Building the Networks of the Future
: PUMA is the name of the thirteen-million-euro project that will revolutionize and modify the architecture of telecommunications in the coming years. A team comprised of thirteen leading research centers, including the Wireless Center at the Finnish University of Oulu (a Nokia Research partner), the multinational Comba Telecom Systems (China), and the Indian Institute of Technology University (ITMU), are among its partners. PUMA is an acronym for Pervasive & Ubiquitous Cognitive Network Management Architecture, a project aimed at generating a new and robust architecture for telecommunications. It is evident that in recent years there has been a growing demand for heterogeneous services (video, voice, data, etc.) over the Internet. The increasing need for users to be always connected without sacrificing mobility presents a challenge for global operators. Pure mobility—that is, maintaining uninterrupted communication at high speeds while in motion—the efficient use of technological resources, the effective use of the radio spectrum, and the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the market necessitate the development of new architectures that enable high evolution, scalability, interoperability, and connectivity at the lowest cost to the user. This streamlines and simplifies service provision to keep pace with the market. In other words, increased traffic implies the need for new technologies to address capacity limitations in fixed and mobile broadband access networks.
Aire Networks' R&D Division has been working in recent years on new systems to improve and optimize the network as we know it, leading to the development of a new architecture that will be investigated in the PUMA Project. Among the expected benefits are a dramatic increase in communication quality, a real decrease in energy consumption, increased network capacity, adaptation to existing radioelectric conditions, and benefits to the environment and health. This is because PUMA's smart antenna, instead of radiating energy in all directions like traditional antennas, will send the signal directly to each user and only when the service is required, resulting in considerable energy savings and a reduction in this type of pollution. In addition, it reduces the number of Macro Base Stations needed in a traditional network.
Interdisciplinary research in Big Data for improved learning:
The second project led by the Alicante-based company is known as L³-PULSE: Scalable Cloud Platform for Interactive Lifelong Learning Data Mining for a Sustainable Future. This project involves eleven European partners and an Indian research center, with an estimated budget of three million euros. They hope to create a unique and globally accessible system that will evaluate and advise, in real time, on millions of data points from students and teachers at all educational levels. While the project already includes several advanced and innovative features, such as backend systems for processing millions of data points simultaneously and algorithms for categorizing data flow, it has a broader and more crucial overall objective: to improve teaching systems (both online and in-person) through the real-time, validated analysis of indicators from existing cognitive models. This will lead to meaningful learning geared towards a sustainable future. Another innovative aspect of the project is the use of biosensing systems (such as smart glasses with a built-in camera, processing unit, and display). The project involves leading centers in the design of machine learning systems and data mining (such as research departments at the Universities of London, Leeds, Slovakia, and Athens), as well as departments of psychology, pedagogy, and sustainable education from various European research centers. The integration of the entire system will take place in Alicante, at Aire Networks' facilities, on a globally accessible cloud platform. Testing is scheduled to begin at the end of 2014. The project is expected to last four years.
Aire promotes the creation of MVNOs with its "turnkey" solution for companies
Aire (formerly Grupo Aire) consolidates its "turnkey" model that eliminates barriers to entry so that companies can become Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in an agile, simple way and without the need for their own infrastructure or technical knowledge.
