Dr. Carlo Fischione of KTH Royal Institute of Technology

Abstract:

In the recent years, the need of running machine learning (ML) services over wireless communication networks has promoted the design of new wireless communication protocols capable to efficiently support such ML services. In fact, in wireless networks, ML services face major challenges in terms of computation, bandwidth, scalability, privacy, and security. One proposal to overcome such challenges is Over-the-air computation (OAC), which is a known technique where wireless devices transmit values by analog amplitude modulation so that a function of these values (e.g., Federated Learning gradient aggregations) is computed over the communication channel at a common receiver. OAC dramatically reduces communication energy use, amplify spectrum efficiency of several order of magnitudes, and achieve privacy protections. In this talk, we will present a fundamentally new computing method, named ChannelComp, for performing OAC by any digital modulation and we will introduce a new scheme for channel coding for computation purposes. We formally model such a scheme by an optimization problem, whose solution jointly identifies the constellation diagram and the repetition code. We call the proposed scheme Repetition for Multiple Access Computing (ReMAC). To manage the computational complexity of the optimization, we divide it into two tractable subproblems. We verify the performance of ReMAC by numerical experiments. The simulation results reveal that ReMAC can reduce the computation error in both noisy and fading channels by approximately up to 7.5 dB compared to standard ChannelComp, particularly for product functions.

Biography:

Dr. Carlo Fischione is full Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Division of Network and Systems Engineering (NSE), Stockholm, Sweden. He is Director of the KTH-Ericsson Data Science Micro Degree Program directed to Ericsson globally, Director of the undergraduate education at NSE, Chair of the IEEE Machine Learning for Communications Emerging Technologies Initiative, and founding General Chair of the IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning for Communications and Networking – IEEE ICMLCN 2024. He is distinguished lecturer of the IEEE Communication Society.  He received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Information Engineering (3/3 years) in May 2005 and the Laurea degree in Electronic Engineering (Laurea, Summa cum Laude, 5/5 years) in April 2001, both from University of L’Aquila, Italy. He received the Starting Grant of the Swedish Research Council in 2008. Prof. Fischione has held research positions at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (2015, Visiting Professor); Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (2015, Associate); and University of California at Berkeley, CA (2004-2005, Visiting Scholar, and 2007-2008, Research Associate). He is Honorary Professor at University of L’Aquila, Italy, Department of Mathematics, Information Engineering, and Computer Science. His research interests include applied optimization, wireless Internet of Things, and machine learning. He received a number of awards, such as the “IEEE Communication Society S. O. Rice” award for the best IEEE Transactions on Communications paper of 2018, the best paper award of IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (2007). He is Editor of IEEE Transactions on Communications (Machine Learning for Communications area) and IEEE Transactions on Machine Learning for Communication and Networking, and has served as Associated Editor of IFAC Automatica (2014-2019). He is co-founder and scientific advisor of ELK.Audio. Prof. Fischione is Member of IEEE (the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), and Ordinary Member of DASP (the Italian academy of history Deputazione Abruzzese di Storia Patria).

Manuel de Matos Fernandes of REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais and Order of Engineers

Abstract:

The presentation with the title “Energy transition in Portugal: where we are” intends to give an overview of the “state of the art” of the Energy Transition process in Portugal, starting by reminding the evolution of installed generation capacity and supply in Portugal in the last years, observe the interconnection capacity with Spain in 2022 and point out the most recent PNEC 2030 targets.

It will refer the revolution on the grid connection requests of renewable generation on the last few years, the necessary technical requirements to apply to the generators to keep system security according to the European Code RfG, and the future evolution of the interconnection capacity until 2030.

It also will cover important topics as progressive participation of renewables and the challenge for system management, recent evolution of new consumers connection requests, especially big datacenters, and the impact in decarbonization, digital transition and electrification, as also in a new industrialization of the country. Next future offshore wind projects and renewable gases will be also included.

Biography:

Manuel de Matos Fernandes is Deputy Director at REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais, a company with which he has collaborated since 1995. He is currently responsible for the Network Analysis Department of the Network Planning Division, which executes several complementary planning studies and coordinates the access and connection to electricity and gas transmission networks, of producers and consumers, within the scope of the energy transition, also ensuring REN's external relations with Promoters and Customers.

He was Assistant Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, 1991 - 1995) and Invited Professor at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL, 1996 - 2022), having been responsible for the Electrical Energy Generation Curricular Unit since 2006.

He was a member of the Energy Specialization Commission of the Order of Engineers (2019-2022) and is currently President of the National Council of the College of Electrical Engineering (2022 - ). 

He has a degree (1992) and a master's degree (1996) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from IST, having also completed the academic part of the Master's degree in Management and Industrial Strategy at the Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão (ISEG, 2000 - 2001).

He is an Energy Specialist from the Order of Engineers (OE - 2008) and has the Academic Title of Energy Specialist from the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, with public exams (IPL - 2011).

Paulo Marques of Allbesmart and Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco

Abstract:

In this talk, we will present the OAIBOX product line, which is a user-friendly and plug-and-play way to use the open source OpenAirInterface (OAI)  protocol stack for 5G/6G research and experimentation. We will showcase various OAIBOX use cases, such as private 5G networks, Open RAN, mmWave and FR3, emphasizing the role of open source and network virtualization to democratize wireless innovation.

Biography:

Paulo Marques received his PhD from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in 2007. He is a professor at the Polytechnic University of Castelo Branco, Portugal. Dr. Marques has served as the scientific coordinator for the European R&D projects FP7 COGEU and FP7 CRS-I, focused on software-defined radio systems. He is also a co-author of the IEEE P1900.6 standard on wireless sensor networks. In 2015, he founded Allbesmart Lda, the company behind the OAIBOX product line (www.oaibox.com), which is the world’s leading open-source 5G/6G test network for research and experimentation.

Carlos Pardelinha of Altice Portugal

Abstract:

Introducing the talk of the panel "Shaping the Next Generation of Data Centers and Connectivity” one will present a short Operator's vision on “5G & beyond” communications.

Biography:

Carlos Pardelinha is a Telecommunications Engineer, degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from IST, member of Portuguese Engineering Academy, with more than of 2 decades of Telco experience, working at Network Evolution Strategy department of Altice Portugal (Portuguese telecom operator) with experience on Radio Network Planning & Optimization, Mobile Network Architecture Strategy and Project Management.

Main specialties:

• ITU/3GPP mobile communications technologies.
• Project Management (PMP).
• Investigate new technologies, follow SDOs (ITU, ETSI, 3GPP, etc.) and lead trial/pilot projects related with Mobile Networks.
• Elaborate studies and propose Network Evolution Strategy (mainly Radio Access).
• Radio Access Network Features, Planning and Optimization.

Paulo Duarte of Capgemini

Abstract:

In this talk, we will present Capgemini's vision for the future of 5G and beyond, focusing on next-generation networking technologies, the unique challenges they bring, and the transformative role of 6G as a key enabler across industries. We will delve into Capgemini's active projects in this space, highlighting real-world applications that leverage beyond-5G to drive innovation in sectors such as smart cities, connected mobility, industrial automation, and immersive experiences.

Biography:

Paulo Duarte is a Senior Research Engineer with a degree in Communications Engineering from the University of Minho. With over a decade of experience in the telecommunications industry, Paulo began his career at Altice, focusing on Business Support Systems, before moving to Ericsson, where he continued in the same field. Currently, he works as a Research Engineer in the Technology and Innovation department at Capgemini, where his expertise spans network automation, cloud architecture, and mobile networks. Paulo's work centers on advancing solutions in next-generation networking technologies and driving innovation in telecommunications.