Page 59 - University of Pretoria Research Review 2017

Foreword
Introductory Messages
DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE
4IR communication systems
Sunil Maharaj and Attahiru Alfa, School of Engineering
Due to growing demand, radio resources for communication systems are limited. Everyone wants access, capacity, reliability and speed at all times. There has been an increasing interest in cognitive radio networks as a possible driver for next-generation xG wireless communication and as a technology appropriate to the context.
Two research chairs in the School of Engineering
have been addressing challenges related to radio communication in Africa: the SENTECH Chair in Broadband Wireless Multimedia Communications (BWMC), led by Professor Sunil Maharaj, and the SARChI Chair in Advanced Sensor Networks, established in 2015 and led by Professor Attahiru Alfa.
Collaborative research between the two groups
is breaking new ground in next-generation xG communication technologies. Specifically, researchers build mathematical models to better understand
the performance of communication systems under different allocation scenarios, and test the best use of limited resources for the benefit of the users. They have developed strategies that help ’squeeze’ the most out
of new technologies to provide users the best service at the lowest cost, while ensuring that service providers’ projects are profitable. Their research uses queuing theory, Markov chains, network theory, and optimisation tools to achieve the ‘best fit’ scenarios. One such tool was reported in a paper co-authored with a postdoctoral fellow, Dr Babatunde Awoyemi, and published in the journal, Digital Communications and Networks.
Network failures (outages) due to link failures are common, especially in developing countries, and network service providers are continuously looking for fast network restoration tools. The researchers’ recent work focuses on network restoration algorithms that will help telecommunication companies reroute traffic after complex network failures have occurred. Quick restorations resulting from link failures in networks will be a major issue in wireless sensor networks that drive the Internet of Things (IoT). For IoT to be successful, fast
Attahiru Alfa, Babatunde Awoyemi, and Sunil Maharaj
network restoration tools for node failures are crucial, as there will be thousands of IoT sensors and devices connected to the network, and reliability will be of utmost importance.
The xG communications prototypes being investigated are particularly relevant for the development of telecommunications in Africa. The prototypes are designed to help bridge the digital divide, and to improve mobile and data penetration, especially in the rural and remote parts of the continent. An important consideration is to make broadband available and affordable, in order to provide a platform for developing Africa’s smart cities, and improved healthcare, agriculture and transportation, among the imperatives associated with 4IR.
The Research Chairs’ capacity, and the strong network of international scholars with whom they collaborate, led to the hosting of Africa’s first IEEE Summit: 5G in Future Africa − The role of IoT, cognitive radio and cybersecurity in networking the next billion, held at UP in May 2017.
PEOPLE AND CONTEXTS
4IR
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
PLANET AND SUSTAINABILITY
Awards
Lead Researchers
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