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Special Report: Smart City to Smart Nation

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Building Digital Highways

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The Only 5G Cheat Sheet You Need

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Special Report Pandemic Education Trends - VMware News and Stories

Special Report: The Future of Education

Special Report Pandemic Education Trends

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Why Are We Talking About 6G Already?

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Representation Counts, Especially at the Top

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Special Report: Digital Healthcare Innovation During COVID-19

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What’s the Deal with 5G?

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Businessman and businesswoman with laptop working in modern office - VMware News and Stories

We Asked, You Answered: What’s Next for Your Business and the Cloud?

Careers aren’t just about work. Fulfilling jobs should also offer employees personal and professional development, a support network, and a sense of belonging. That’s why Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), also known as affinity groups, play an important part in many organizations.

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ERGs also provide many benefits, from recruitment to retention and education. These employee communities are a critical resource to inform what is and is not working.

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Every ERG is different. At VMware, we celebrate our people from a wide variety of dynamic backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Collectively, we refer to our ERGs as Power of Difference communities or PODs.

Through these groups, we encourage everyone to <a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/diversity.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bring their authentic selves to work</a>. We understand that making VMware more diverse, equitable and inclusive for our employees, customers and communities is fundamental to who we are. We also believe it’s essential to our success.

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Power of Difference Communities

VMware’s PODs are the employee-powered engines that fuel our DEI efforts. Seven global demographic PODs strengthen networks for women and underrepresented groups. These groups are open to anyone in the company and designed to help participants grow as leaders, engage with other communities, and drive business impact.

Here's a quick look at our POD communities and what they’re doing to effect change.

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Increasing broader Asian representation and inclusion in tech, creating an environment where all Asians can thrive.

Envisioning a time and place where DEI becomes innate to all that we do.

The Black@VMware business resource group supports the transformation of VMware's people practices and processes, ensuring that diversity and inclusion is applied to each and every aspect.

Striving to create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for employees of all abilities.

The Disability@VMware POD’s goal is to foster a culture where everyone feels empowered by their unique talents and to work towards advancing VMware’s dialogue and progress on disability inclusion, accommodation strategies, and physical and technological accessibility. 

Strengthening VMware’s inclusive culture and enhancing its business impact by elevating the Latino community’s representation and leadership.

Providing a safe and inclusive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer employees and our Allies (LGBTQA) to advocate for equal rights and respect for everyone at VMware.

Working with VMware leadership and the broader employee community to grow our outreach to veterans, provide leaders with resources to better leverage the unique skills that veterans can bring to teams, and create opportunities for the advancement of veterans within VMware.

Envisioning a VMware where all women are connected, empowered, safe, heard, recognized, and that we belong. We attract the best female talent who drive innovation, challenge the norms, and thrive in our ecosystem. Women are recognized and celebrated by the VMware community, because we are all champions for equality.

VMware’s Culture Is Built on EPIC2 Values

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Jecoby Carter

Explore VMware's Power of Difference (POD) communities and the company's commitment to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion.

Real Change, Powered by Human Difference | VMware Stories

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Citizens increasingly demand a higher quality of life at a more sustainable cost. For governments, that means building the smart city and smart nation of the future.

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The pandemic led to an inevitable surge in the use of digital technologies. People and organizations all over the world have had to adjust to new ways of work and life. Lockdowns across countries accelerated the rise in the use of information systems and networks with massive changes in usage patterns and behavior.

These changes effected most organizations—business, societies and government. Now, more than ever, citizens expect easy access to government information and services digitally. The urgent questions are: How do governments modernize IT in a secure, scalable and functional way, while improving quality of life? How do they become smarter?

According to a recent <a href="https://granicus.com/resource/the-state-of-digital-in-government/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Granicus survey</a> of 115 government leaders, 61% believe their organization is not keeping pace with the private sector in its adoption and implementation of modern technologies. Additionally, 36% believe that government will never catch up with private sector in terms of technology.

Bureaucracy and budget are leading factors of why. But many governments are navigating these complicated environments by focusing on key areas, including:

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In an ideal world, digital transformation in government would be as simple as aligning technological solutions to demand. However, the modernization of government bears significant change and requires close evaluation of:

After a decade of trial and error, municipal leaders are realizing that smart-city strategies start with people, not technology. “Smartness” is not just about installing digital interfaces in traditional infrastructure or streamlining city operations. It’s also about using technology and data purposefully to make better decisions and deliver a better quality of life.

