The people transforming the sector
Hello, my name is Adnan Aijaz and I am the 5G Innovation Lead at the Bristol laboratory of Toshiba Corporation. The Bristol lab is one of two corporate research labs Toshiba has in the UK. It has been at the forefront of wireless and networking systems research for many years and has been involved in various 5G-related national and international projects.
Currently, we are involved in the DCMS-funded BEACON-5G project as part of the Future RAN (FRANC) programme. BEACON-5G aims to fill technological gaps in building and commercialising 5G systems based on open interface solutions like Open RAN which are at the heart of the UK Government’s telecoms diversification strategy.
The project is addressing various research, design, and integration challenges toward realising a high-performance 5G system with built-in capabilities of openness, reconfigurability, service architecture agility, security, and trustworthiness. During the first six months of the project, we completed the integration of two multi-vendor end-to-end 5G Open RAN systems and conducted connectivity tests with commercial devices while operating in spectrum band n77.
I am the overall lead for the BEACON-5G project and am ultimately responsible for its delivery. I wear different hats. On the technical front, I work closely with research and development teams as a system architect for some of the key innovations of the project. I also work with 5G suppliers toward the timely resolution of software and performance issues as well as necessary stack-level enhancements. On the PM front, I am involved in project governance and coordination with consortium partners to ensure things stay on track. As for the business side, I work closely with our analysts on developing strategies for project sustainability and potential commercialisation.
A typical day for me starts quite early. Often it involves a mix of activities including technology research, project-related meetings, testing/experimentation on our 5G systems with my team, and brainstorming sessions in front of a whiteboard (something which I’ve really missed during the lockdowns). And, if I am lucky, the day includes a 30-minute afternoon walk along the beautiful Bristol harbourside.
1. What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
I really enjoy working as a team within the consortium which has a rather unique mix of recognised global technology leaders, tier 1 5G Open RAN equipment suppliers, leading UK research institutions, and some public sector organisations.
2. What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
We were at Hannover Messe in Germany earlier this year to showcase some of our 5G work and to our horror, the company responsible for setting up our booth had mounted large 50-inch screens vertically. Help was difficult to find as it was Sunday afternoon and we couldn’t get hold of the company. I spent the afternoon looking for a handyman and a screwdriver and almost went to the extent of bribing some of the contractors there to set up other companies’ booths. Thankfully, my colleague saved the day by doing some magic with video editing to make them run smoothly on vertical screens.
3. What excites you most about working in telecoms?
The tremendous impact it has on almost every aspect of modern-day life. There is immense potential for innovation in the telecoms domain. Mankind has come a long way from the days of smoke signals and pigeon posts and there is no end in sight. Connectivity at the nanoscale and interplanetary and quantum Internets are just the tip of the iceberg.
4. What would you like people to know about your work?
The BEACON-5G project is contributing to the maturity of 5G Open RAN systems through end-to-end system integration, real-world technology trials, and increased visibility into cyber security vulnerabilities. We are also demonstrating that the cellular/mobile industry may not be the stronghold of the big players anymore (something we’ve witnessed until 4G).
5. Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
It is important for the advancement of the telecoms infrastructure which not only creates a business ecosystem beyond connectivity but also provides the opportunity of addressing various societal challenges. Particularly, the 5G ecosystem is crucial for the digital transformation of the UK industry alongside enterprises and public sector organizations. Ultimately, it paves the way for the realisation of a digital economy.
