Abstract: To meet the needs customers today and as it grows in the future, the telecommunications network as a whole is evolving. We’ve seen the move from analog to digital both terrestrially and wirelessly, and now with the great demand on using wireless technologies for both fixed and mobile users, there are greater demands on the cellular networks and the backhaul networks needed to interconnect the users to the data/video they desire and to each other in various modes of communication. This Segment will explore how these networks are evolving – in terms of what is needed to increase capacity and coverage in todays’ 4G/LTE networks and will further expand that capacity and coverage along with Ultra Reliable Low Latency capabilities to provide a multitude on new network services with 5G. We will look at how network densification is critical, and how its dependency on power and backhaul will be met. We will look at providing individualized services based on geo-location, as well as providing video content (stored or live) without latency through the movement of data and network features closer to the user edge [i.e., Edge Computing]. Finally, we will explore how some of the new technologies that are being deployed will be utilized for disaster notification and better accuracy for emergency response both today and in the future.
As part of this, research being conducted to achieve better Quality, Reliability, and Security will be presented by the engineers of the future, through the presentation of selected technical papers by University students.
Abstract: In this segment, we dive into issues pertaining to 5G that go beyond the network itself. We will examine questions including:
- What do customers expect from 5G? Likely use cases.
- How will the ecosystem of 5G devices and applications differ from what’s available today and where on the path to realization are developers and suppliers?
- How do go-to-market strategies for 5G differ among major carriers?
- Some carriers are very focused on fixed wireless. Why will it work now when it hasn’t in 25 years of trying (recall the AT&T pizza box, wireless local loop, etc.)
- With the rising power of IOT bot nets, capable of being mobilized by the thousands and launching devastating attacks like Mirai, what will black hat hackers be able to do with end point devices each having multi-gigabit access? What threats lay on the horizon?
Join us as we look beyond the network to glimpse our near future.
Abstract: This segment will analyze the challenges that operators are facing in their journey to 5G.The early success of 5G services relies heavily on network domains like 4G/LTE RAN and Core, Optical network, Ethernet/IP transport network, MEC, etc. However, these existing networks require significant changes, which can only happen in several steps. In order to truly leverage 5G as a catalyst for new services – that is, to generate new revenue from new market segments – operators need to transform their network infrastructure on a fundamental level:
- the NFV/SDN infrastructure must support closed loop automation, leading to zero touch and Network slicing.
- the optical and Ethernet transport network must be ready to support much more traffic with a lower latency and better reliability.
- Security is essential to support sensitive services such as autonomous cars or e-Health.