The future of networks is open, intelligent and automated. In this interview, Dr. Bernd Schröder, founder and Managing Director at brown-iposs, explains how AI, O-RAN and interoperable systems are paving the way for truly smart 5G and 6G networks – and why collaboration is the key to digitalisation.
Dr. Schröder, which digitalisation topics are particularly important to brown-iposs?
For us, the operability of mobile networks such as 5G and, in the future, 6G networks is the focus. Digitalisation can only succeed if networks are automated, interoperable and open. This is why we focus on AI-supported analysis and open, standardised interfaces that seamlessly integrate different systems, giving third-party providers real freedom to innovate.
What are the current particular challenges in your industry, and how are you working to address them?
Right now, the challenge is to bring 5G networks reliably into practical use, for example as private networks in industrial environments. This is technically challenging because many components from different manufacturers must work together. This requires a new way of thinking: moving away from proprietary systems towards open, modular structures.
Which digital technologies will play the biggest role in your industry in the coming years?
The future of networks will be shaped by artificial intelligence and open architectures. AI will not only automate processes, but also make decisions in network operation itself. The O-RAN architecture in particular plays a key role here, as it enables real-time network control. Standardised interfaces can be used to create systems that adapt, control and optimise themselves – this is the next big step.
How do you expect your membership in the eco Association to support you in this?
eco offers us a platform for bringing together technological and regulatory issues. The association connects the stakeholders who are really driving digital change, from network operators to cloud providers to research and politics. Through this network, we want to contribute our experience from research and development around 5G and 6G networks while also absorbing impulses from the market to develop solutions even more strategically.
What opportunities does digitalisation offer us in the future?
Digitalisation means making networks smarter and more efficient. If we manage to design them so that they react to changes in real time and optimise themselves, then everyone wins: operators, industry and users. This opens up new possibilities for applications that are not even conceivable today – from industrial communication to autonomous systems.
