I recently had an enlightening conversation with Engr. Lyberius Taruc, a distinguished professional in the telecommunications field. Currently serving as a Cloud Infrastructure Manager at Cloud Telecom for 13 years, Engr. Taruc is also a part-time instructor of Computer Engineering at FEU Institute of Technology for the past decade and a course creator for AI and Machine Learning, SDN, and FNFV at Asia Open RAN Academy. As a professional computer engineer and licensed electronics technician pursuing his Master's in Computer Engineering with a specialization in Data Science and Engineering at PUP Manila, Engr. Taruc bridges the gap between industry and academia, embodying FEU's slogan: "where industry meets academia."
The Fusion of Industry and Academia
One of the most profound insights from our conversation was Engr. Taruc's commitment to maintaining dual roles in both industry and education. Despite the challenges of managing his time between these responsibilities, he firmly believes in the value of bringing real-world industry experiences back to the classroom. "Not everything can be driven by purely theories," he emphasized, addressing the common perception among students that classroom learning lacks practical application in the industry.
This philosophy resonates deeply with my own educational approach. Engr. Taruc's dedication to serving as a conduit between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation demonstrates that the most effective education occurs when industry expertise informs academic instruction. By maintaining his position at Cloud Telecom while teaching, he ensures his students receive insights into current telecommunications practices and emerging technologies that textbooks alone cannot provide.
Understanding Open RAN Technology
The main focus of our discussion was Open RAN (Open Radio Access Network), a revolutionary approach to telecommunications infrastructure that Engr. Taruc is passionate about promoting through his work with Asia Open RAN Academy. Before delving into Open RAN specifics, he provided a comprehensive overview of how telecommunications networks function, explaining that the cell sites visible to the public represent just one component (the Radio Access Network) of a larger system that also includes transport and core network layers.
Traditionally, telecommunications equipment from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Nokia, Ericsson, Cisco, and Huawei has been tightly coupled with vendor-specific technologies, creating what Engr. Taruc described as "vendor lock-in." This limitation forces operators to purchase equipment from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility, restricting innovation and potentially increasing costs.
Open RAN addresses this challenge by allowing telecommunications providers to "disaggregate" or remove their dependency on specific vendors. This open approach enables operators to deploy services more freely, potentially making network services more affordable by lowering access barriers. The concept is similar to open-source software in the IT space, where code is available for everyone to examine, modify, and redistribute according to their needs.
Real-World Applications and Benefits
What struck me most about our conversation was the depth and breadth of practical applications for Open RAN technology across diverse scenarios. Engr. Taruc painted a vivid picture of how this technology could transform various sectors, beginning with its impact on education. He described a future where college engineering students with curious minds could construct their own network infrastructures within their school campuses using accessible equipment like Raspberry Pi or Arduino. This capability would revolutionize hands-on learning, allowing students to move beyond theoretical concepts to practical implementation without the substantial investment typically required for telecommunications infrastructure. Such experimentation fosters innovation from the ground up, potentially leading to breakthrough solutions that might otherwise never emerge.
The conversation then shifted to how Open RAN could fundamentally alter the everyday experience of network connectivity. Engr. Taruc described a scenario that resonated deeply with me—the frustration of encountering dead spots where one's preferred network has no signal. Currently, the solution involves the inconvenience of physically switching SIM cards or having dual-SIM phones. With Open RAN implementation, this friction could disappear entirely. He explained that networks could become truly interconnected, allowing devices to seamlessly transition between different operators' infrastructure without any user intervention. Your mobile device might connect to a Globe cell site one moment and a Smart cell site the next, all without any perceptible interruption in service or need for manual switching—a level of interoperability that would transform the consumer experience.
Perhaps most compelling was Engr. Taruc's description of how Open RAN could bridge the digital divide in remote areas of the Philippines. He spoke passionately about small healthcare clinics in isolated locations like Tawi-Tawi or islands in the Visayas region—places where major telecommunications providers haven't established infrastructure due to geographical challenges or economic feasibility concerns. Through Open RAN technology, these clinics could establish their own localized telecommunications networks that connect to major operators' broader networks. This would enable essential communication services in previously unserved areas without requiring major telcos to build expensive infrastructure in challenging terrain. For healthcare workers in these remote clinics, this connectivity could mean the difference between isolation and access to life-saving telemedicine capabilities, creating a profound impact on healthcare delivery in underserved communities.