Connected cities or “smart cities” mix technology and human capital to solve problems resulting from the growth of the urban population. 

Three layers work together to make a smart city:

This includes a critical mass of smartphones and sensors connected by high-speed communication networks.

This includes a critical mass of smartphones and sensors connected by high-speed communication networks.

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Translating raw data into alerts, insight and action requires the right tools. And this is where technology providers and app developers come in.

Translating raw data into alerts, insight and action requires the right tools. And this is where technology providers and app developers come in.

3. Usage by Cities, Companies & the Public

<h4>3. Usage by Cities, Companies & the Public</h4>

Many applications succeed only if widely adopted and ultimately change behavior. For example, government-deployed apps can encourage people to use transit during off-peak hours, use less energy and perform preventative self-care.

Many applications succeed only if widely adopted and ultimately change behavior. For example, government-deployed apps can encourage people to use transit during off-peak hours, use less energy and perform preventative self-care.

Today, cities are moving beyond the smart city pilot stage, using data and digital technologies to deliver results that are more relevant and meaningful to residents.

Case Study: Small Town. Smart City Dreams.

IoT has the potential to transform public sector operations at municipal, regional and national levels. These public entities can leverage the power of connected things to meet the needs of a population that is increasingly reliant on digital services and interactivity.

Today, cloud technologies are considered as secure as than traditional software—if not more secure. Now, leaders are dedicating time to upscale IT talent and delving deeper into what security measures are pre-built into cloud technology. To get there, government leaders should be reframing the question of cloud security from “Is the cloud secure?” to “Am I using the cloud securely?”

The City of Venice, Fla., for example, has roughly 350 employees and a 6-person IT team that serves many departments in the city, including public safety. Previously, IT was haphazard. Different departments purchased tools and software, creating little to no cohesion. IT director Christophe St. Luce and team faced the challenge of consolidating all the needs of the departments and finding an endpoint security solution that would satisfy the needs of multiple stakeholders.

Case Study: City of Venice, Fla., to Secure its Digital Environment

The City of Venice IT department’s goal is to empower a transparent and agile digital government. Florida was a prominent target of ransomware attacks during the 2020 pandemic. And the city’s IT department has continued to strengthen their security stack to stay on top of events in their digital environment.

Fortunately for a small IT team with multiple duties and responsibilities, VMware Carbon Black Cloud helps them customize the platform to their specific workflows, giving the team peace of mind.

<a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/customers/vmw-city-of-venice-florida-success-story.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dive deeper into the City of Venice's story.</a>

Data impacts everything from housing and transportation to the citizen experience. The data provides context and feedback in real time. This, in turn, helps government become more efficient and more responsive to citizens’ wants and needs. At the same time, government leaders acknowledge that clear rules are required for gathering, handling, and using the growing amount of data available.

But the final goal is simple: Improve the quality of life for everyone in the city.

Case Study: PCMC’s Smart City Transformation Journey

Pimpri Chinchwad has come a long way from its roots as a small village cluster. Today, it’s becoming a model smart city and leading business hub in the Pune region of India. A significant part of the city’s growth can be attributed to PCMC, in making sure that Pimpri Chinchwad progresses to be a vibrant, attractive, and livable destination.

With the responsibility to transform India’s Pimpri Chinchwad into a smart city, there was a critical need for Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, also known as PCMC, to first modernize and update its own data center. The IT team had to ensure the tech stack was adaptable, agile, scalable, and resilient enough to support a large-scale transformation project.

PCMC had to resolve its IT constraints on data center management, micro-segmentation, and zero-trust environment to ensure seamless business continuity.

Through the evaluation process, VMware emerged as a trusted tech partner for PCMC in partnership with Tech Mahindra. VMware implemented an SDDC architecture that encompassed best-in-class virtualized compute, storage, and networking with comprehensive cloud management. This approach helped PCMC use a fully virtualized infrastructure that was inexpensive and simple to configure.

As cities begin to adapt to new ways of living, the inevitable questions are: How do governments achieve digital transformation at scale? How do smart cities ultimately lead to smart nations?

