Distinguished Keynote Speakers
Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu
Professor, FIEEE, Carleton University, Canada
HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) Networks in Stratosphere: A Transformative Paradigm
Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini
Professor, FIEEE, KAUST, Saudi Arabia
Towards connecting the remaining 3 billion
Dr. Walaa Hamouda
Professor, Ph.D., P.Eng., Concordia University Research Chair (Tier I), Canada
AI-Enabled 6G Wireless Communications: Shaping the Next Generation of Connectivity and Intelligence
More About Keynote Speakers
Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu
HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) Networks in Stratosphere: A Transformative Paradigm
NTN (non-terrestrial networks) will arguably be one of the most prominent aspects of 6G. Most of the novel elements in the ITU 6G wheel diagram (ITU-R WP5D Recommendation Framework for IMT-2030), such as coverage, interoperability, sustainability, and resilience, can simply be read as “NTN”.
The NTN expression has been used to refer to the SatCom paradigm almost exclusively until recently. It is now increasingly acknowledged that within NTN, there are separate satellite, HAPS (high altitude platform station), and UAS (uncrewed aerial systems) paradigms with their own special dynamics.
NTN is not only for connectivity; the framework includes connectivity, computing, edge intelligence, surveillance, security, sensing, monitoring, positioning, localization, navigation, and more. The humanity will demonstrate its full potential in every dimension (economic prosperity, wellbeing, equal opportunity, environmental, and more), when the communities get ultra-connected with a sustainable, reliable, resilient, intelligent, green/clean/eco-friendly, secure, ubiquitous & affordable, and ultra high-speed “network of networks” with terrestrial (6G and beyond) and non-terrestrial (space and stratospheric) components.
The NTN discussion will continue throughout the 2030s as well (the beyond-6G era) – exciting times indeed…
Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu has been with the Department Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) since 1998, where he is currently a Chancellor’s Professor. He received the BSc degree from the Middle East Technical University (Turkiye) and the MASc & PhD degrees from the University of Toronto. His research interests cover many aspects of wireless communications and networks, with a special emphasis on non-terrestrial networks (NTN) in the recent years. He has given 110+ invited seminars, keynotes, panel talks, and tutorials in the last five years. He has supervised or hosted over 165 postgraduate researchers in his lab at Carleton. Dr. Yanikomeroglu has coauthored ~650 peer-reviewed research papers including ~300 papers in 30 different IEEE journals. His extensive collaborative research with industry resulted in 40 granted patents. Dr. Yanikomeroglu is a Fellow of the IEEE, the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). He is a Distinguished Speaker for the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and an Expert Panelist of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA).
Dr. Yanikomeroglu is currently serving as the Chair of the Steering Committee of IEEE’s flagship wireless event, Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC). He is also a member of the IEEE ComSoc Governance Council, IEEE ComSoc Globecom/ICC Management & Strategy (GIMS) Standing Committee, IEEE ComSoc Conference Council, and IEEE PIMRC and IEEE FNWF Steering Committees. He served as the General Chair and Technical Program Chair of several IEEE conferences. He has also served in the editorial boards of various IEEE periodicals. Dr. Yanikomeroglu received several awards for his research, teaching, and service, including the IEEE ComSoc Satellite Communications Technical Recognition Award (2023), IEEE ComSoc Fred W. Ellersick Prize (2021), IEEE VTS Stuart Meyer Memorial Award (2020), and IEEE ComSoc Wireless Communications TC Recognition Award (2018). He received best paper awards at IEEE Competition on Non-Terrestrial Networks for B5G and 6G in 2022 (grand prize), IEEE ICC 2021, IEEE WISEE 2021 and 2022.
Dr. Mohamed-Slim Alouini
Towards connecting the remaining 3 billion
The transformative influence of Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) has reshaped society, touching every aspect from the economy to healthcare. As the widespread deployment of 5G continues, there is an on-going focus on the inception of the sixth generation (6G) of wireless communication systems (WCSs). Anticipated to shape the future of connectivity in the 2030s, 6G aims to deliver unparalleled communication services to meet the demands of hyper-connectivity.
While densely populated urban areas have traditionally been the primary beneficiaries of WCS advancements, the vision for 6G transcends city limits. Aligned with the United Nations’ sustainability goals for 2030, an important aspect of 6G endeavors to democratize the benefits of ICT, fostering global connectivity sustainably. This talk delves into this particular envisioned landscape of 6G, providing insights into the future of wireless communication and guiding research efforts towards sustainable, inclusive, and high-speed connectivity solutions for the future. Central to this discussion are two emerging technologies: Free Space Optics (FSO) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). These innovative solutions hold the promise of extending high-speed connectivity beyond urban hubs to underserved regions, fostering digital inclusivity and contributing to the development of remote areas. Through this exploration, we aim to convey the potential of 6G and its role in shaping a connected, sustainable future for all.
Mohamed-Slim Alouini was born in Tunis, Tunisia. He received the Ph.D.
degree in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1998. He served as a faculty member at the University of Minnesota then in the Texas A&M University at Qatar before joining in 2009 the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) where he is now the Al-Khawarizmi Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Prof. Alouini is a Fellow of the IEEE and OPTICA (Formerly the Optical Society of America (OSA)). He is currently particularly interested in addressing the technical challenges associated with the uneven distribution, access to, and use of information and communication technologies in rural, low-income, disaster, and/or hard-to-reach areas.
Dr. Walaa Hamouda
AI-Enabled 6G Wireless Communications: Shaping the Next Generation of Connectivity and Intelligence
In its latest report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has delineated strategic priorities essential for achieving the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. Central to these priorities is the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping the future of telecommunications. As a cornerstone of ITU’s three main technologies, AI stands out in its ability to revolutionize wireless communication, promising enhanced diversity and promoting environmental sustainability.
In the ongoing evolution of 6G standards, AI’s influence is becoming increasingly crucial. It is set to elevate the performance, efficiency, and capabilities of wireless communication systems. The dynamic nature of AI research in this field is yielding practical applications that optimize network management, resource allocation, predictive traffic management, interference control, and advanced signal processing techniques.
This talk will explore the pivotal role of AI in wireless communications, focusing on its potential to optimize resource allocation and adapt physical-layer communication techniques to meet the stringent requirements of 6G networks. These requirements include achieving low latency, high network throughput, and comprehensive network coverage.
Be prepared to gain insights into how AI is shaping the wireless communication landscape and propelling us towards a more sustainable future.