Utilizing magnetic induction for wireless communication, wireless powering, passive relaying, and localization could enable massive wireless sensor applications with tiny nodes in challenging media, foremost biomedical in-body sensor networks. This work investigates the performance limits of these unique wireless systems with hardly any assumptions. As a foundation, a general system model and an interface to communication theory are developed.

A major part of this work identifies two crucial magneto-inductive fading channels: that between randomly oriented coils and that caused by a nearby swarm of resonant passive relay coils. The analysis yields important technological implications. Based thereon, an investigation of wirelessly-powered in-body sensors is conducted, revealing their active and passive data transmission capabilities.

Finally, a treatise of magneto-inductive node localization develops algorithms that perform near identified accuracy limits in theory and practice.