Hi, I’m Chris Murphy, a Chief Technology Officer for the EMEA region at VIAVI Solutions, an American company that manufactures testing and monitoring systems for communication networks. I have worked in telecoms for 25 years, beginning in product development and data-driven optimisation. My current role, however, focuses on technological change and how the industry is evolving.
I am responsible for keeping up-to-date with the latest disruptions, consortiums and academic initiatives, or at least trying to. It can be difficult: the sector is fast-paced and constantly transforming. I anticipate and analyse the implications of innovation for VIAVI, considering new technologies and their likely effects.
To make the most out of telecoms, the sector must work together. I often share my findings at conferences and contribute to UKTIN’s AI Expert Working Group, the Telecom Infra Project and O-RAN Alliance.
Within the UKTIN AI Expert Working Group, we are currently identifying the areas that will be fruitful to invest in to foster technology enhancements. We aim to create a more vibrant ecosystem. We want more engagement with consumers and bring more value to industrial sectors. If we are successful, innovation will increase and our universities, established commercial entities and start-ups will benefit. The UK will become more competitive on the international stage. Telecom innovation could significantly increase our GDP, but only if we do it right.
What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
There is never a day that goes by when I don’t learn something. There can be a tendency for those outside the industry to look down on telecoms, seeing it as a utility and thus not as exciting as what’s going on in the tech centres of London, Cambridge and the other hubs the UK is fortunate enough to have. But that attitude belies the reality. Some of the most stimulating technical challenges exist in telecommunications and we still have a long way to go to solve them. A major source of enjoyment for me is the sheer quantity of intelligent, innovative, encouraging and engaging colleagues who are always happy to support and collaborate.
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
I was developing an optimisation system for 2G in the early 2000s and visited Beijing with a couple of colleagues for a few weeks to run field trials. Only one of us spoke Mandarin, and it wasn’t me! The colleague who spoke the language left on the penultimate day, leaving an American and me to fend for ourselves before heading home. A colleague had highly recommended a restaurant to us and we decided to try it. However, the taxi took us to a local eatery where no one spoke English. Somehow we managed to order food, had far too much to eat, had no idea what we were eating and paid next to nothing. Despite the language barrier, we felt very welcome and had a marvellous time.
What excites you most about working in telecoms?
Those working to further the technology of telecoms collectively have an indomitable ambition to take the technology forward to greater heights and to deliver more capable networks, with more capacity and openness. Finding ways to organise and make innovation happen is tremendously exciting.
What would you like people to know about your work?
Several years ago I contributed two chapters to a book on 5G, and back in 2018 I contributed to a publication by ATIS on the evolution of artificial intelligence networks, one of the earliest attempts to grapple with the impacts of this disruption of the telecoms industry. I love creating innovative solutions to problems and have authored various papers and around 25 patent applications.
Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
A flourishing ecosystem promises to open the door to ever more engaging services for consumers, innovative capabilities and world-class communication service providers in the UK who are unafraid to invest and push the limits of what is possible. Coupled with this are the leading academic institutions laying the groundwork for the coming decade of innovation. Of course, the tremendous strength of UK commercial telecom suppliers, which integrate and build on innovation to create differentiated solutions for service providers, is a critical piece of the puzzle. This is also a great export for the UK and gives us a position of strength in the world marketplace.