First, we must ask: What is a smart nation? According to <a href="https://www.tech.gov.sg/media/technews/digital-government-smart-nation-pursuing%20singapore-tech-imperative">GovTech Singapore</a>, smart nations mean people and businesses are:

Building a smart nation is a whole-of-nation effort comprising of three pillars:

Case Study: Pursuing Singapore’s Tech Imperative

When it comes to digital government, Singapore is fortunate to be building on strong previous efforts. Today, most transactions between citizens and the government can be done online, and integrated apps reduce the time taken to fulfill inter-agency requests.

According to <a href="https://www.itnews.asia/news/singapores-citizenry-gives-digital-government-the-thumbs-up-562343">IT News Asia</a>, nearly half of Singaporeans surveyed (49%) agreed that the Government now delivers better digital experiences. Additionally, 56% of respondents shared that the government has given them the assurance that their personal information is secure.

Soon after formation, Singapore launched five Strategic National Projects:

The <a href="https://www.singpass.gov.sg/main/singpass-our-ndi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Singpass</a> is every Singapore resident's trusted digital identity, as well as a platform that bridges access to over 340 government agencies and private sector services.

The <a href="https://www.singpass.gov.sg/main/singpass-our-ndi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Singpass</a> is every Singapore resident's trusted digital identity, as well as a platform that bridges access to over 340 government agencies and private sector services.

Singapore’s banking industry launched FAST (Fast and Secure Transfers) is a <a href="https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/what-is-smart-nation/initiatives/Strategic-National-Projects/e-payments-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment system</a> that enables direct real-time transfers between consumers and businesses across different banks.

Singapore’s banking industry launched FAST (Fast and Secure Transfers) is a <a href="https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/what-is-smart-nation/initiatives/Strategic-National-Projects/e-payments-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">payment system</a> that enables direct real-time transfers between consumers and businesses across different banks.

The <a href="https://www.tech.gov.sg/scewc2019/mol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moments of Life</a> (MOL) app places citizens at the heart of government digital services. It delivers integrated services and information to citizens at key milestones in their lives.

The <a href="https://www.tech.gov.sg/scewc2019/mol" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moments of Life</a> (MOL) app places citizens at the heart of government digital services. It delivers integrated services and information to citizens at key milestones in their lives.

Through a shared network of sensors, the <a href="https://www.tech.gov.sg/scewc2019/snsp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart Nation Sensor Platform</a> (SNSP) enables agencies to better maximize deployments by collecting and analyzing data to make decisions on city planning in a cost-effective way and improve the delivery of citizen-centric public services.

Through a shared network of sensors, the <a href="https://www.tech.gov.sg/scewc2019/snsp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smart Nation Sensor Platform</a> (SNSP) enables agencies to better maximize deployments by collecting and analyzing data to make decisions on city planning in a cost-effective way and improve the delivery of citizen-centric public services.

Using digital technologies to enhance comfort, convenience and reliability of their <a href="https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/what-is-smart-nation/initiatives/Strategic-National-Projects/smart-urban-mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public transport systems</a>, and support the vision of a car-lite Singapore.

Using digital technologies to enhance comfort, convenience and reliability of their <a href="https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/what-is-smart-nation/initiatives/Strategic-National-Projects/smart-urban-mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">public transport systems</a>, and support the vision of a car-lite Singapore.

Most of these are digital platforms upon which more use cases can be explored over time. <a href="https://www.itnews.asia/news/singapores-citizenry-gives-digital-government-the-thumbs-up-562343" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dive deeper</a>.

IT investments once locked cities and nations into expensive and extremely long-term plans. Now, using the right combination of modern technology and smart solutions, governments can respond more dynamically to changing demands.

Governments around the world still have a long way to go—even the most advanced. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/operations/our%20insights/smart%20cities%20digital%20solutions%20for%20a%20more%20livable%20future/mgi-smart-cities-snapshot.pdf">This snapshot</a> from McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) details deployment in 50 cities around the world. The report gauges each city’s progress using a checklist of smart applications. Mobility was a top priority for most cities. But those with the highest number of applications implemented overall—London, Los Angeles, New York, Seoul, Shenzhen and Singapore—branched out into multiple domains, like security, utilities and healthcare.

Some cities start their transformations with inherent advantages, such as existing high-tech industries. But even less-progressive countries can set themselves apart with vision, good management, a willingness to break with conventional ways of doing things, and a relentless commitment to meeting the needs of its residents.

Global citizens increasingly want a better, more sustainable quality of life. For governments, that means building smart cities and nations.

For governments, citizen demands for a higher quality, sustainable life means building smart cities and nations.

