Workshop on Evolution of Mobile Communications Systems and Migration to 4G

DAMASCUS, (ST) -With the participation of 10 research, academic and service institutions, activities of the workshop concluded recently at the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The workshop was entitled “the evolution of mobile communications systems and the migration to the 4G”. The workshop was organized by the Faculty in cooperation with the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology.

The aim of the workshop is to create an effective scientific cooperation between universities and agencies working in this field in order to discuss research and engineering joint ventures in line with modern trends in mobile communications.

The event was attended by researchers, specialists from the Damascus, al – Baath, Tishreen and Qalamoun Universities in addition to the companies of Syriatel and MTN.

During the opening Ceremony, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Dr. Mohamed Ghazi al -Jalali clarified that the ministry developed a strategy based on” constructing an enabling environment” to the telecommunications and technology sector in order to turn it into a dynamic sector that quickly meets the changing requirements and through a special program to restructure the sector.

“This process aims at adjusting the investment process and achieve the desired level of efficiency in this sector, stressing that the ministry will work to allocate an appropriate spectrum of companies to provide fourth-generation mobile communication services well,” The Minister added.

For his part, the President of the University of Damascus, Dr. Mohammed Hassan al -Kurdi pointed out that the workshop within the framework of the university’s activities aimed at linking the community through the involvement of institutions, public companies and private sectors in order to create effective cooperation in the field of mobile communications.

He pointed out that the University of Damascus is working to provide qualified scientific personnel of faculty including researchers, experts and technicians who is specialize in scientific and technological fields to keep up with scientific development through the promotion of scientific research for professors, graduate students, cooperation with other bodies and scientific institutions and various production centers in order to provide feasible technical solutions to the technology sector in general, and especially mobile communications systems.

For his part, the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Dr. Maher Suleiman explained the importance of keeping up with technological development and utilization of applications for the advancement of Syrian society, especially with the start of some countries to adopt technologies for the fourth-generation communications, pointing out that organizing this event establishes the principle of linking scientific research with local needs and encourage scientific cooperation between universities and those working in the field of mobile communications.

He said that this kind of cooperation is a fertile ground to launch scientific and research projects for the faculty’s students, focus on the various problems of applications of the fourth generation mobile communication and identify existing local expertise and present the scientific problems on the academic and research institutions.

For his part, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at the University of Damascus, Dr. Hussein Tina talked about the importance of the workshop in the search for solutions to the development of the telecommunications sector within future visions and plans that contribute to the reconstruction of Syria.

Dr. Mohammed Khaled Shaheen delivered a speech on behalf of the organization committee saying that the workshop is “an opportunity to display graduate students’ researches and highlight the practical experiences of technological companies in order to enhance the practical application of studies and researches.”

“The offers to be submitted by participants cover all the different aspects of mobile communications which constitute an incentive to organize more scientific demonstrations in this area.” Dr. Shaheen commented.

In a statement to local press, Director of Syriatel Ayman Zawya stated that participation of Syriatel comes under constant communication with the Syrian research centers and universities in the field of communications and technology through providing support and research participation to make this event a success.

 “The company made a presentation focused on two axes, the first was on frequency spectrum and how to be managed to get the desired services and the second was associated with the rehabilitation of the infrastructure of the company and its development to serve the largest segment of dealers, stressing that Syriatel is going to “launch a range of advanced services” during the coming period to be consistent with the development taking place in the communications sector,” he added.

During the first session chaired by the Minister of Communications and Technology, participants discussed strategies and plans for the transition of the fourth generation, obstacles that hinder the mechanism of this process, reviewed the legislative environment of communications in Syria, the advantages of granting new licenses to existing operators, the development of the local network and the evolution of networks worldwide.

 They also called to work with the concerned bodies to ensure frequencies required for the work of the fourth-generation mobile communication and reduce operational costs by the rehabilitation of the network and investment in effective IB technology tools and the implementation of D.W.M project by raising the digital transmission standard that will enable the Syrian Telecom to achieve the required quality.

In the second session chaired by the Dean of the of the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, participants hinted to the challenges facing the programs of “simulation”, modeling the fourth-generation systems and networks conduction in long-term evolution.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Communications, a number of research and scientific institutions, heads of private universities, deans of colleges and institutes and technical directors.

At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Mohammed Khaled Shaheen highlighted the efforts that were exerted to make the workshop a success. He thanked the lecturers for their valued interesting and exciting lectures. Many thanks, he added, for the participants and attendants and those who took part in the preparation, implementation, and providing financial and moral support. He also extended thanks to the team of volunteers, students, from the faculty for their efforts.

Sharif al -Khatib