Commissioner Starks Remarks at Mobile World Congress

The growth in mobile data traffic makes our world better informed, more fulfilled, and of course, better connected. It means consumers are taking advantage of the powerful service our networks are delivering. But it also means those networks are being tested like never before. As we know, this network strain will only continue as IoT devices, intelligent infrastructure, and AI-enabled applications proliferate. With 5G we’re seeing early returns on the strategies that will best enable us to accommodate this sustained surge in mobile traffic. One major trend that holds immense promise is disaggregation. Decoupling the hardware and software functions of network components means they can be sourced from multiple vendors. With a modular stack, network operators can incorporate products and services that best fit their needs. And, they can swap components or make upgrades quickly and nimbly.  Another area of network evolution that goes hand in hand with virtualization is the way computing power is moving closer to the edge. This isn’t just about making our networks smarter, it’s about moving the brainpower of our networks closer to where it’s needed. With edge computing, data is processed closer to where it originates. This reduces latency, keeps traffic off networks, and increases security. While these are exciting developments, it’s worth exploring how they’ll play out in the real world.