Special Report: Smart Cities & Smart Nations

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Special Report: Smart Cities & Smart Nations | Digital Government Trends

Just as the internet was the catalyst for the Web, 5G will be transformative in propelling the next great wave of emerging technology.
Why? The experts say <a href="https://telco.vmware.com/solutions/5g-core.html">5G</a> will help us realize the potential of a fully connected world. Fast, intelligent internet connectivity enabled by 5G technology could create $3.6 trillion in economic output and 22.3 million jobs by 2035.
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<h2>Breaking It Down: 5G</h2>
So, what is 5G and how does it work? I’m glad you asked.
5G stands for “fifth generation,” as in the fifth generation of cellular network technology. To be more specific, 5G is a type of telecommunications network that will provide mobile, land, and cable service to consumers and businesses worldwide.
With 5G, we’ll see another transformation that could make next-gen technologies like virtual and augmented reality, AI, and even drones part of our everyday lives without requiring a lot of specialized equipment.

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<h2>Five Potential Benefits of 5G:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Super-fast broadband: Faster service and streaming, particularly in high-density areas (i.e., sports stadiums).</li>
<li>Ultra-reliable low-latency communication: Faster transmission of data, which supports use cases like autonomous cars.</li>
<li>Massive machine-type communications: Allowing many devices to transmit data at the same time, enabling use cases like smart cities.</li>
<li>High reliability, high availability: Allows a system or system components to be continuously operational for a desirably long length of time.</li>
<li>Efficient energy usage: Reduces the amount of energy required to provide products and services.</li>
</ul>
<h2>From Buzz to Reality<a href="https://news.vmware.com/subscribe"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-23490 size-medium alignright" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/RADIUS-Digest-Square-CTA-300x300.png" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a></h2>
To ensure 5G deployment accelerates and its components and interdependencies are understood, there must be strong collaboration between stakeholders.
As 5G towers continue to spread and underlying technology advances continue to make their way from labs into consumer devices, the 5G experience will improve. At some point over the next few years, 5G-powered smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, and XR will be common.
<h2>What’s Next?</h2>
If we&#8217;re learning anything from 5G implementations, it&#8217;s that the demand for connectivity is increasing at an exponential rate as wireless communication is becoming more and more essential to our daily lives.
As demand for connectivity increases, it&#8217;s time to begin defining the 6G standard, and understanding the benefits and challenges that 6G will present.

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Once fully realized, a 5G connected world is anticipated to be an ecosystem of interconnected intelligence components, systems and fabrics enabled with a fusion of technologies that sit at the intersection of wireless, networking, and cloud industries.

You've probably heard of 5G by now. But how does it work? Take a deep dive with us. Watch video:

The Only 5G Cheat Sheet You Need - VMware News and Stories

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5G? 6G? What's the difference? Here's your 5G cheat sheet. Watch video:

Is online learning the future of education? And, if so, can it get better?

Global uncertainties linger about education in the wake of a global pandemic. Could the virtual classroom be the future of education by 2030? If so, will it ever get easier and more effective?

As classrooms closed across the world, <a href="https://data.unicef.org/resources/remote-learning-reachability-factsheet/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearly every country implemented some form of remote learning</a>. Suddenly, school was in session—at home.

For years, colleges and universities offered remote learning options, particularly for non-traditional students, like working adults. Students learn off-campus using online tools (or even broadcasts on a TV or radio station). Courses can be live and/or self-paced.

As countries loosened restrictions, many schools reopened with an expanded approach: hybrid learning. This typically means each student can choose to participate either in person or remotely—or a combination of both.

By August 2020, 69% of U.S. K-12 leaders told <a href="https://www.edweek.org/leadership/in-person-learning-expands-student-absences-up-teachers-work-longer-survey-shows/2020/10" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EdWeek Research Center</a> they adopted a hybrid learning approach. And 87% of U.S. colleges and universities planned to offer a hybrid fall semester, according to the <a href="https://www.iie.org/COVID19_FullReport3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Institute of International Education’s COVID‐19 survey</a>. In fact, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/higher-education-online-change-cost-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">half</a> of the adults surveyed across 29 countries believe hybrid learning will be the standard for higher education by 2025.

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Many students will continue logging into virtual classes for the foreseeable future. That’s a relief to many students, who enjoy the benefits of remote learning, like the flexibility to learn at their own pace. However, new distractions, technological barriers, and poor digital experiences make remote learning difficult for others.

