Wireless communication plays a key role in enabling a paradigm shift for industry digitalization. As wireless communication changes from human-centric to machine-centric with the advent of 5G, the key performance indicators of wireless communication have been diversified.

While key performance indicators used to be transmission rate and throughput in 3G and 4G, we now look at latency for remote surgery and autonomous guided vehicles, and energy efficiency for sensor networks in 5G.

Although both 3 GHz and mmWave bands have been allocated for 5G, mmWave spectrum is not being well utilized currently because of analog RF issues and connection issues. On-going 5G Phase 2 standardization deals with not only the technical upgrade of 5G Phase 1 but also 5G verticals. In the technical upgrade of 5G Phase 1, it deals with physical layer technologies to handle analog RF issues in mmWave and connection issues in mobility scenario as well as network technologies such as network slicing and mobile edge computing for resource allocation.

Verticals to bring 5G technology to life include smart vehicle, smart factory, smart farm, smart city, and etc. Smart vehicle and smart factory, verticals receiving great attention, are to remove wired connection among manufacturing facilities and to realize automated guided vehicles.

Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) has evolved from a single drone having communication with a ground station to a swarm of multiple drones having connectivity among them as well as with a ground station. IEEE VTS has extended its activities into UAV by holding a workshop on swarm of drones every year and publishing special issues in the IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine.

Recently an automobile industry announced to pursue personal air vehicle which will enhance urban mobility for a smart city. To achieve this challenging target, propulsion and navigation as well as communication technologies for a new environment will be required, providing new opportunities for research and development.

AI technology and machine learning combined with 5G wireless will promote to find viable solutions to autonomous driving. They will also contribute to enhancing resource allocation performance of wireless communications. VT Society will provide a platform of knowledge exchange of AI/ML for wireless communications by holding workshops and publishing special issues.

After the successful launch of IEEE Wireless Africa in 2018—the first periodical conference in communications held in Africa—it will hold its third conference in South Africa this year. IEEE WA has provided a new platform of knowledge exchange for wireless researchers, students, and policy makers in Africa. IEEE VTS will continue to support activities in emerging technologies for its current members and to reach potential new members.

Jae Hong Lee was President of IEEE VTS, and has served as elected BOG member for all but 3 years of the last 14. He recently became Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University, Korea. His research interests are in physical layer wireless communications. He was Founding Chair of the IEEE VTS Seoul Chapter, General Chair of the IEEE VTC2003-Spring, and Founding Chair of the board of IEEE VTS APWCS (Asia Pacific Wireless Communications). He is an IEEE Fellow, Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, and Member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea.

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