SK

Swarun Kumar

Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering
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Swarun Kumar is a leading expert on next-gen wireless network protocols and services. As head of CMU’s Emerging Wireless Technologies Lab, Kumar studies not only the applications for next-gen systems, but also the implementation of those systems – so his work is less theoretical and more on the practical side. Kumar can address a range of 5G issues and the future of wireless networking, including 5G deployments; the common misconceptions around 5G and managing expectations for what’s possible; the future of 6G; and thinking beyond phones for the future of wireless.

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  • Cities Weigh Costs and Benefits of Building Private 5G Networks
    Swarun explains, "For small networks, third-party telcos are cost-effective, but large networks may benefit from city-run 5G in the long term." He adds, "Both traditional and private 5G can support advanced applications like AR/VR and smart healthcare." Swarun highlights that private 5G can fill connectivity gaps, especially in smart transportation and traffic management.
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  • “The push towards millimeter wave for 5G has not panned out as planned, with the physics of mmWave (poor range/resilience to mobility as a trade-off for high speeds) being the biggest impediment. This has led to a recalibration of the industry to go after the lower frequency bands, which has, in turn, led to many sharing issues with Wi-Fi and aircraft radar bands being recent examples. In the long run, an effective sharing mechanism between next-generation wireless and the various other wireless stakeholders is a dire need for the future of the industry and especially for 5G in the U.S. to meet global standards. There is enough spectrum out there -- we just need to sort out the politics to get sharing done right, instead of fighting with physics!”

  • Ossia has received Federal Communications Commission approval to use the 2.4 GHz frequency. The downside of that approach is that it lacks the range and directionality of higher frequencies. On the other hand, the lower frequencies don’t need the clear line of sight that infrared frequencies do and they’re not stopped by the obstructions that hamper millimeter waves. It’s all a trade-off. It really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.

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