As education experts quickly pointed out, remote and hybrid learning aren’t the same as true online learning. The former tends to be business continuity plans—a “quick, ad hoc, low-fidelity mitigation strategy,” said <a href="https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-04-02-what-students-are-doing-is-remote-learning-not-online-learning-there-s-a-difference" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Susan Grajek of Educause</a>. The latter is a more deliberate, planned, digital-first approach to student-centric education.

What education institutions accomplished, in response to the pandemic, swiftly evolved the industry by leaps and bounds. Now, there’s more work to do.

Education Falls Behind in Digital Experience

Roughly 1-in-5 adults said educational institutions deliver a better digital experience now than before the pandemic, according to a 2020 global survey led by VMware. Less than one-third of respondents said they would happily continue interacting digitally with educational institutions. Yet, education generally ranked behind all other industries’ digital experiences.

The global shift to remote learning abruptly moved students to a digital campus. Educators across the world scrambled to teach students in their homes. Students and teachers accessed video conferencing, online learning platforms and other online tools and content.

That was step one, though. Next, educators need to make these digital experiences:

It starts with the institution’s digital infrastructure. Virtual data centers that run on software are less rigid (and less expensive) than hardware. IT organizations with these modern data centers have much more flexibility and agility to accommodate online learning.

IT can quickly gain computing capacity in the cloud, so they can distribute and manage new devices, apps, and virtual desktops from anywhere. IT teams also have more constant visibility into a software-based infrastructure. They can use software automation to fix problems and adjust as needed. This way, digital infrastructure is always available and running at peak performance. And this is especially important for running more advanced applications and interactive, virtual lab environments.

“With optimized data algorithms, VMware vSAN [storage virtualization software] increases the performance of the university’s disk array resources by an order of magnitude, which is important in the case of such solutions as virtual desktop infrastructure. Based on them, we conduct specialized labs which often use advanced applications like CAD 3D,” says Paweł Kołodko, IT director at WSB University in Wrocław.

“In the case of classes for students, problems with configuring and maintaining traditional computers in labs took about 20% of our time. Now, with VMware technologies, everything runs like clockwork. At the start of classes, each student receives a new virtual PC with exactly the same configuration as the rest of the class.”

<a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/customers/vmware-20q2-wsb-university-in-wroclaw-en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the full story</a>.

Keeping Students Safe in a Digital Learning Environment

In the global Digital Frontiers survey, people revealed how assured they felt about their data security by different industries.

Compared to before the coronavirus pandemic began, which if any of the following organizations, would you say have given you the assurance you need that your date and information is secure?

They felt least assured by educational institutions.

Educators are also responsible not only for students’ safety. In hybrid learning environments, these responsibilities expand:

Outdated security models and ineffective tools impede the progress of digital-first learning. It also puts students and institutions at risk. So, education IT leaders are implementing more modern technologies with built-in security and modern security frameworks, like <a href="https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/unified-endpoint-management">unified endpoint management</a> and <a href="https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/zero-trust-security">zero-trust security</a>.

For example, Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) manages tens of thousands of different mobile devices and applications across hundreds of schools all from a single, cloud-based platform. From this control center, IT proactively spots malicious activities and can remotely act on security incidents.

“We’ve had a cloud-first strategy for quite some time, so we’re consuming a lot of software-as-a-service (SaaS), which gives us great visibility into our traffic, so we can notice any anomalies,” said Paul Saltmarsh, senior IT officer at BCE. “We have a highly distributed environment—147 sites over a fairly large geographical area—so the ability to remotely wipe or disable the device at any moment in time has been a cornerstone of us being comfortable with distributed learning.”

With confidence in its security posture, BCE gives students the freedom to take their devices home, so they can develop their digital skills and “always-on” learning mindsets.

“By providing greater visibility over all devices and applications, VMware Workspace ONE has also given BCE a more confident security stance in its operations. “If any device is stolen or compromised, we can remotely wipe the device on Workspace ONE, ensuring compliance with data protection laws,” said Saltmarsh.

“This level of visibility and security also allows us to engage in meaningful conversations about usage and security of data with our students. We can get them to think about how they use their devices and how they can safeguard themselves—teaching them valuable best practices that they can employ as they progress into the workforce.”

<a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/customers/vmw-brisbane-catholic-education-en-casestudy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the full story</a>.

