What new telecommunication trends and technologies are you learning?

I am currently deeply immersed in exploring the latest trends and technologies in the field of telecommunications, with a specific focus on non terrestrial networks ( NTN). My current studies revolve around understanding the transformative potential of NTN, especially in areas where mobile network signals are weak or inaccessible, and fixed network connections are unavailable. NTN have emerged as a beacon of hope for bridging the digital divide, especially in remote or underserved regions. By harnessing innovative solutions such as mesh networks, satellite communication, and advanced wireless technologies like 5G.

Absolutely, the advent of 5G technology marks a significant milestone with its three key offerings: incredible speed, remarkable capacity, and unparalleled connectivity. These attributes are not only enhancing human communication but are also becoming the backbone of various industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, each eager to harness the power of the internet for transformation. For instance, in the healthcare sector, the implementation of 5G has enabled the use of holographic devices that doctors in Singapore are using to convey complex health issues to patients more effectively. We need find such more use-cases and understand how 5G enables that.

5G is a big deal because it's not just faster internet—it's a whole new way to connect devices and run applications. It can make self-driving cars, smart cities, and virtual reality work better and more efficiently. But it's not all smooth sailing; companies need to invest a lot in new tech and work through rules and security concerns. So, while 5G has a lot of potential, there are challenges that need to be sorted out.

5G is evolving, and the industry is already eyeing 6G to meet the growing demands of a cyber-physical world, emphasizing efficiency, human-centric design, and sustainability. Components from 5G, like XR, are seen as precursors to 6G's immersive human-machine interaction. AI and ML will be key in solving network issues, but integrating them while maintaining standardized interfaces is a challenge. The need to enhance the network energy efficiency to reduce the systems’ carbon footprint is of vital importance towards 6G. However, achieving this while supporting new market segments and use cases is a significant challenge. In my view, these are the prospects for future development of mobile networks.

I believe that sensing may be one of the defining service in 6G, which will make it radically different from 5G. Spectrum scarcity is also something that will have to be solved in B5G, particularly in lower bands. It's becoming harder to squeeze ever more bits into each Hz, we'll have to be more creative with the spectrum allocation, with sharing for instance.

I'd definitely keep an eye on Artificial Intelligence (AI). It has transformative solid potential for network engineering. It can be used to enhance network availability and performance by predicting failures, rerouting traffic, and analyzing data for patterns and anomalies. It can also be used to optimize bandwidth allocation, reduce latency, and help preempt performance issues. By integrating AI into network operations, engineers will maintain an edge in the fast-paced realm of large-scale networks and their technologies. I definitely recommend it for this and many other potential use cases!

At ProductosAI, we use AI to transform customer interactions. Our platform enables businesses to build AI Chatbots that not only elevate customer service but also unearth key behavioral patterns essential for growth. As the founder, I've explored open-source AI on Hugging Face and implemented AI solutions using AWS. We're particularly enthusiastic about employing GPT-4 to analyse data, pinpoint business weaknesses, and escalate sales. AI and analytics are indispensable tools for optimizing performance and customer engagement. These technologies can help online retailers monitor and manage customer behavior, predict and prevent cart abandonment, and even generate new revenue streams through personalized recommendations and offers.

AI and analytics are game-changers for telecom. They can help make the network smarter, so it runs better and has fewer issues. Plus, they can make customer service more personal and efficient. For anyone wanting to understand this trend, knowing some data science and tools like TensorFlow or Spark would be really helpful. So, it's not just about better tech; it's about using smart tools to make everything work better and keep customers happy.

I think it will be hard to stay away from AI in any field of knowledge and wireless communications is no exception. I'm learning how to use the main tools and trying to understand the different models.

En la relación de componentes de hardware, no olvidemos incluir el famoso ESP8266 y los siguientes modelos, como el ESP32 (varias series), todos de Espressif, que lidera el mercado de chips IoT con más de 1.000 millones de pedidos mundiales al día de hoy.

IoT is a bit special in the telecommunication scenario. Whereas for cellular 3GPP technologies are the only game in town and for WLANs we have only Wi-Fi, there's a plethora of solutions for IoT. It's important to understand their advantages and drawbacks to choose the best one for each application and scenario.

Public Clouds (such as AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, etc.) allow companies to reduce their CAPEX and their Operational teams by outsourcing the infrastructure to the public cloud providers. This can be useful when launching new services for example as it will mitigate your financial risks.

Traditional RAN infrastructure, reliant on proprietary hardware and software, has shifted significantly towards embracing cloud-based solutions, notably through virtualized RAN. This evolution begins with the conversion of network functions into software, enhancing flexibility and scalability, crucial for the development of 5G evolutions and 6G networks. Containerization further streamlines the process by packaging software into agile, portable containers for simplified deployment and management of new network functions. Automation, and specifically orchestration, will be key elements for the development of such virtualized functions in the RAN segment. An exemplary instance of a cloud-native RAN is the Open vRAN by the O-RAN Alliance.

Blockchain is a great technology option to create telecommunication services including storage and transmission. The decentralized aspect of a blockchain helps guarantee security and transparency. Some blockchains have been built with a specific usage in mind. Eluvio for example specializes in video distribution (both file and live). It allows much more effective solutions than traditional CDNs thus lowering cost and carbon footprint.

AI/ML/data analytics is one of the main stream all venders investing on telecomunicaciones industry. But ML/data analytics is Just a tool to improve efficiancy on some work loads in Télécom. Still fundamental is connectivity in telecomunicación industry. All experts must add ML/data analytics to their carrier as a tool to improve efficiancy of some work loads . We are dealing with larger datasets every Day in the industry and ML/Data analytics is a amazing tool to look at them in diferent perspective .

There is one more topic I’ll add to the list here – Autonomous Networks. You would have heard of self-driving cars. Just as automobile industry is developing autonomous vehicles to revolutionize the transportation sector, autonomous networks are telecom industry’s response to build something similar. Basically, networks that are able to heal, manage and optimize themselves without much of human intervention. Although Autonomous Networks are in early stages of development, it’s a great time to learn about them, considering their potential to make telco operations more reliable and secure for digital economies of the future.

5G and Beyond: The expansion of 5G networks will continue, and the development of 6G and beyond is likely underway. Edge Computing: Edge computing will gain prominence, enabling data processing closer to users, crucial for low-latency applications like VR and AR. Advanced IoT: IoT growth will persist, with a focus on security, AI integration, and application in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and smart cities. Artificial Intelligence: AI will play a crucial role in network automation, traffic management, and cybersecurity. Cybersecurity: Advanced cybersecurity measures are essential due to the increased threats in an increasingly connected world.

Quantum computing and communications will come eventually and we should be ready for that, at least to understand their implications.

Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV): These technologies provide even greater flexibility in network and service management. Data Privacy and Ethics: Data privacy and ethical data use will be significant topics as regulations strengthen. 5G in Space and Satellites: The use of 5G technologies in space and satellites promises even more robust global connectivity. Energy Efficiency: More energy-efficient technologies will be developed to reduce the environmental impact of telecommunications. Emerging Technologies: Keep an eye out for unforeseen innovations that may arise, such as new materials, communication protocols, or groundbreaking solutions.

Maybe of more interest to chip manufacturers than system integrators, but I think the ever-increasing mathematical complexity of signal modulation schemes, forward error correction algorithms, combined with ever-increasing DSP (Digital Signal Processing) power are the unsung heroes of the telecoms world. Without them, there would be no 5G, DOCSIS 4.0, coherent optical transmission systems, etc., etc.