FP6: How IEEE 5G & Beyond Testbed Platform will Accelerate Network Innovations

SCOPE

The IEEE Future Networks Initiative has received funding to create a virtual testing platform to accelerate network innovations. The platform will host a replica of an end-to-end 5G network covering all segments from RAN through core network, to emulate the functionality and behavior of 5G and Beyond 5G networks. This project comes on the heels of a global financial downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, where innovation projects are often dropped for cost-saving reasons. The goal of this project is to develop a collaborative platform that brings value to individual member companies while encouraging and facilitating reduced-cost collaborative innovation. The current inaugural members are EXFO, AT&T, VMware, China Mobile, and Samsung, who will provide oversight of the deployment of the platform’s basic infrastructure over the coming 12 months with Tech Mahindra as lead developer. Meanwhile, the project continues to recruit new industrial members in an effort to create a forum for technology evolution and standardization between visionary experts, engineering teams, and vertical industries. Long term, the platform will encourage participation from academia to stimulate next-generation network advances and easy collaboration opportunities between academia and industry.

MODERATOR

Anwer Al-Dulaimi is currently a Senior Manager of Emerging technologies & Innovations and Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at EXFO Inc., Montreal, Canada. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from Brunel University, London, U.K., in 2012 after receiving M.Sc. and B.Sc. honors degrees in communication engineering. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, sponsored by Blackberry’s advanced research team. In his current role, Anwer is responsible for identifying new trends of mobile technology evolutions and the adaptation phases that EXFO need to take for compliance. He is the chair of the newly established IEEE 5G & Beyond Testbed Project working to develop a virtual testing platform for E2E network innovation. He is the chair of the IEEE 1932.1 ‘Standard for Licensed/Unlicensed Spectrum Interoperability in Wireless Mobile Network’. He is also representing EXFO in many industrial forums such as One6G and other collaborative projects. He is the Editor of IEEE Future Networks Series on 5G & 6G published by IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, editor of Vehicular Networking Series in IEEE Communication Standards Magazine and guest editor of many other IEEE series issues. His research interests include 5G and 6G networks, cloud computing, Blockchains and cybersecurity. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET), registered as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) by the British Engineering Council since 2010. He is a member of the NSERC discovery grants committee and a senior member of IEEE.

PANELISTS

Chih-Lin I is CMCC Chief Scientist of Wireless Technologies. She received Ph.D. EE from Stanford University. She has won 2005 IEEE ComSoc Stephen Rice Prize, 2018 IEEE ComSoc Fred W. Ellersick Prize, the 7th IEEE Asia-Pacific Outstanding Paper Award, and 2015 IEEE Industrial Innovation Award for Leadership and Innovation in Next-Generation Cellular Wireless Networks.She is the Chair of O-RAN Technical Steering Committee and an O-RAN Executive Committee Member, the Chair of FuTURE 5G/6G SIG, the Chair of WAIA (Wireless AI Alliance) Executive Committee, an Executive Board Member of GreenTouch, a Network Operator Council Founding Member of ETSI NFV, a Steering Board Member and Vice Chair of WWRF, a Steering Committee member and the Publication Chair of IEEE 5G and Future Networks Initiatives, a member of IEEE ComSoc SDB, SPC, and CSCN-SC, and a Scientific Advisory Board Member of Singapore NRF. She has published over 200 papers in scientific journals, book chapters and conferences and holds over 100 patents. She is co-author of the book “Green and Software-defined Wireless Networks – From Theory to Practice” and has also Co-edited two books: “Ultra-dense Networks – Principles and Applications” and “5G Networks – Fundamental Requirements, Enabling Technologies, and Operations Management”. Her current research interests center around ICDT Deep Convergence: “From Green & Soft to Open & Smart”.

Brian K. Daly is managing the AT&T strategic standards engineering team focusing on the evolution of the packet core and IP multimedia subsystem, virtualization, cybersecurity, small cells, and the Internet of Things. Over the years he has contributed to standards in global fora such as 3GPP, ATIS, GSMA, 4G Americas, IEEE, NGMN, NENA, and oneM2M. He is a leading contributor to ATIS Board, TOPS Council and Standards Committee initiatives, resulting in the implementation of a number of standards including Wireless Emergency Alerts, SMS to 9-1-1, and mobile device theft prevention solutions. Brian is a Board member of the IEEE Communications Society Standards Development Board, and has provided leadership on a number of federal advisory committees, including the Commercial Mobile Service Alert Advisory Committee (CMSAAC), the Emergency Access Advisory Committee (EAAC), and the Communications Reliability, Security, and Interoperability Committee (CSRIC). Brian is a member of the FCC’s Technological Advisory Council, where he co-leads the Mobile Device Theft Prevention working group and the Future Game Changing Technologies 5G sub working group. Brian is leading AT&T’s research into 5G use cases, requirements, and technologies, and led the 4G Americas project developing an America’s view on 5G. Brian is Chair of the North American Fraud Forum and Security Group under the GSM Association’s North American Regional Interest Group and is a member of CTIA’s Cybersecurity Working Group. Brian holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University with an emphasis in electromagnetic engineering (antennas and microwaves) and communication systems. Brian holds over 130 patents in the telecommunications field.