Another enduring challenge to online learning is equity. As education digitized over the years, students don’t have equal access to devices, apps, and internet connectivity. Widespread remote learning revealed even greater disparities in the online learning gap.

“We’ve learned about some of the opportunities that online learning can offer, but we’ve also learned how online learning can magnify inequities among our students,” said <a href="https://news.vmware.com/technologies/persis-drell-pioneer">Persis S. Drell</a>, provost at Stanford University. “I worry a lot about the roughly 20% of our students who have more resource-constrained backgrounds.”

Perhaps paradoxically, technology can close the digital learning gap, leaders believe. “I have personally witnessed in Africa what a force for good technology can be,” said <a href="https://www.news.vmware.com/rosa-whitaker-luminaries/">Rosa </a><a href="https://news.vmware.com/esg/rosa-whitaker-luminaries">Whitaker</a>, an African trade and investment expert. “While much remains to be done across Africa, technology is helping to close the education, economic and healthcare gaps.”

Case Study: Three Critical Strategies for a Digital Learning Environment

To achieve the benefits of remote learning, schools and colleges must ensure equitable access to devices, applications, and internet connectivity. Many students need devices, headsets, and access to low-cost or free broadband support, LTE hotspots, or devices with integrated LTE connectivity.

To support these deployments, in addition to UEM and access management platforms, institutional IT departments might consider tools like SD-WAN and telecom expense management.

<a href="https://www.vmware.com/company/customers/index/fullpage.html?path=/content/web-apps-redesign/customer-stories/2020/vmw-retail-giant-simplifies-networks-to-keep-stores-always-connected">Read the full story</a>.

Other components of a digital learning environment strategy can include providing access to high-powered applications and workstations via VDI and remote support.

Even in a hybrid learning model, every student deserves a high-quality digital education. It’s not just about convenience or access. It’s also critical to developing in-demand digital skills among students for the future of work and leadership. This extends to non-traditional students and the general public, as well. In fact, almost one-third of adults believe educational institutions are responsible for developing digital literacy, which is the ability to access and consume a variety of online services.

Case Study: Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering

Considered one of India’s leading engineering and management colleges, it was imperative for Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering to have the resources needed to prepare students for the future of work. The college saw a need to modernize its IT environment and leverage the benefits of virtualization.

<a href="https://www.vmware.com/content/dam/digitalmarketing/vmware/en/pdf/customers/vmware-pimpri-chinchwad-college-of-engineering-success-story.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the full story.</a>

During social distancing and shelter-in-place mandates, many teachers and staff members struggle to keep up with the change of format and pace.

Many teachers weren’t trained and felt uncomfortable with the new tools and processes. And this uncertainty caused significant emotional strain. According to <a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/educator-morale-school-job-applicants-declining-survey-shows/2020/11" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EdWeek Research Center’s October 2020 survey</a>, “84% of [U.S. K-12] teachers and administrators say teacher morale is lower now than it was prior to the pandemic.”

Technology isn’t a challenge for only K-12 teachers. Right after accessibility, “faculty readiness for online learning” is the top technology concern for colleges and universities, too, according to a <a href="https://cloud.vmware.com/community/2020/09/09/colleges-breaking-barriers-distance-education/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent report</a>.

“Getting the faculty to feel comfortable teaching when the student is not in front of them has been a huge challenge,” said <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/industry-solutions/2020/12/09/five-ways-to-accelerate-digital-first-learning-in-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-ways-to-accelerate-digital-first-learning-in-education" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike Atkins</a>, infrastructure architect at the University of Notre Dame.

Education IT organizations can tremendously lower the technology burden on teachers and staff. To support ‘uninterrupted learning, National Taipei University in Taiwan built an online learning platform and successfully deployed 100 new virtual desktops. Now, the educator can teach as they did in physical classrooms, including roll call, group discussions, and more.

Virtual desktops also enable teachers to manage course progress and students’ learning status. With the help of software tools, teaching is now enriched and efficient, helping maintain consistent quality and positive experiences.

Innovating Faster to the Future of Education

It is an exciting time to be in the education IT industry—or to be a student, teacher, faculty member or parent. Education has never been closer to truly personalizing learning, breaking ground on entirely new learning models. Ultimate, digital experiences help prepare students for the careers of the future.

