A new wave of communication technology is rapidly approaching, and researchers at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus are studying how to configure the next generation of mobile networks.

Anas Chaaban, PhD, works at the UBCO Communication Theory Lab. There, researchers are busy analyzing a theoretical wireless communication architecture that will be optimized to handle increasing data loads and transmit and receive data faster.

The next generation of mobile networks is expected to surpass 5G in many aspects, such as reliability, coverage, and intelligence, explained Dr. Chaaban, an assistant professor at UBCO's School of Engineering.

And the benefits go far beyond speed. The expected next-generation technology will be a fully integrated system, allowing for instant communication between devices, consumers, and the surrounding environment, he said.

These new networks will require intelligent architectures to support massive connectivity, ultra-low latency, ultra-high reliability, high-quality experiences, energy efficiency, and lower deployment costs.

"One way to meet these stringent requirements is by leveraging the latest advancements in artificial intelligence to rethink traditional communication technologies," he said.

"Traditionally, functionalities such as waveform design, channel estimation, interference mitigation, and error detection and correction have been developed based on theoretical models and assumptions. This traditional approach cannot adapt to the new challenges introduced by emerging technologies."

Using a technique called transformer mask autoencoder, researchers are developing technologies to improve efficiency, adaptability, and robustness. While this research faces many challenges, it is expected to play a significant role in the next generation of communication networks. The research was published in the IEEE Communications Magazine.

"We are studying how to break down content, such as image or video files, into smaller data packets to transmit them to the receiver," he said. "Interestingly, we can drop several data packets and rely on AI to recover them at the receiver and then connect them back together to recreate the image or video."

Even today, users take this experience for granted. But Dr. Chaaban adds that next-generation technology aims to significantly improve wireless systems. Its potential is unparalleled.

"AI provides us with the ability to develop complex architectures that drive communication technology forward to address the proliferation of advanced technologies like virtual reality," said Chaaban. "By collectively addressing these complex problems, next-generation wireless technology can lead to a new era of adaptive, efficient, and secure communication networks."