Communication networks have a fundamental impact on society, influencing citizens’ way of life as well as the economy. The current US government’s investment of USD 65 billion to expand broadband access to its population highlights the vital importance of communication networks for a nation’s prosperity. If 4G cellular network technology enabled mobile access to internet services, such as social networks, and to the new digital economy, emerging 5G networks will enable a vast array of applications, not yet fully envisioned. There is no doubt that 6G networks will revolutionize society and the economy on a much larger scale than 5G.
Opportunities for innovation will be abundant, both in commercial services and in solutions for the well-being of society. According to a study presented by the Special Secretariat for Productivity and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Economy (Sepec/ME), the use of 5G solutions could provide a benefit of R$ 590 billion per year. Regarding software potential, the expected total accumulated value by 2031 is R$ 101 billion, distributed as follows: R$ 10 billion for network software. It is estimated that network virtualization, a native technology of 5G networks, will generate USD 167.03 billion in revenue globally by 2030.
The development of IoT solutions has a high degree of innovation, since the set of scientific and technological solutions to enable large-scale operational intelligent applications is in its initial stages. IoT encompasses a wide range of software, hardware, and communication components. Integrating various components and enabling end-to-end data flows to implement intelligent applications is a current research challenge. Consequently, providing solutions related to platforms that integrate various components has the potential to generate significant scientific, technological, and innovation results with national and international repercussions.
The integration of IoT platform functions, such as large-scale data collection, transmission, and storage, and their processing by artificial intelligence models, can generate significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge, beyond the state of the art and technology. It can also provide intelligent services with a major impact on well-being and the economy. Intelligent IoT applications frequently require the processing of sophisticated models locally at the network edge close to the devices, due to privacy, scalability, and quality of service provision requirements.
According to a recent report by the renowned international consulting and analysis firm Grand View Research, the global market size for edge computing technology is projected to reach US$155.90 billion by 2030. The potential for innovation and the socio-economic and environmental impact provided by intelligent communication and IoT networks is extremely promising. AI has enormous potential for promoting well-being and reducing healthcare costs, as it is closely linked to knowledge about individuals’ health, achieved through continuous monitoring using new technologies such as wearable devices, a fact recognized by UNICEF. On the other hand, the use of AI in environmental protection motivated the German government to dedicate €27 million in 2019 to AI applications for monitoring and preserving species and the environment, among other related actions.
Brazil faces serious problems in the areas of health, city management, and environmental protection. Intelligent communication networks and IoT enable innovative solutions to these serious national problems. The INCT research project is dedicated to challenging and original research questions, with ample opportunity for innovation, which can boost the economy and promote the well-being of the Brazilian nation.