Connect (X) Day 2 Insights
WIA President and CEO Patrick Halley kicked off Connect (X) 25, with a look back to the first cellphone call from Soldier Field in Chicago in 1983 to today’s hype around artificial intelligence.
“The buzz is for good reason. We are already seeing the use of AI to optimize carrier and tower company operations. On the consumer side, I don’t know what specific AI use cases will emerge. But I do know AI, coupled with other technology advancements, is going to be a big deal for our industry, because without data, there is no AI, and without connectivity, there is no data.
“While we may not know exactly what that future looks like, what I know right now is that because of the networks you’ve built and will continue to build, new incredible applications that none of us can imagine today will emerge. Because this is always true – when we build networks, innovation follows,” Halley told the audience.
“From towers to small cells, to fiber and data centers, to chips and radios, our connected future will depend on an incredible amount of infrastructure that will be financed, built, and operated by the companies and people in this room. The necessity of wireless connectivity for every American is a consistent tailwind we can all depend on.”
Lynn Cox of Verizon told Connect (X) attendees that 5G was moving beyond the deployment phase to the phase where it will leverage other technologies to advance the network. Cox noted that although upload and download speeds at this year’s Super Bowl were fast, they are going to look average compared to the traffic supported at the recent NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Going forward, “things like network slicing, edge compute, private networks. We’re at the infancy with these,” Cox said. “But they are already transforming businesses. … I think that over time we’re really going to see a transformation and more revenue and new services that we can put on top of this 5G network,” Cox said.
Senior technology executives from UScellular, Boost Mobile, and Qualcomm joined Scott Lewis from Phoenix Tower International to discuss the cutting edge of wireless infrastructure, including Open RAN, AI and spectrum, among other items.
Some breakout session highlights:
- Convergence is not discounting, it’s value oriented. Convergence will improve speeds and customer experience while leading to even more investment in the networks.
- Spectrum above 6 GHz is going to require much more infrastructure.
- The average customers does not care what they are connected to, they just want to stay connected.
- Wireless connectivity and coverage is essential in emergency situations for both people in need of help and first responders alike.
- There is a push and pull between industry and the states. Industry wants certainty while states are seeking to attract investment in broadband. New challenges are arising including taxation and permitting.
- The AI super cycle changes the game making programmable networks accessible to anyone. Humans will eventually become observers of the network. Machines will be communicating. The need for security is great.
- There is a definite shift from the carrier-funded model for in-building wireless, and enterprises are willing to make investments in their own infrastructure. More stakeholders are getting involved. Enterprises want all three operators and their own private network that can work on shared infrastructure to bring together AI-driven applications.
The opening reception on the Exhibit Hall, the Emerging Wireless Professionals Happy Hour, the In-Building Connectivity Summit and the 9th Annual Music Movement and Connect (X) Charity Concert capped off the evening.