Benoit Pelletier is currently Director, Edge AI Ecosystems in the Advanced Technologies Telco Edge Cloud Business Unit at VMware with a Global mandate. Co-founder of the $400M ENCQOR 5G Public Private Partnership initiative with international collaboration between Canada, USA, Europe and UK, executive member of the board for Innovation ENCQOR, a NPO created to deliver this PPP across Quebec-Ontario corridor. Creative thinker and passionate about collaborative innovation, disruptive technologies and execution! Proven leader with an intrapreneur mindset who creates rich and unique ecosystems that connect multinational corporations, SMBs, governments and academia. “Innovate or Evaporate” has been his mantra over the last 30 years in different industry markets: Telecom at VMware, Ciena and Nortel, Transport at Bombardier and Military-Aerospace at Oerlikon Aerospace. Benoit held several leadership positions in design, system integration, program management and business development. Broad knowledge in Product Development and expertise in New Product Introduction of cutting-edge technologies along with government relationships. Benoit holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke.

Aloknath De is a corporate vice president of Samsung Electronics and chief technology officer of Samsung R&D Institute India in Bangalore where he is responsible for Samsung’s IoT Data Platform and Advanced Service. Dr. De is considered one of the “Most Influential CIO/CTOs of India.” He is a recipient of the Alexander Graham Bell Prize in Canada. He has also received IETE Memorial Awards for distinguished contributions in Electronics and Communications, IDC Insights Award for Innovation in Telecom, and the Zinnov Intrapreneur of the Year award. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and a Fellow of IE, IETE, and Indian National Academy of Engg (INAE). Dr. De promotes science and technology linkage through IP creation, startup collaboration, and innovative solutions. In addition to more than 30 years of industrial and research experience, including BEL, Nortel (Montreal), Hughes and with ST-Ericsson where he was country director, he served as a visiting professor with IIT-Roorkee and IIT-Delhi from 2005 to 2011. Dr. De holds a B.Tech. from IIT, Kharagpur, an M.E. from IISc, Bangalore, and a Ph.D. from McGill University, Montreal.

Ashutosh Dutta is currently Chief 5G Strategist and JHU/APL Sabbatical Fellow at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Labs (JHU/APL), USA. He also serves as Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering for the Engineering Professional Program at JHU. His career, spanning more than 30 years, includes Director of Technology Security and Lead Member of Technical Staff at AT&T, CTO of Wireless at a Cybersecurity company NIKSUN, Inc., Senior Scientist in Telcordia Research, Director of Central Research Facility at Columbia University, adjunct faculty at NJIT, and Computer Engineer with TATA Motors. Ashutosh is the author of more than 100 technical papers and 31 issued patents. Ashutosh is co-author of the book, titled, “Mobility Protocols and Handover Optimization: Design, Evaluation and Application” published by IEEE and John & Wiley. As a Technical Leader in 5G and security, Ashutosh has been serving as the founding Co-Chair for the IEEE Future Networks Initiative that focuses on 5G standardization, education, publications, testbed, and roadmap activities. Ashutosh is IEEE Communications Society’s Distinguished Lecturer for 2017-2020 and as an ACM Distinguished Speaker (2020-2022). Ashutosh currently serves as the founding co-chair for IEEE Future Networks Initiative and Member-At-Large for IEEE Communications Society. He co-founded the IEEE STEM conference (ISEC) and helped to implement EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) projects in several high schools. Ashutosh has served as the general Co-Chair for the IEEE STEM conference for the last 10 years. Ashutosh served as the Director of Industry Outreach for IEEE Communications Society from 2014-2019. He was recipient of 2009 IEEE MGA Leadership award and 2010 IEEE-USA professional leadership award. Ashutosh currently serves as Member-At-Large for IEEE Communications Society for 2020-2022. Ashutosh has served as the general Co-Chair for the premier IEEE 5G World Forums and has organized 73 5G World Summits around the world. Ashutosh currently serves as the Chair for IEEE Industry Connection’s O-RAN activities. Ashutosh is a Distinguished Alumnus of NIT Rourkela with BS in Electrical Engineering, MS in Computer Science from NJIT, and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University under the supervision of Prof. Henning Schulzrinne. Ashutosh is a Fellow of IEEE and Distinguished member ACM.

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