Future pervasive wireless communications — Air interface challenges

Future pervasive communication systems requirements for highly performing, flexibly deployable and cost/energy-efficient services and applications are expected to revolutionize the way we design, optimize and use wireless networks. From a cellular perspective, the emphasis is placed on achieving ubiquitous and reliable real-time data communications at cell-edge, as articulated in ITU´s IMT-Advanced requirements. From a pervasive systems perspective, the vision of the Internet of Things suggests the integration between ubiquitous computing and wireless communications targeting wireless connectivity of `things´, i.e. wireless computers and everyday objects equipped with sensors. In this paper we discuss the major air interface design challenges of both the cellular and the Internet of Things wireless technology evolution, identify trends and reflect on whether these two technology tracks are better considered separately or rather optimized jointly.