Here's how you can stay up-to-date and gain industry knowledge in Mobile Communications.

Of course, as a university professor, I recommend to read scientific publications, to see in which directions the technology may evolve. But that does not necessarily give a full picture of the directions that the industry will take. The wireless world is too complex to only choose the option that works best from one technical point of view. Personally I found it very inspiring to work in international (EU) projects, with participants across the industry, ranging from chip makers, to phone makers, to operators and service providers. It was in these regular interactions and joint work that I could see directions crystalize, and could build a personal view on what are technically, scientifically, and business-wise attractive directions.

Attending forums like MWC & GITEX can give you a great experience and networking as well with industry leaders, seeing live use cases will give you a chance to get acquainted with the new industry trends.

Industry news are vital, companies buys other companies and thus gaining perhaps new products or competence to their portfolio. Of course companies release their own inventions too. If one follows specification arenas, like 3gpp and several industry news, one is most likely very well up to date on what is coming up.

In my experience, attending conferences or seminars on industry and research discussions on cutting edge technologies, is a good way to stay updated on industry innovations in mobile communications. Attendance can be done in-person or virtually.

One great social media resource not listed is YouTube. Practically any emerging technology already has how to videos available to view on YouTube. You do have to do due diligence and use these in concert with other options. But they can be a great resource from those already using the emerging technology.

Participating in the development of new standards is an exciting opportunity not only to stay up-to-date but also to help steer these standards in a desired direction.

In my personal experience, staying up-to-date and gaining industry knowledge in mobile communications is essential. I think one effective approach is to identify a current problem that Communication Service Providers (CSPs) are facing today. For example, the challenge of network congestion with the growing demand for data. Writing an article about this issue forces you to dig deeper, uncovering new challenges, ideas, and questions. Along the way, you'll connect with others facing similar issues and discover innovative solutions. Plus, you might end up with a great article that benefits both you and the industry.