| 13 July 2023 | The Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge | |
| 09:00 - 09:30 |
Registration | Exhibition & Networking |
| 09:30 - 09:40 |
Welcome from Cambridge Wireless Paul Crane, CEO, Cambridge Wireless Welcome from our host Ian Wassell, Senior Lecturer, Department of Computer Science & Technology, University of Cambridge |
| 09:40 - 10:50 |
How complex are current mobile networks? Exposing the reality of current network deployments; multi-RAT, multi-Band, M-MIMO, many backhaul options… Chair: Vicky Messer, VP Product Management, Picocom UK
Network Architecture Andy Sutton, Principal Network Architect, BT Where did the complexity of future wireless networks come from? What has happened since we launched 2G GSM with a single technology, single frequency band and a single operator site? This talk will review the evolution of digital cellular site design and explore how the complexity has come about. To do this we’ll explore radio access technologies, frequency bands, antenna systems, RF transmission lines, site sharing and mobile backhaul, we’ll also look to the future to consider how site design will evolve through RAN architecture evolution, including optimisations of today’s D-RAN and deployments of C-RAN with traditional approaches, or vRAN and Open RAN.
"Normal Accidents" – Living with high-risk technology Moray Rumney, Director, Rumney Telecom The limited debate on how brittle our technological world is becoming needs to be addressed or we risk sleepwalking into catastrophe. This talk is based on a 1984 analysis of high-risk technologies by Charles Perrow of Yale. His thesis is that when systems become sufficiently complex and tightly coupled, failure will be unexpected, incomprehensible, uncontrollable, and sadly, unavoidable. Blaming the operator is common, but Perrow’s conclusion is that failure is not unlucky or abnormal but inevitable based on design. The solution is not more risk mitigation features which add complexity but to return to less complex systems that are inherently robust, less efficient, and less vulnerable to failure and attack. |
| 10:50 - 11:20 |
Break | Exhibition & Networking |
| 11:20 - 13:05 |
Managing today’s complexity What are the tools & techniques for dealing with today's complexities? What short term techniques can help to manage the situation? Chair: John Okas, CCO, Real Wireless
Managing complexity & predicting future capacity upgrades Peter Love, 4G/5G Densification Architect, Nokia What if we could predict the future? The overwhelming majority of complexity in current mobile networks is driven by the need for ever growing capacity. In this presentation we will we be answering the following questions.
Supply Chain Diversification - is it just another name for complexity? Economics tells us that monopoly of supply is a bad thing, and in the context of telecoms we seem to be very close to it. Government proposes diversifying the supply chain as a remedy. Industry imagines promoting another large vendor to fill the gap. How can telecoms innovation help the industry meet policy, manage complexity, be affordable, perform well and make common sense all at the same time?
Application of AI Yue Wang, Head of Group, 6G Research/SRUK, Samsung The presentation will discuss the challenges the industry is likely to encounter as we advance towards an AI-native network, and highlight the need to rethink the design and architecture of next generation networks to support the convergence of communication, computation, and intelligence in the 6G era.
Simplifying Wi-Fi Operations Mark Grayson, Fellow, Global Technology & Standardization Group, Cisco The session will examine how Wi-Fi is addressing 3 complexity challenges: configuration, cellular integration, and onboarding. |
| 13:05 - 14:05 |
Lunch | Exhibition & Networking |
| 14:05 - 15:15 |
Future technologies – making it simple (or not) What long term/distributive technique are on the horizon? Integrating space and airborne platforms (LEO/HAPs); Even higher frequency spectrum (THz) and spectrum sharing; Open architectures (Open RAN); Cell-less architectures; A new 6G RAT; Neutral host in-building; RIC (non-real time, near real time & beyond)… Chair: Prof Simon Saunders, Visiting Professor, King's College London
Future Network Platform The talk provides an overview of a future network platform, enabling societal innovation in a cyber-physical continuum. Trustworthiness, sustainability, and simplification are targeted, while strictly meeting societal demands for providing advanced application and consumer services. The presentation also includes the type of use cases a future network needs to address, something about required network capabilities, as well as some of the technology components, ending in a high-level architectural view.
Integration and Interoperability Maria Lema, Co-Founder, Weaver Labs Maria will talk about the use of a decentralized service layer to enable efficient sharing of infrastructure leveraging software and open network interfaces to interconnect and integrate infrastructure on-demand and as a service.
Intelligent RAN Architecture Professor Rahim Tafazolli, University of Surrey The talk will give an overview on what is expected for 6G to deliver and more notably the 6GIC vision and strategy of 6G requirements and research challenges. It will propose new RAN architectures that will simultaneously achieve energy and Coverage efficiencies. The idea is based on intelligent Network of Networks in solving an important societal challenge of Digital Divide. |
| 15:35 - 16:05 |
Break | Exhibition & Networking |
| 16:05 - 17:20 |
Insights from other industries - How do we make it simple? Does complexity encourage or deter innovation? Panellists from broadcast, energy and rail share their insights. Chair: Sylvia Lu, Corporate Strategy, u-blox; Member of Advisory Board at UKTIN
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| 17:20 - 17:30 |
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| 17:30 | Event close |
*Draft agenda, subject to change ahead of the event
