31 January 2027, will feature a dedicated Amateur Radio Developer Room (Devroom).
The announcement, published by IARU Region 1 on 25 October 2026, invites radio amateurs, software developers, experimenters and researchers to contribute presentations showcasing innovative applications of free and open-source radio technology.
FOSDEM, the Free and Open Source Software Developers' European Meeting, is one of the world's major gatherings of open-source developers, attracting thousands of participants from around the globe.
The event is free to attend, with no registration required, and provides a meeting place for people developing and using open-source software and hardware.
A Dedicated Space for Amateur Radio
The Amateur Radio Devroom will take place on the morning of Sunday 31 January 2027.
It will bring together people working with free and open-source radio software and hardware, including SDR developers, amateur radio operators and satellite experimenters.
IARU Region 1 is particularly interested in practical projects that demonstrate how radio systems work, how technical problems have been solved and what experimenters have learned.
The emphasis is on real engineering, experimentation and sharing knowledge rather than commercial product promotion.
Presentations can include working prototypes, practical demonstrations and technical explanations.
What Topics Will Be Featured?
The Amateur Radio Devroom is seeking presentations across a wide range of topics, including:
Software Defined Radio: Open-source SDR applications, signal processing, radio architectures and new digital modes.
Open Radio Hardware: Free and open hardware designs, experimental transceivers and innovative RF systems.
Amateur Satellites: Open-source modems, ground-station software, communications protocols and satellite networks.
Satellite Signal Analysis: Receiving, decoding and analysing signals from low-Earth-orbit satellites and other spacecraft.
Signals of Opportunity: Exploring how satellite transmissions can support positioning, timing, propagation studies and scientific experimentation.
Radio Astronomy and VLF: Open-source systems for observing natural radio phenomena and monitoring the radio environment.
Propagation Research: Software and hardware for studying the ionosphere and understanding radio propagation.
Wireless Experimentation: Creative radio projects, reverse engineering and unconventional applications of radio technology.
These are precisely the areas where amateur radio continues to provide an accessible environment for practical innovation.
Why This Is a Great Opportunity for Amateur Radio
For more than a century, amateur radio has encouraged people to experiment with radio technology, develop their own equipment and share technical knowledge.
Today, the relationship between amateur radio and the open-source community is stronger than ever.
Software Defined Radio has moved many traditional hardware functions into software, allowing experimenters to develop new operating modes, signal-processing techniques and communications systems without having to design an entirely new radio.
Affordable SDR receivers, microcontrollers, single-board computers and open-source development tools have significantly reduced the barriers to experimentation.
Projects such as GNU Radio, WSJT-X, Dire Wolf and numerous open-source satellite ground-station applications demonstrate the important connections between amateur radio and software development.
FOSDEM provides an opportunity to show a wider technical audience that amateur radio is not simply about making contacts.
It is also about engineering, innovation, experimentation, education and the freedom to explore how communications systems work.
Opportunities for Australian Radio Amateurs
Although FOSDEM takes place in Belgium, its international audience and online streaming provide opportunities for Australian radio amateurs to participate.
Australia has a strong community of SDR developers, digital-mode experimenters, satellite operators, microwave enthusiasts and technically innovative amateur radio clubs.
The WIA encourages Australian amateurs with suitable open-source projects to consider submitting presentations.
Potential Australian contributions might include:
Open-source SDR developments and experimental digital modes.
Amateur satellite receiving systems and automated ground stations.
Propagation monitoring and citizen science projects.
Open-source logging, mapping and communications applications.
Low-cost radio hardware and microcontroller-based projects.
Practical demonstrations of how amateur radio supports STEM education.
These are examples of possible contributions, not announced presentations.
Call for Presentations: Deadline 23 November 2026
IARU Region 1 is calling for technical presentations for the Amateur Radio Devroom.
Important details:
Event: FOSDEM 2027
Dates: 30–31 January 2027
Venue: Université libre de Bruxelles, Solbosch Campus, Brussels, Belgium
Amateur Radio Devroom: Sunday 31 January 2027, morning
Presentation length: 25 minutes, including five minutes for questions
Submission deadline: 23 November 2026
Acceptance notifications: 1 December 2026
Presentations must relate to free and open-source software or open hardware.
Live demonstrations and prototypes are welcome, but marketing-style presentations will not be accepted.
All presentations will be recorded and streamed live, with published material released under a Creative Commons Attribution licence.
Proposals should be submitted through the FOSDEM presentation portal, selecting the Amateur-Radio track.
A Chance for Amateur Radio to Shine
FOSDEM represents a valuable opportunity to introduce amateur radio to software developers, researchers, students and technology enthusiasts who may never have considered becoming radio amateurs.
The ability to design, build, modify and operate radio systems makes amateur radio a natural partner for the open-source movement.
There is also a strong connection with citizen science, where amateur experimenters can contribute observations, measurements, software and technical expertise to collaborative research projects.
For the WIA and its affiliated clubs, the event reinforces the importance of encouraging technical experimentation and building relationships with universities, schools, open-source communities and emerging technology groups.
Amateur radio has always been about asking “What if?” and then having the freedom to experiment until we discover the answer.
FOSDEM 2027 is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that this spirit of experimentation remains very much alive.
Let's see amateur radio shine on the international open-source stage!
Further Information and Links
FOSDEM 2027 Official Website
Link
IARU Region 1: FOSDEM 2027 Amateur Radio Devroom Announcement
Link
Submit an Amateur Radio Presentation
Link
FOSDEM 2027 Practical Information
Link
GNU Radio: Open-Source SDR Development
Link
WSJT-X: Weak-Signal Digital Communications
Link
Wireless Institute of Australia
Link
Source acknowledgement: This article is based on the IARU Region 1 announcement “FOSDEM 2027: Amateur Radio DevRoom”, published on 25 October 2026, and official FOSDEM 2027 event information. Additional commentary on Australian amateur radio, open-source development, education and citizen science has been included to highlight opportunities for WIA members and affiliated clubs.
Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 at 21:52 hours by Justin Giles-clark
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