2009.06.08

Next generation wireless infrastructure
Given the already existing commercial success of wireless technologies, with a global mobile communication penetration beyond 3.5 billion subscribers, as well as the enormous success of wireless data communication through IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth etc, people could think the wireless revolution has already taken place. However, future connectivity will be wireless and ubiquitous. Therefore the future wireless infrastructure seems to be in front of a remarkable evolution. With a vision of creating continuous seamless user connectivity as well as having physical devices/things connected through the wide spread usage of sensor and RFID near field communication technologies, the network will increase in size with an order of magnitude compared to today. Additionally, having the widespread Internet protocol technologies as a fundamental building block, one part of the vision is to create a future wireless ICT environment that can help accelerate the efficiency of sustainable technologies, e.g. by providing completely new ways of lowering energy consumption. In fact it is envisioned that wireless ICT can create a base for tackling some of the world largest problems. This presentation outlines a number of critical wireless research areas. The area's are fundamentally split in two, some related to the physical radio link layer and some with the interaction of the radio access network infrastructure. Increased level of network intelligence must be applied. Node and device direct-interaction and cooperation can help out. Efficient ways of optimizing the current spectrum usage as well as introduction of new spectrum is another area. Of course the future Internet evolution with the extended usage of e.g. IP-based sensor networks currently exploding due to the rapid evolution in the relationship between processing power, cost, power consumption and physical size is a critical element. Completely new, disruptive ways of building and operating the architecture are necessary.