In the electronics industry accelerating improvements in device performance have become the accepted rule. In the mobile communications industry improvements in supported peak data rates have created a similar expectation. Whilst recent advancements in service capability have been impressive, do the underlying trends in the economics of deploying and operating wide area networks allow us to be confident of the widespread deployment of future radio technologies? What research topics are most important from a network economics perspective? In this presentation Chris Haynes explores the developments in academia and the mobile industry most likely to help address the economic challenges faced by network operators pursuing the goal of ubiquitous wireless access to ‘broadband services’.

As DSL performance defines user experiences, it is critical for the upcoming mobile and wireless systems to provide a low-latency and high-bandwidth network as close as DSL as possible in terms of performance and reasonable cost. New technologies such as OFDM and MIMO are adopted as the enabling technologies for the new mobile and wireless standards such as Mobile WiMAX and 3GPP LTE. ITU-R WP8F is preparing the next generation mobile and wireless standards called “IMT-Advanced” as new spectrum allocation is expected in WRC 2007.

KiHo Kim received a B.S. degree from HanYang University, Korea, in 1980, an M.S. degree from KAIST in 1982, all in electrical engineering.  From 1982 to 1987 he was with the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), where he developed the Korean Teletext (Data Broadcasting) system. In 1991, he received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas at Austin in ECE (Electrical and Computer Engineering). In 1991, he joined SAIT in Samsung Electronics Co.(SEC), where he had been engaged in R&D of HDTV transmission (OFDM), ADSL modem (DMT) and WLAN modem (OFDM). Since 2000, he has been leading the R&D of 4G mobile and nomadic systems based on OFDM and MIMO technologies in SEC. His group demonstrated indoor 1Gbps transmission and outdoor 100Mbps handover in Samsung 4G Forum 2006 and Mobile WiMAX wave-2 system based on MIMO/BF in 3GSM World Congress 2007. Currently he is Senior VP and the leader of “4G R&D Team” of Telecomm. R&D Center of SEC. He served as Vice-Chair of Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF) in 2006. He is a senior member of IEEE, KICS and KIEE.

This keynote address will provide an overview of some of the challenges faced by spectrum regulators, particularly in Europe, in making spectrum available for wireless vehicular technology applications.  Some solutions and problems will be highlighted in the context of the European regulatory environment which includes CEPT, the European Commission and national regulators.

Jim Connolly is a senior manager in the Market Framework division of ComReg with overall responsibility for management of the radio spectrum resource including competitions for new wireless licences.  He led the team which ran the 3G licence competitions and selected the mobile licences for the Irish market.

Jim is also chairman of the European CEPT Working Group on Frequency Management which deals with harmonisation of spectrum across the 48 European member countries of CEPT. 

Prior to joining ComReg Jim worked at the European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) in Copenhagen for 4 years as a frequency management expert primarily focusing on harmonisation of frequency usage throughout Europe.

Before joining ERO he was with the UK spectrum regulator in various frequency management positions covering fixed services, space services and long term strategic planning including reviews of spectrum usage.