ICCS convenes international experts to discuss Future Smart Networks

Recently, ICCS held an event that attracted leading experts from academia and industry, creating a vibrant platform for discussing advancements and future directions in digital communication technologies.

The event featured in-depth technical presentations and engaging interactive discussions, concluding with a panel discussion that highlighted the critical importance of ongoing research in digital communication. The workshop focused on the many systems that are integrated to create the internet (a system of systems), particularly the integration of Gbit speed access networks, data centre networks, and the increasing use of AI. Since the introduction of IPv6 in 1998, the number of RFCs has soared to over 9000 by 2023, reflecting the rapid advancements in protocol technologies.

Leading figures in the field spoke at the event, including:

Dr David Lou (Huawei)
Prof Juan A. García-Pardo (ETH Zurich)
Prof Gareth Tyson (Queen Mary University of London)
Dr Daniele de Sensi (University of Roma)
Prof George Parisis (University of Sussex)
Prof Dirk Kutscher (Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology)
Prof Nishanth Sastry (University of Surrey)
Prof Ran Ben Bassat (UCL)
Dr Alejandra Beghelli (UCL)

Key discussion topics included new transport protocols such as QUIC, routing extensions for technologies like information-centric networking, and the application of these protocols in diverse networks such as data centres and 5G mobile systems. Experts shared developments in ongoing efforts and innovations in network routing, transport, and application layer protocols, emphasising the integration of telemetry capabilities with future systems.

The workshop was organised through the support of Huawei, Chief Network Architecture Research Engineer at Huawei, Dirk Trossen praised the workshop, saying:

The workshop brought together European research excellence to exchange insights on new protocols for future smart networks. The workshop’s emphasis on interactive dialogue between the invited speakers and the participants fosters the wider dialogue with and between European researchers, strengthening the community’s voice to ensure sustained future research and development in relevant areas of digital communication.

The attendance from both industry and academia underscored the importance of industry-academic partnerships in driving innovation. The workshop not only provided valuable insights but also strengthened the community's efforts towards future research and development.