In the world of technology, few things have fueled the discussion more than 5G technology and what it could mean for users in recent years.
Now the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is poised to play a role in the use of 5G and its successors, and to help address some of the key technology concerns in the process thanks to an agreement with communications giant AT&T that is establishing a 5G + becomes presence on campus, including test environment.
“We are excited to bring together the expertise and talent of our faculty with the skills of an industry leader like AT&T to solve real-world problems,” said Chancellor Donde Plowman. “Our relationship will not only provide students, faculty and staff with a better network on our campus, it will also create opportunities for innovation and collaboration that could change the lives of people from Tennessee.”
One of the oft-repeated concerns about 5G technology is the fear that it could widen the urban-rural divide as the towers are fundamentally different from those used by 4G and require more towers in an area around the same To cover area.
UT graduate Chandler Bauder is studying a broadband antenna for testing in an anechoic chamber that is used extensively in the proposed 5G antenna assessment.
A key point for UT is to deliver 5G to rural areas in a way that improves opportunities and outcomes for those areas.
For example, dwindling health care and educational opportunities could be offset by telemedicine and distance learning initiatives, while industries such as nuclear power, which because of the nature of their operations, have areas closed to human interaction, could be explored and controlled virtually.
Even agriculture – an area important enough to Tennessee to be listed on the state seal – could benefit from real-time analytics and monitoring of things like plant health, soil fertility and hydration.
“Access to ultra-fast 5G technology is critical to the economic future of Tennessee and for businesses and Tennessee people alike,” said Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. “This collaboration with AT&T and the University of Tennessee is another step in laying the foundation for future capabilities that will help unlock new economic development opportunities for Tennessee.”
Kilic
Tickle College of Engineering’s Assistant Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Ozlem Kilic, a leader on the project, outlined the implications of 5G and what it can mean for the state and its flagship campus alike.
“Tailor-made and intelligent systems will be available to us, connect all devices around us and immediately process and optimize information that affects everything we do as individuals, communities, societies and more,” said Kilic. “This collaboration with AT&T offers our research and education community at UT a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration to meet societal needs and improve quality of life on all fronts.”
Professor Aly Fathy, who, like Kilic, serves on the faculty of the college’s Min H. Kao Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is also pursuing applications of 5G that go well beyond communication.
The ability to use 5G technology to “see” through walls and other barriers obviously holds great promise for things like defense and security, where knowing the location of others is critical to your own safety, but also for Improving the safety of others.
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“It could be very critical technology in areas related to securing lives,” said Fathy. “It can be anything from finding survivors after earthquakes or building collapses to monitoring the safety of prisoners.”
Taken together, these considerations position UT as a major player in everything from health care to national security, while strengthening research opportunities for students and faculty.
Jason Porter, president of AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, said the introduction of AT&T 5G into UT’s already robust research community opens the door to exploring new opportunities, developing innovative solutions to real-world problems, and making more ambitions a positive one and to have a productive impact on society.
“The possibilities are wide open with 5G, and we look forward to providing the skills that drive the innovative solutions and applications that students, faculty and other researchers are developing,” he said.
Joelle Phillips, President of AT&T Tennessee, said, “The men and women of AT&T Tennessee are investing billions of dollars in high-speed connectivity for businesses and residents across the state to access technology that is capable of unforeseen innovations. This investment is made possible thanks to the positive, investment-friendly policies of Tennessee legislature, which have created a regulatory environment that welcomes next-generation networks. “
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CONTACT:
Tyra Haag (865-974-5460, tyra.haag@tennessee.edu)
David Goddard (865-974-0686, david.goddard@utk.edu)
