Recorded talkTuesday, 23 February 2021 · 44 min
6G: “Ultimate Customizability” driven by Democratization
Prof. Akihiro Nakao
The University of Tokyo
Abstract
In Japan, the strategic proposal for 6G R&D has been summarized by the "Beyond 5G Strategic Board" held by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in June 2020. Also, "Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium” has been formed in December 2020 and we have been putting forth R&D of 6G. This invited talk introduces the lecturer's position that innovations towards 6G be brought by the “democratization” of telecommunication (making telecommunication technologies accessible to anyone).
Several countries have allocated white space to private 5G usage, and which is open to non-telecommunication companies so that they can operate their own customized 5G networks.
The benefit of democratization is to be able to customize their own private networks tailored for solving local social problems, taking “diversity” (observing the challenges from all angles) and “inclusiveness” (not a single stakeholder is left out to enjoy the benefit of innovations) into account.
Taking an example of our research activities on Local 5G (private 5G policy in Japan), we posit that democratization will open a door for Local6G (democratized 6G candidate technologies) first where local customization for resolving regional problems lead to innovations and then to 6G where all the local innovations will be converged). We envision 6G as "Ultimate Customizability” driven by Democratization.
About the speaker
Prof. Akihiro Nakao
The University of Tokyo
Prof. Akihiro NAKAO received his B.S. (1991) in Physics, M.E. (1994) in Information Engineering from the University of Tokyo. He was at IBM Yamato Laboratory, Tokyo Research Laboratory, and IBM Texas Austin from 1994 till 2005. He received M.S. (2001) and Ph.D. (2005) in Computer Science from Princeton University. He has been teaching as an associate professor (2005-2014) and as a full professor (2014-present) in Applied Computer Science, at Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, the University. From 2019 to present, he has served as Vice Dean of the University of Tokyo’s Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies (2019-present). He was appointed as an advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo in 2019 and as a special advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo in 2020. He has been appointed as a chairperson of network architecture committee of 5GMF (5G Mobile Network Promotion Forum) in 2014 and also as a chairperson of the international committee of Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium of Japan in 2020.
1991: B.S. in Physics, University of Tokyo.
1994: M.E. in Information Engineering, University of Tokyo.
1994-2005: IBM Yamato Laboratory Tokyo Research Laboratory IBM Texas Austin.
2001: M.S. in Computer Science, Princeton University.
2005: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Princeton University.
2005-2014: Associate Professor in Applied Computer Science.
2014-present: Professor in Applied Computer Science.
2019-present: Vice Dean Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies University of Tokyo.
2019: Advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo.
2020: Special Advisor to the President of the University of Tokyo.
