How do you spend your time at work?
I spend most of my working time staying abreast of a rapidly changing technology sector. To do this, I track company announcements and conduct interviews with experts across the ecosystem – equipment vendors, application innovators, network operators and government officials.
What’s the one gadget that you can’t live without?
My smartphone, of course! My world is digital and it holds both essential information and delights.
Describe your most unforgettable project.
I had the tremendous fortune to be at the forefront of frame relay development and standardisation in the early 1990s.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve seen while working in the communications sector?
When working in a 911 call centre before the days of mobile networks, a house in our county exploded. All incoming lines jumped alive. That is probably something that happens a lot now, but back then it was memorable.
What are your hopes for the sector going forward?
I am most keen on seeing LTE-based mission-critical push-to-talk become operationally viable. First though, the industry must blend a top-flight data experience with proven back-to-back voice capabilities.
How has your role changed since you started working?
I started my career working in a 911 call centre working the radio console. Now I track technology change.
What do you do in your free time to relax?
For relaxation, my wife and I enjoy Irish set dancing. The opportunities to get out, move and socialise with dear friends is priceless. And a session at the pub afterward offers its own reward.
After starting his career with a stint in a 911 call centre, Ken Rehbehn moved on to software development in pioneering packet network technology companies, working on X.25, frame relay, ATM and IP networking. In 2002, he became a wireless infrastructure industry analyst.
