INCOBRA - Increasing International Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation between Brazil and the European Union

If you have ever heard of 5G certainly have wondered what this new mobile connection technology Internet will provide as news. The most obvious response is a speed increase in data transmission. And its's right. The expectation is that the 5G delivered connections up to 10Gbps, similar speed to fixed broadband. However, the innovation will happen in other fields. On September 23^rd, experts in telecommunications from Brazil and Europe met to exchange experiences and information on research in the field of 5G internet.

The main challenges of the implementation of technology are precisely on the scenery where few people realize or believe that there will be radical changes: latency (delay time for response to a demand), secure networks (data protection and connection stability) and more devices connected. To have an idea, the average latency of 3G is 300 milliseconds. 4G, 100 milliseconds, and 5G should be only a millisecond.

According to Professor Matti Latva-aho, from the University of Oulu in Finland, the challenges are so many; that the 5G internet will be built through cooperation. "It is impossible for a country to develop all the technologies necessary for 5G alone. This technology, which will have numerous applications, will be created with the effort of many research laboratories, universities and companies.", the expert said during a lecture in ICT Week, an event held in the Sectorial Dialogue Brazil-European Union project, which ended last September 23^rd.

In February, Brazil and the European Union signed a joint statement that provides for technical cooperation in 5G and the strategy for setting standards, standardization of technology and definition of spectrum bands for implementation of the new mobile network internet connection. The European Union announced in 2013 an investment of EUR 700 million in research and development for the 5G technology, but are facing difficulties on the attraction of private investment.

According to the EU Business and Technologies director, Phillipe Lefebvre, the idea is to attract private capital to invest in the deployment of networks that will support the implementation of 5G. "We want to create an environment that combines incentives for short and long term in order that telecommunications operators invest in networks. Considering the 4G technology, EU manufacturers had large expertise in the technology, but operators were late to deploy networks. Now, we are implanting 4G in very different speeds in different parts of Europe. ".

The European Union also plans to involve the industries in other sectors, such as health and transport, in surveys with 5G. “We will try to make an agreement with vertical industries to invest in research on 5G until March 2017. We will identify champions, but a clear commitment of the telecommunications sector is necessary to move forward. This plan provides many opportunities, including additional collaboration with Brazil in the field of research”, he evaluated.

On the point of view from the General Coordinator Secretary of Policy Information on the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC), Eder Alves, Brazil is making progress in the discussions on the 5G, disruptive technology of internet connection. “The 5G is a challenge too complex and it makes sense that we are ahead in the discussions. Working in an international cooperation is positive. There is space for everyone. The topic of 5G have been building up, but the process now is going to increase and have active participation in the development of this technology.” evaluated Alves.

According with the MCTIC, research groups of academics are already working with the technologies to develop the 5G. Beyond them, the Center for Research and Development in Telecommunications (CPqD) and the National Institute of Telecommunications (Inatel) will form the base of the national ecosystem to encourage other institutions to work with solutions to implement 5G in the country.

Until the end of the year, Brazil and the European Union will lauch the fourth call in information and communications technology. The research on 5G will be one of the topics covered by the announcement.

(Felipe Linhares, Management Agency CT&I)