The applications of artificial intelligence were in the centre of this year’s conference related to the telecommunications day which was organized at Széchenyi István University with around 400 participants. In addition to the lecturers-researchers of the institution, the event featured lectures by dr. Cosmas Zavazava, the director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), several heads of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (in short NMHH in Hungarian), as well as representatives of renowned companies in the sector.

Széchenyi István University of Győr, one of Hungary’s leading higher education institutions in the fields of technology, thus in telecommunications as well organizes an annual communication conference related to telecommunications day to commemorate the foundation of the International Telecommunication Union on 17 May 1865, which is now operating as one of the organisations of the United Nations.

Artificial intelligence and its telecommunication applications were this year’s topics of the event which has been organized for the fourteenth time.

A group of conference participants. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)

In his welcome speech dr. Friedler Ferenc, Rector and Vice-president for Academic Affairs of Széchenyi István University explained that the institution has a strong tradition in the field of artificial intelligence as its main focus is related to engineering sciences and cutting-edge technologies.

He added that they put a great emphasis on close cooperation with companies which contributes to the high quality of practice-oriented courses, as well as to research and development results that strengthen the competitiveness of the region. The rector also emphasized that their activities are supported by an infrastructure of international quality, an important element of which is ZalaZONE owned by the Foundation for Széchenyi István University that maintains the university. Besides one of the world’s most modern test tracks the university is developing a science and innovation park which further encourages the development of trainings, researches and collaborations with the actors in the economic sector.

In his lecture, dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of ITU expressed that in many places in the least developed countries - the majority of which are in Africa - people do not even have access to the internet, even though all of them have the right to use the latest technologies. He also mentioned that their organization is going to effectively help to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

‘We must ensure that the world can communicate in a safe way and everybody who would like to communicate, could do so. We must create a people-centred relationship to make the world a better place’, he concluded.

Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of ITU emphasized: each person has the right to access the latest technologies. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)

At the conference a speech was delivered by Lapsánszky András, vice-president of NMHH (in English: National Media and Infocommunications Authority), head of the Department of Administrative and Financial Law at Széchenyi University. He highlighted: Hungary as a founding member of ITU can be proud of both its past and its present.

‘We can see ourselves not only as the country of Puskás Tivadar and Magyari Endre, but also as one of the countries with the best 4G coverage in Europe’, he stated. The vice-president highlighted that there was an exemplary collaboration in which the industry worked together to roll out 3G networks.

This will also give new drive, freed up resources to the ongoing development of new generation networks’, he underlined.

Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of ITU visited the modern Telecommunications Laboratory of Széchenyi István University. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)

At the event a lecture was given by dr. Bartolits István, head of the Department of Technology Analysis of the NMHH who said that more and more complex networks are created with the development of telecommunication systems which significantly increases the costs of error containment and troubleshooting.

Artificial intelligence applications in telecommunication can provide answers to these problems and can also present new solutions for managing increased customer traffic. This can significantly decrease the number and length of service outages - he said.

As part of the event, the stands of the leading companies in the telecommunications sector were open to the public in the lobby of the New Knowledge Space Building of Széchenyi István University. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)

The Dr. Magyari Endre Awards have been presented at the conference every year since 2015. The award was established by the president of the NMHH to recognize outstanding work in the field of communications market. This year the two medals were awarded to Dr. Csorba Imre László, a former colleague of the authority and to Farkas Zoltán, the head of the Miskolc office of NMHH.

The special prizes of NMHH were also presented at the event to the young people who provided an outstanding performance in communication topic in this year’s National Scientific Students’ Associations Conference. Two students of Széchenyi István University, Élő Kristóf Lajos and Magyari Irma could receive the prize.

Two students of Széchenyi István University, Magyari Irma and Élő Kristóf received the special prize of NMHH. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)

As a part of the conference, tree planting also took place, symbolising the commitment of Széchenyi István University, NMHH and ITU to cooperation and environment protection. The picture shows dr. Friedler Ferenc, Rector and Vice-president for Academic Affairs of Széchenyi István University, Lapsánszky András, vice-president of NMHH, head of the Department of Administrative and Financial Law of Széchenyi University. dr. Cosmas Zavazava, director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of ITU, dr. Borbély Gábor, head of the Department of Telecommunications of Széchenyi István University and dr. Vári Péter, deputy director-general of NMHH, associate professor at Széchenyi István University. (Photo: Májer Csaba József)