Through these richly detailed examples, I gained a deeper appreciation for how Open RAN democratizes access to telecommunications technology. It's not merely a technical advancement but a catalyst for social equity, potentially bridging digital divides and fostering innovation across geographical and socioeconomic boundaries. The implications extend far beyond the telecommunications industry itself, potentially transforming education, healthcare, and everyday connectivity in ways that address longstanding challenges in Philippine society.
The Intersection of Open RAN and AI
As our conversation progressed, Engr. Taruc naturally wove in the relationship between Open RAN and artificial intelligence technologies, revealing a symbiotic connection that amplifies the potential of both. He began by describing the current implementation of conversational AI in customer service contexts. Major telecom operators have already deployed sophisticated chatbots and virtual assistants that handle routine customer inquiries. Gone are the days when subscribers needed to visit physical stores to resolve service issues—now they can interact with AI systems through messaging platforms that provide immediate assistance without human intervention. These systems represent just the beginning of AI integration in telecommunications.
Engr. Taruc then shared a personal anecdote that illuminated the transformative potential of AI in network operations. Drawing from his previous experience as a Network Operations Center (NOC) engineer, he described the tedious daily routine of manually monitoring cell sites across the Philippines—logging into different interfaces, typing commands, and generating reports regardless of whether issues existed. His eyes lit up as he envisioned how AI could transform this process. He described a future where engineers could simply chat with an AI assistant, asking natural language questions like "Give me a status report for all cell sites in Region X" or "Show me network health trends over the past week." The AI would handle the complex backend processes, presenting information in accessible formats and even proactively identifying potential issues before they affect service. This vision of AI as an intelligent assistant rather than a replacement for human expertise particularly resonated with me—showing how technology could enhance rather than diminish the role of skilled professionals.
The conversation then turned to cybersecurity applications, with Engr. Taruc explaining how AI systems could analyze message patterns to identify potentially fraudulent or malicious communications. He referenced the increasing prevalence of SMS scams purporting to be from banks or telecommunications companies, suggesting that AI pattern recognition could help identify and block these messages before they reach consumers. The system would learn to recognize suspicious patterns in message content, sending behavior, or source characteristics, providing an additional layer of protection for vulnerable users.
Despite his enthusiasm for these applications, Engr. Taruc was careful to temper expectations about AI capabilities. Drawing parallels to previous technological trends like cryptocurrency and Web3, he emphasized that AI is "not a magic bullet" that will solve all telecommunications challenges. He dispelled dystopian narratives about AI dominating society, instead focusing on practical limitations such as ethical considerations, data quality issues, and potential security vulnerabilities. He noted that AI systems still struggle with nuanced ethical decisions, complete and accurate data processing, and vulnerability to manipulation—challenges that must be addressed as these technologies develop. This balanced perspective highlighted Engr. Taruc's deep understanding of both the transformative potential and the realistic constraints of emerging technologies in telecommunications.
Collaborative Competition in Telecommunications
An unexpected insight from our conversation was Engr. Taruc's perspective on competition within the telecommunications industry. While major players like Smart and Globe are perceived as fierce competitors, he revealed that behind the scenes, these Filipino companies often collaborate to achieve their shared objective: providing connectivity to all Filipinos.
This collaborative spirit is exemplified in services like mobile number portability, which required coordination between operators. As Engr. Taruc put it, "It's made possible because of both operators setting aside their differences and just giving out this service for everybody, for the common good."
The Future of Open RAN in the Philippines
When discussing implementation timelines, Engr. Taruc shared that Open RAN is still in its early stages in the Philippines. The technology was introduced only two to three years ago, and current efforts focus primarily on education and establishing partnerships with educational institutions and non-government organizations.
Full-scale implementation might take three to five years, as the industry works through challenges related to equipment availability, security concerns, and regulatory considerations. Nevertheless, government bodies like the ITC and professional organizations such as PRC, IESEP, ICPEP, and MRSP are already supporting this initiative, recognizing its potential to transform telecommunications in the country.
My conversation with Engr. Lyberius Taruc offered invaluable insights into how Open RAN technology is poised to revolutionize telecommunications infrastructure in the Philippines and beyond. His passion for both education and industry innovation exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking leadership our technological landscape needs.
As we navigate this evolving telecommunications paradigm, the principles of openness, collaboration, and innovation that Engr. Taruc champions will undoubtedly shape how we connect and communicate in the future. For educators, students, and industry practitioners alike, understanding these emerging technologies and their potential applications is not just beneficial—it's essential for staying relevant in our rapidly changing digital world.
To learn more about Open RAN and related initiatives, visit the Asia Open RAN Academy website at asiaopenranacademy.com or connect with Engr. Taruc on LinkedIn.
You can watch the full video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rICSSTybTU&feature=youtu.be
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