Society has come to depend on cellular networks as the primary channel for ubiquitous connectivity for mobile, untethered, wireless communication. For many emerging mobile applications, including driver assistance and autonomous driving, Augmented and Virtual Reality, etc., low latency, high bandwidth communication is becoming necessary.

Cellular networks are evolving to take advantage of the new higher speed wireless channels. They are also moving to a software-based infrastructure, migrating from purpose-built hardware appliances. While this move to a software-based environment offers considerable flexibility and accommodates a multitude of participants, the evolution also poses challenges in terms of achieving high performance, and especially low latency.

This panel will discuss the ongoing work on cellular networks both in research as well as in the industry, including standardization activity. There is work both in the radio access infrastructure, with the development of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) as well as in the cellular ‘core network’. Moreover, with the widespread deployment of 5G, a number of insights have been gained from extensive measurements being performed. The speakers will discuss these topics and will answer (to the extent feasible) questions from the audience.