Intel vice president discusses network transformation and 5G
The third and final day of our Predictions for 2022 and Beyond event focussed on the future of networks. As such, I was delighted to be joined by Yaniv Garty, vice president at Intel, to talk about how this area is developing. Yaniv is an industry veteran, having spent more than 15 years at Intel in the US and leading the company’s Israel operations as general manager.
The mix of 5G, artificial intelligence and cloud computing will form a lively background to how telecom networks develop over the next few years. Intel is at the heart of a fledgling ecosystem of network solutions that’s spurring network visualization and 5G, making Yaniv an ideal candidate to talk to about these technologies.
Topics during our talk included the network of the future and the intersection of the telecom, computing and cloud realms. We also spoke about the technology road map beyond 5G, and how the evolving network-based and cloud-based services environment can make the most of the platform that 5G brings.
Yaniv started by discussing some of Intel’s experiences with the transformation of telecom infrastructure and the impact of visualization in particular; one example he gave was the company working with Verizon to deliver the industry’s first virtualized end-to-end 5G data transfer in 2020.
When I asked him about the disruptive potential of Open RAN networks, Yaniv related how Intel was supportive of the trend, citing its support for open standards and the groups driving them, like the O-RAN Alliance. Indeed, Intel has helped Japanese operator Rakuten, very much the poster child for Open RAN networks, to realize savings of up to 40% in capital expenditure and 30% in operational expenditure over traditional networks. It also played a role in the roll-out of Dish Network’s US network, based entirely on Open RAN infrastructure. Both examples are testament to how virtualization can improve technology performance and business operations.
Yaniv went on to talk about the convergence of mobile communications with computing and the Internet, from mobile broadband to the current era of distributed intelligence. This is something that affects many sectors of industry and enterprise, all of which are producing ever-increasing volumes of data. This data needs to be moved, processed and stored, creating opportunities for edge services built on 5G connectivity and network intelligence.
Finally, we also discussed the impact of technology convergence in industry sectors. Private 5G networks in the smart industry were a specific example. Yaniv outlined how 5G connectivity acts as a building block that becomes even more powerful when combined with capabilities like automation, analytics, artificial intelligence, edge computing and so on. But these are complex and demanding environments, so partnerships between mobile operators, cloud providers, technology suppliers and integrators with sector-specific knowledge will be vital for addressing the needs of different industries.
All in all, it was a stimulating discussion — one I hope you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed recording!
For the full version of the interview and all the sessions from our Predictions for 2022 and Beyond event, please contact us.