The future ultra-fast mobile broadband technology, identified as 5G, will be the new foundation of the Internet of the future, and is expected to support data connections 1,000 times heavier than today.
Arturo Azcorra, a professor in the Department of Telematics at Carlos III University of Madrid and founding director of the network research institute IMDEA Networks, is one of two university professors elected by vote to this select group of international experts. The remaining thirteen members of the council are renowned professionals from leading global companies in advanced communication systems.
The 5G Infrastructure Association is an international non-profit organization based in Ghent, Belgium. Its activities encompass research on 5G networks and communication systems and the development of global standards, as well as organizing discussions on future frequency bands. It also promotes R&D in the European Union's network industry and works to increase the industry's competitiveness by providing new tools and production capabilities in Europe. In this context, the Association supports both the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, developed by the European Technology Platform NetWorld2020 (a think tank with over 1,000 members), and the industry roadmap developed by the 5G Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership (5G PPP).
The Council's role within the 5G PPP Partnership is to serve as the primary mechanism for dialogue and mutual collaboration among its approximately 60 member ICT research entities. This €7 billion research initiative, jointly funded by the private sector and the European Commission, will operate for seven years within the Horizon 2020 program. The PPP spearheads the development of the European program "Horizon 2020 Advanced 5G Network Infrastructure for Future Internet." This program aims to provide solutions, architectures, technologies, and standards for creating ubiquitous, robust, flexible, interoperable, and cost-effective ICT infrastructures and intelligent communications networks.
