[Keynote I]: 11:20 ~ 11:50, February 20, 2025 (Wednesday)
Prof. Gunes Karabulut Kurt (Polytechnique Montréal, Canada)
Communications and Networking in Mega-Constellations
Abstract:
The wide footprint of satellites holds the promise of providing ubiquitous connectivity. However, challenges persist in overcoming bottlenecks to ensure sufficiently high data rates for under-connected communities while maintaining uninterrupted communication. This talk identifies these challenges regarding communications and networking perspectives, summarizes recent research efforts addressing them, and highlights key open issues for future investigation.
Biography
Gunes Karabulut-Kurt is a Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in New Frontiers in Space Communications and a Professor at Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. She is the Director of the Poly-Grames Research Center, and is co-founder and Director of Education and Training of ASTROLITH, Transdisciplinary Research Unit of Space Resource and Infrastructure Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. She is also an adjunct research professor at Carleton University, Canada. Gunes received the B.S. degree with high honors in electronics and electrical engineering from Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkiye, in 2000 and the M.A.Sc. and the Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Ottawa, ON, Canada, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. She worked in different technology companies in Canada and Turkiye between 2005 and 2010. From 2010 to 2021, she was a professor at Istanbul Technical University. Gunes is a Marie Curie Fellow and has received the Turkish Academy of Sciences Outstanding Young Scientist (TÜBA-GEBIP) Award in 2019.
[Keynote II]: 11:50 ~ 12:20, February 20, 2025 (Wednesday)
Prof. Akihiro Nakao (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
Beyond 5G: Challenges and Strategies for Realization
Abstract:
Beyond 5G (B5G) is a next-generation communication technology designed to address critical societal challenges, including faster communication speeds, reduced latency, massive connectivity, extensive coverage, improved energy efficiency, sustainability, security, bridging the digital divide, and enhancing industrial competitiveness. Positioned as a vital “lifeline” for society and industries, B5G forms the backbone of real-time cyber-physical systems (CPS) that integrate the physical and digital worlds, enabling predictive analytics and advanced decision-making. B5G enhances socio-economic efficiency by delivering seamless, location-independent access to advanced services such as ones leveraging generative AI. The coordination of multiple AI systems within B5G unlocks sophisticated, inclusive, and collaborative services across sectors, fostering innovation and growth in the digital era. Realizing B5G requires interdisciplinary research, robust infrastructure, and talent cultivation, with collaboration across telecommunications, AI, semiconductors, and IoT. Building testbeds for validation and strengthening global partnerships are essential for translating innovations into societal applications and international standards. This keynote will explore the challenges and strategies for realizing B5G, emphasizing its role as a cornerstone for a sustainable and inclusive future. By driving technological innovation through collaboration among industry, academia, and government, B5G has the potential to position itself as a global enabler of transformative change.
Biography
Akihiro Nakao received his B.S. in Physics in 1991 and M.E. in Information Engineering in 1994, both from the University of Tokyo. From 1994 to 2005, he worked at IBM, including positions at the Yamato Laboratory, Tokyo Research Laboratory, and the Austin Laboratory in Texas. He earned an M.S. in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2005, both from Princeton University. From 2005 to 2021, Dr. Nakao held academic positions at the University of Tokyo, serving as an Associate Professor (2005–2014) and Professor (2014–2021) in Applied Computer Science at the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies. He served as Vice Dean of the Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies (2019–2021). In April 2021, Dr. Nakao transitioned to the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, where he currently serves as Head of the Department of System Innovations (since April 2023). He was an adviser to the President of the University of Tokyo from 2019 to 2020 and has been a Special Adviser to the President since 2020. Additionally, he is Director of the Collaborative Research Institute for Next-Generation Cyber Infrastructure (NGCI) at the University of Tokyo (2021–present). In September 2023, he was appointed the first Guest Professor at the University of Oulu, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE) (2023-present).
Contributions to Social Services and Research Societies
Dr. Nakao has held key roles in government and research societies in Japan. He was Chairperson of the Network Architecture Committee of the 5G Mobile Network Promotion Forum (5GMF) (2014–2024) and Chairperson of the International Committee of the Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium (B5GPC) (2020–2024). Following the merger of 5GMF and B5GPC, he became Co-Chairperson of the XG Mobile Promotion Forum (XGMF) in 2024 (2024-present). Since 2020, Dr. Nakao has chaired the 5G/Beyond 5G Committee within the Space ICT Promotion Initiative Forum’s International Committee (2020-present). He was recently appointed President of the Communication Society of IEICE (2024–present). Additionally, he has chaired several IEICE technical committees, including the Network Systems (NS) Committee, the Cross-Field Research Association on Super-Intelligent Networking (RISING), and the Cross-Field Research Association on Human-Centered Lifeline (HCL). Dr. Nakao’s extensive contributions to academia, industry, and social services make him a leading figure in the field of next-generation networking and systems innovations.