I have difficulties to reconcile "Atom-based communications systems are of practical interest because they could be physically smaller and more tolerant of noi

I have difficulties to reconcile "Atom-based communications systems are of practical interest because they could be physically smaller and more tolerant of noisy environments than conventional electronics." and "NIST’s receiver uses atoms prepared in high-energy “Rydberg” states, which are unusually sensitive to electromagnetic fields, including radio signals. "