Hi-IQ Net’ to be the order of the day: Netravali

MUMBAI: Communications guru Dr Arun Netravali, in a thought provoking address to the CEOs of the Indian Industry, said that a mega network would enfold the universe in a `communications` skin with ubiquitous connectivity and enormous bandwidth.

In a CII-CEOs Lecture Series, `Communication Networking: Beyond 2005`, Dr Netravali envisioned that by 2010, there will be so many interconnected devices that the volume of `infrachatter` among communicating machines will surpass communications among humans.

Dr Netravali, in his eight predictions for the new millennium, said that consumers and businesses will have a vast variety of individualized custom services - written by countless programmes on an open mega network. He added that communication network would be tailor-made to suit the needs of each individual.

The communications guru said that the present day internet would dramatically transform to a broadband `Hi-IQ Net` - with natural interfaces, with active websites and with software agents to extract desired information via text, voice, images and video.

He also predicted that a growing number of network appliances will collaborate with the Hi-IQ Net to offer services that will enable us to interact as naturally as we do with our friends, with the knowledge and context of a close relationship using all our senses.

Dr Netravali said that the Mega Network, or Hi-IQ Net, will act as a high level mediator to bring together information of all kind.

And lastly, he predicted that a new age of virtuality would transform the way people live and conduct their businesses.

Dr Netravali said that the challenge for service providers and cellular equipment makers was to ensure that the systems they produce was as inexpensive as possible and also customise the data applications to suit specific users.

On the question of CDMA technology versus GSM technology, he said that the CDMA is the clear winner. He said that from a purely technological perspective, CDMA scores as it is well thought out technology offering higher performance.

Earlier, Kishor Chaukar, chairman, CII Telecom Council, in his welcome address, said that the future of communication appears to be encouraging. He said that telecom business has undergone a rollercoaster ride over the years. Chaukar attributed the highs and lows to earlier regulatory framework. Now, he said, the framework was changing and so has been trailblazing technology.

Source: IRIS