SIG Virtualisation Takeaways: A Cambridge Wireless Recap

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Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a session held by Cambridge Wireless which was introduced by CEO Michaela Eschbach, with Paul Rhodes moderating. The topic? RAN architecture evolution towards the 6G vision. Other than meeting colleagues and making new acquaintances these sessions enable you to think and reflect and gain a different perspective as well as understand where we are as an industry.

BT’s Evolution

BT have reorganised their engineering teams by mixing more and less experienced engineers as well as pooling those with fixed and mobile knowledge together.  In telecoms, the emphasis is moving to software engineers who need to immerse themselves in telecoms knowledge. The unenviable challenge is codifying human knowledge and sentiment.

Being able to provide individual tailored services, controlled from the network has always been the holy grail which BT continues to pursue. Anticipating, interpreting and translating human intent into technical intent remains a conundrum. 

KPIs and QoE

Practical research at BT focuses on turning data into actionable insights. The 3 circles in a Venn diagram determining QoE are RAN KPI’s, the user KPI’s and content provider QoE KPI’s. Bringing these data sets together and finding suitable KPI’s is part of BT’s research and remains a challenge.

Boldyn’s- Managed Services

Boldyn’s current offering includes NHIB, NHOD, and HDD and in line with the market they are developing the portfolio to include managed services. What is clear is that neutral hosts are becoming increasingly important as we move towards 6G. Boldyn are already overcoming technical and operational hurdles in this space. No regrets architectural moves: virtualisation, Open-RAN, and cloudification are key to navigating towards the Network of Tomorrow.

 With data and data analytics are at the heart of Boldyn’s operations they have and are building their own platform where they add value to the Operators and other stakeholders as a central holder of assets.

AWS and Cloud Capabilities

AWS confirmed their flexibility in offering both cloud and on-premises services and they continue to build out their capabilities. The closer you adhere to their cloud and less bespoke your service requests are the more cost-effective it becomes for you to consume the service. Latency remains a key driver for deploying AWS at the edge.

Insights on 6G

Is 6G going to be labelled a Sensory Network?

  • In Europe, operators feel that the need for 6G is as unwelcome as “a bullet in the head”.
  • China and South Korea are advocating for 6G inclusion in the latest technology releases, where patent ownership plays a crucial role. South Korea is eager to lead the race to establish the first 6G network, reminiscent of their claim to the first 5G network two years before the official standards were established.
  • Chipset manufacturers, often seen as bellwethers (indicators of market sentiment), are now being approached regarding their capability to produce 6G chips. It was interesting to note that, concerning O-RAN, demand from Vietnam was noticeable.
  • 3GPP often prioritises network efficiency, yet most users are primarily concerned with widespread coverage. As 6G adoption evolves, we might see a shift in standards.
  • Small cells are being discreetly integrated into urban landscapes and building infrastructures, blending seamlessly with existing street furniture, largely unnoticed by the public. Meanwhile, macro cells face challenges as reflective glass in modern buildings impedes signal penetration.

Notable Absences

Artificial Intelligence

AI was hardly mentioned, as those familiar with the field understand that machine learning has been available for years and is more applicable to network operations.

Sustainability

With finite resources and one planet, sustainability should have received more attention.

IEEE 802.11 (WIFI)

WIFI, non-licensed spectrum, accounts for 80% of consumer traffic and is often found in buildings, needs to be part of the discussion.

Cambridge Wireless Update

Cambridge Wireless is merging three of its current SIGs—eMBB, Small Cells, and Virtual Networks—into one overarching Mobile SIG.

Mark your calendars for the next Cambridge Wireless International event on March 27, 2025.

The membership is eager for Cambridge Wireless to expand its offerings to include international growth opportunities, personalised introductions, and training.

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