Emerging Networks Architectures Strand
The purpose of the emerging networks strand is to advance the state-of-the-art in the design of network architectures through challenging interdisciplinary research. To that end a number of research projects are being carried out in topics of major relevance in the area of networking. The emerging networks strand has two major focus points that underlie these projects.
The first point of focus is on disaggregated entities. We use the term disaggregated to describe networks that are non-homogenous, distributed and controlled by different and competing entities. We see such disaggregated systems as featuring in a major way in the future. Creating elegant and efficient disaggregated architectures to provide the ultimate fusion of fixed + mobile, voice + data with perfect competition is therefore of major interest.
The second point of focus within the strand is on dynamism in networks. Networks that are dynamic can self-organise and adapt/reconfigure to meet demands of users, the requirements of providers, the availability of the shared resources etc. The design of fluid and flexible networks that facilitate creative dynamic behaviour is a significant concern of the strand. The emerging networks strand focuses both on optical and wireless networks ranging from highly centralised and hierarchical systems to communication systems that are very distributed and non-hierarchical.
Full details of the Emerging Networks Strand can be found at the dedicated Emerging Networks website.