The modern technologies mentioned above provide the digital foundation for education IT leaders to:

“There is little doubt that the traditional, in-person-only educational model worldwide is changing,” said <a href="https://blogs.vmware.com/industry-solutions/2020/12/09/five-ways-to-accelerate-digital-first-learning-in-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=five-ways-to-accelerate-digital-first-learning-in-education" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herb Thompson</a>, a VMware expert on the digital education industry. “And institutions must become future-ready to accommodate change today and what’s coming tomorrow.”

Is online learning technology the future of education? If so, can it get better?

Global uncertainties linger about education in the wake of a global pandemic. Could the virtual classroom be the future of education by 2030? If so, will it ever get easier and more effective?

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Special Report: The Future of Education | Online Learning Technology

It’s only been a few months since the first 5G-enabled consumer devices hit the market, but the industry is already preparing for what comes next.

The typical 10-year technology cycle is part of the reason. 5G promises download speeds many times faster than current 4G LTE networks and significantly lower latency times. But 6G is set to raise the bar even higher, with speeds estimated at 100-times faster than 5G. It also promises increased bandwidth to keep consumers more connected than ever before.
Analysts say 6G is at least a decade out. So, what is 6G? And why are we talking about it now?
<h2>What Is 6G?</h2>
6G, as the name suggests, is the sixth generation of mobile connectivity. It’s still unclear what final form 6G will take until it is standardized. But it isn’t too early to speculate which technologies will be included and which characteristics it will have.
The high-level vision for 6G is to deepen the connection and integration between digital, physical, and human worlds. However, at this point, a lot less is set in stone when it comes to the new generation.
What is apparent is that 6G will benefit from the backend changes made to mobile networks to power 5G. Technology trends seen with 5G, like virtualized networks, are setting the stage already by enabling things like specialized deployments. Operators have densified radio networks with more antennas. Now, it’s easier to get a signal, especially indoors, while cloud technologies and edge computing mean data can be processed closer to users—even at scale—so latency is much lower.
Essentially, 6G will build on this foundation and introduce new capabilities far beyond the limits of 5G.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Enter the Next Dimension With Spatial Computing" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQzaMJUi-U8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>How Is 6G Different from 5G?</h2>
The most obvious difference is speed. 6G will use more advanced radio equipment and a greater volume and diversity of airwaves than 5G. This includes the use of extremely high frequency (EHF) spectrum that delivers ultra-high speeds and huge capacity over short distances.
In terms of coverage, 6G could become universal. 6G satellite technology and intelligent surfaces capable of reflecting electromagnetic signals will deliver low latency, multi-gigabit connectivity. This is especially transformative for the parts of the world where it has been too difficult or too expensive to reach with conventional mobile networks. Remote parts of the globe, the skies and the oceans could all be connected.
5G already harnesses AI for optimization, dynamic resource allocation and data processing. But extreme-low latency of less than one millisecond and distributed architecture means 6G will be able to deliver global, integrated intelligence.
6G will also be more efficient than its predecessor and consume less power. Energy efficiency is critical for a more sustainable mobile industry because of the anticipated growth in data generation.
<h2>Evolution of the Next Big G</h2>
Historically, when we’ve gone from one wireless generation to the next (3G to 4G, 4G to 5G), it meant significant infrastructure investments and rebuilding customized systems.
<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/6g-wireless-what-it-is-and-when-it-s-coming-62956538"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-24008 size-full" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/407209994.png" alt="" width="660" height="243" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/407209994.png 660w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/407209994.png?resize=300,110 300w" sizes="(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" /></a>
“You can’t just flip a switch to a new network generation overnight. You add the new technology as an overlay extension, subtending off the previous generation as you iron out the kinks for a smooth transition to the next generation over time. 5G introduction as a capacity augmentation for LTE networks, as we work through the nuances of time-sensitive communications in the labs, is a living example of such a transformation” said Kaniz Mahdi, vice president of advanced technologies at VMware.
Preparing for the next big telecom evolution years in advance is nothing new. While it’s still early for this effort and plenty of details remain to be worked out, we already know some of the things that need to be in place for 6G to be successful:
<ul>
<li>Openness: We need to move beyond vertical ecosystems to horizontal platforms that enable full separation of function from the underlying hardware and software. Multiple industries, multiple providers and multiple vendors must contribute to end-to-end system compositions.</li>
<li>Cloud-native applications and infrastructure: We need to eliminate reliance on monolithic network functions and systems. Instead, we need to embrace containerized microservices from the world of IT. This will let us treat the network as a flexible pool of resources that can be assembled and reassembled at will.</li>
<li>Automation: We need to lay the foundation for use of machine intelligence in all aspects of plan, design and operations. This will help enable self-organizing, self-healing and self-optimizing systems.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Envisioning Tomorrow’s Network</h2>

