Aerial arrays for inductive communications systems

A magnetic inductive communication system, comprising:

• a first aerial for generating a first magnetic inductive field and for receiving a second magnetic inductive field, wherein the first aerial is a loop and the first magnetic inductive field is generated external to a space enclosed by the loop;
• and
• a second aerial for generating the second magnetic inductive field and for receiving the first magnetic inductive field,
• wherein the first magnetic inductive field communicates data from the first aerial to the second aerial and the second magnetic inductive field communicates data from the second aerial to the first aerial,
• wherein the first aerial is an aerial array that comprises a main multi-turn loop aerial and an auxiliary multi-turn loop aerial that respectively generate a main magnetic inductive field and an auxiliary magnetic inductive field to generate the first magnetic inductive field, the main multi-turn loop aerial being spaced apart from the auxiliary multi-turn loop aerial at a distance at which the sum of the main and auxiliary magnetic inductive fields is directional and quasi-static.