Rakesh Tamarkar, vivo Telecommunications Expert, briefing the audience on vivo’s latest telecomm advancements at vivo Tech Day 2024

Over the past decade, vivo has always been on the forefront of innovation to meet the evolving demands of consumers. As a technology brand, we believe it’s not just about numbers and specifications but about the impact we have on human lives through our technology and experiences. We have continuously invested in the field of innovation in the smartphone industry, achieving many industry-leading breakthroughs, and pushing the innovation envelope to make technology accessible for our users. 

Since 2016, vivo has made significant contributions to optimising power consumption in the 5G environment by working on standards in 3GPP Release 16, Release 17, Release 18 and now Release 19. Similarly, vivo has nearly 4,000 5G patents and has been making continuous contributions to the 5G 3GPP standards since 2017, resulting in over 8,000 proposals to 3GPP. 

In order to understand how vivo is setting benchmarks in the 3GPP standards, the vivo India Newsroom interviewed Rakesh Tamarkar, vivo Telecommunications Expert during the second edition of vivo Tech Day to get his insights and thoughts. 

Q. With close to 6000 patents and 15000 proposals to 3GPP standards since 2017, what key factors have contributed to vivo’s significant influence in shaping 3GPP standards?

A. The vivo Communication Research Institute, established in 2016, has consistently invested in research and development for 5G and emerging 6G technologies. With a strong research team comprising hundreds of experts worldwide, our commitment has always been to innovate and enhance user experiences. We also maintain a significant presence in 3GPP, contributing to the advancement of global communication standards.

Q. What specific recommendations from vivo have been adopted in the creation of 3GPP standards, particularly in 5G technology?

A. As of 2024, vivo has made over 15,000 contributions to the 3GPP standards, many of which have been adopted. We actively participate in all 3GPP projects, both large and small, and have been instrumental in developing 5G standards. Notably, we are leading a crucial project focused on power saving for User Equipment (UE), which is closely linked to user experience. Additionally, we’ve made significant contributions in areas such as multi-SIM technology, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), and AI, among others.   

Q. What are some of the key patents that distinguish vivo from its competitors, and what are their applications? What are the key areas that vivo is focusing on as far as contributions to 3GPP are concerned?

A. As a leading smartphone brand, vivo is dedicated to enhancing user experience through “consumer-centric innovation.” We actively participate in all 3GPP technologies and projects, focusing on reducing device complexity, lowering power consumption for longer battery life, and improving both uplink and downlink performance. AI plays a crucial role in boosting performance and efficiency. Additionally, Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology will make smartphones central to the communication system, positively impacting our daily lives.  

L to R: Paigam Danish and Rakesh Tamarkar briefing the audience on vivo’s latest telecommunication advancements at vivo Tech Day 2024. vivo has around over 6000 patents and has been making continuous contributions to the 3GPP standards since 2017, resulting with over 15,000 proposals to 3GPP

Q. What recommendations does vivo have for the 3GPP Release 19 standards? What are the essential features that should be included? How is it going to change user experience?

A. Release 19 is an ongoing release in 3GPP, which covers many projects or technical directions, including AI/ML (Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning), MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) enhancement, A-IoT (Ambient IoT), NES (Network Energy Saving), LP WUS (Low Power Wake Up Signal) and receiver, ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communication), NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network), to name but few. Although release 19 is almost the last release for 5G, this release includes important topics such as LPWUS which is closely related to the user experience, and some futuristic technologies such as AI/ML, ISAC, A-IoT which are key technologies for 6G.

Q. What are the key advancements and potential use cases that vivo envisions for an AI unified 6G framework? Could you provide insights into how this framework will enrich the smartphone experience?

A. 5G advancements, including AI integration, have been significantly driven by vivo’s contributions to 3GPP standardization. We anticipate that AI will be a crucial component in 6G, enhancing various protocol layers. At the lower layers, AI can improve channel estimation, positioning accuracy, and Channel State Information (CSI) feedback, thereby boosting system performance. At higher layers, AI can enhance mobility, optimizing handovers across base stations for better success rates and lower latency, which directly improve user experience. With numerous use cases to enrich the smartphone experience, it’s essential that the 6G system is designed as a unified AI framework from the outset, accommodating both current and future use cases. 

Q. In your opinion, what are the most exciting trends and innovations in telecommunications that we can expect in the next five years?

A. That’s a great question. Technology evolves at such a rapid pace that predicting even the near future can be challenging. Telecommunications systems are fundamental to the development of many applications we use today. For instance, two decades ago, video calling on the go and at such a low cost was unimaginable. With advancements in AI and Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technologies, telecommunication systems—including networks and smartphones—are becoming increasingly central to our lives. Smartphones, for example, have already become integral to our daily routines. They can be used for health monitoring, such as tracking respiratory health in children while they sleep or detecting falls in senior citizens. Looking ahead, we can expect a surge in XR (extended reality) devices and applications, as well as connected technologies like robotic home assistants and drones for package delivery. At vivo, our innovation is always driven by the needs of our consumers, ensuring that we are at the forefront of these technological advancements.

Q. How does vivo plan to continue leading the charge in telecommunications innovation and maintaining its position as a top influencer in the industry?

A. vivo is investing heavily on research, we have more than 100 global telecommunication experts continuously working on new ideas, innovating new technologies to enhance the performance. We have also published a few 6G white papers showcasing our understanding and achievements on potential 6G technologies. We will continue to keep “user experience” at the centre of our core value for innovations. We will continue to lead the technologies which are closely related to enhanced experience with smartphones.