Faster speeds, greater capacity and lower latency will:
<ul>
<li>Free applications from the constraints of local processing power.</li>
<li>Connect more devices to the network.</li>
<li>Blur the lines between the physical, human and digital worlds.</li>
</ul>
Existing services will be transformed. But 6G could be the network that finally delivers use cases from the realms of science fiction.
Terabit speeds will inevitably make streaming more enjoyable and video calls less painful. Universal coverage and more connected things will change the way we interact with technology—and potentially the world itself.
6G will also enable location and context-aware digital services, as well as sensory experiences, such as truly immersive extended reality (XR) and high-fidelity holograms. Instead of today’s video conferences, it will be possible to speak to people in real-time in virtual reality (VR), using wearable sensors so users have the physical sensation of being in the same room together.
And because 6G is so much more power-efficient than 5G, it may be even possible for low-power IoT devices to be charged over the network. This would transform the economics of mass deployments and aid sustainability.
<h2>The Path to 6G</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-24009 size-full" src="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Predict-2021-5G-Talk-FINAL_1.13.21_AW.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" srcset="https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Predict-2021-5G-Talk-FINAL_1.13.21_AW.jpg 1280w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Predict-2021-5G-Talk-FINAL_1.13.21_AW.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Predict-2021-5G-Talk-FINAL_1.13.21_AW.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://news-editor.vmware.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Predict-2021-5G-Talk-FINAL_1.13.21_AW.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
Once fully realized, a 5G connected world is anticipated to be an ecosystem of interconnected intelligence components, systems and fabrics enabled with a fusion of technologies that sit at the intersection of wireless, networking and cloud industries.

Foundational imperatives of this unification for the 5G era is paving a path toward 6G:
<ol>
<li>Virtualize the data center: We need the ability to adapt, federate and optimize heterogeneous resources that span multiple physical data centers managed by disparate providers across multiple geographies as a unified pool of adaptive computing capabilities.</li>
<li>Virtualize the network: Next, we need to be able to adapt, federate and optimize heterogeneous networks to enable distributed applications that span multiple providers across multiple geographies such that the underlying networks become invisible to the application.</li>
<li>Virtualize the edge: We need the ability to adapt, federate and optimize heterogeneous platforms spanning multiple providers across multiple geographies to enable an interchangeable edge that continuously optimizes itself to maintain QoE across vastly interactive, highly mobile, and distributed applications.</li>
<li>Virtualize the control: Finally, we need to be able to adapt, federate and optimize heterogeneous entities contributing to collaborative controls applications that are distributed across multiple intelligence agents that span multiple providers and geographies, ultimately leading to universal autonomy with complete virtualization of control.</li>
</ol>
Currently, development is still at a very early stage. A final release will depend on the pace of rollout and a consensus on the technologies that eventually comprise the final standard. Just as 4G and 5G will coexist for some time and share the same core network, it is likely that 6G and 5G will exist simultaneously, as well.
“Hopefully by the time we are able to comfortably and confidently say, ‘Yes, I have delivered the 5G promise,’ spatial computing, the evolution around the edge all the way to the user device, and advances in robotics will be squarely in place to shape the new landscape for 6G,” Mahdi said.

5G wireless development is ongoing, but for some, attention is already turning to the next-next big thing: 6G.

5G development is ongoing, but for some, attention is turning to the next next big thing: 6G.

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Why Are We Already Talking About 6G?

Maintaining connections is more important today than ever before. Tigo’s innovative tech-for-good programs bring people and communities together across Latin America.

<a href="https://www.millicom.com/our-company/brands/tigo/">Tigo</a> has ambitious goals: The company builds digital highways that connect people, improve lives and develop communities.

In 2018, the telecommunications company refreshed its corporate responsibility framework. To support its mission, Tigo launched new <a href="https://www.millicom.com/our-responsibility/">flagship programs</a> aimed at empowering people and promoting social good. The programs aim to:

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Latin America, Tigo’s tech-for-good programs helped ease some of the strain.

Tigo’s social programs have real, tangible benefits for individuals and communities. And volunteerism is vital to program success. Protecting children online, for example, relies entirely on Tigo volunteers.