Letter From the Editor - June 2024
It’s important to remember our industry touches virtually every aspect of every life on the planet in one way or another. The technology it creates has the power to change the world and it already has. Within our lifetime, we have realized a future only dreamt of just a few decades ago.
We now have the ability to connect to the collective consciousness of all of civilization with the click of a button, or voice command. We have Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants and robots at our disposal. We have predictive analytics in our pockets to forecast the weather. It wasn’t that long ago when you’d need bookshelves full of encyclopedias, an army of workers, and a roomful of instruments to achieve the same power of knowledge that is commonplace today. And it would take days or weeks to accomplish what we can now do instantly. It’s a monumental feat, and it’s important to take a moment to appreciate that.
It hasn’t been easy, and it’s incredibly complex. We’ve wrapped the globe in a web of wires that traverse continents and oceans. We’ve invented wireless technologies to transmit data invisibly through the air, inside structures, and to and from space. We’ve learned how to send communications and information at the speed of light, and potentially even faster using quantum technology. We have created public Large Language Models to break down language barriers across borders with real-time translation, and as a multimodal interface to technology and to access vast amounts of information in an instant. But where do we go from here?
There’s no doubt that technology has changed the world, but whether that is and will remain for the collective good is a subject of debate. Technology has the ability to improve lives, not just affect them. It can be used to cure disease and assist the disabled. It can help keep our communities safe. Technology can be used to bring us together. It can also be used to innovate by simplifying and improving the technology needed to continue our evolution as a globally connected society. Which are some of the reasons that make this edition of Pipeline so important.
In this issue of Pipeline, we explore the state of innovation. We start by giving you a pre-show guide to the upcoming Digital Transformation World – Ignite event which brings the industry together later this month in Copenhagen, Denmark. Cerillion explores the anatomy of an AI-powered telco. Pipeline’s Dr. Mark Cummings announces the arrival of PC-based Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM). Whispp demonstrates how AI is giving a voice to those who are unable to speak. Iceotope demonstrates how the demand for advanced workloads and high-performance computing are driving the need for precision liquid cooling solutions in data centers. Quadsat looks at the convergence of telecommunications and satellite communications to spur greater industry collaboration and innovation. ENEA shows us how OpenRoaming is revolutionizing Wi-Fi and making it as secure and seamless as cellular. Nile explores how AI is streamlining IT with intelligent network management. Comarch illustrates how 5G, AI, and Network Slicing are being use for automated real-time network management across telecom and IT networks. Graphiant gives a real-world Network-as-a-Service use case to enhance law enforcement in rural areas. All this, plus the latest enterprise and communications technology news, and more.
We hope you enjoy this and every issue of Pipeline,
Scott St. John
Managing Editor
Pipeline
