Francisco Rau

Francisco Rau

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow
MaxLinear, Inc. · Universitat de València

PhD researcher in efficient MAC scheduling for ultra-dense wireless networks, AI/ML for telecommunications, network traffic forecasting, and energy efficiency.

802.11 / WiFi MAC Scheduling Traffic Prediction LSTM / RNN Energy Efficiency
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About

B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Universidad de Santiago de Chile in 2009, B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria in 2017, and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Universidad de Santiago de Chile in 2023. He has held technical and leadership roles in the telecommunications industry in Chile and Ecuador, deploying 5G NSA, MPLS/IP core network expansion, and backhaul network rollout for service providers.

He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering at the University of Valencia, Spain, and is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow at MaxLinear, Spain, participating in the HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01 project titled Optical and Wireless sensors Networks for 6G scenarios (OWIN6G), focusing on researching efficient MAC scheduling for ultra-dense wireless networks based on 802.11 standards.

His research interests include artificial intelligence and machine learning applied to telecommunications, energy efficiency, network traffic forecasting, and WiFi standards.

MAC Scheduling / 802.11 Network Traffic Forecasting AI/ML for Telecom Energy Efficiency Embedded Deep Learning WiFi Standards

Current Position

PhD Researcher @ MaxLinear, Inc.

Location

Valencia, Spain

Publications

8 publications, 1 dataset & 3 theses. Full list on Google Scholar and ORCID.

Conference

LSTM-Based Traffic Prediction for 5G Mobile Network Operator

F. Rau, C. Herranz, I. Val, J. Perez

2025 International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM), Split, Croatia, 18–20 Sep. 2025 — DOI: 10.23919/SoftCOM66362.2025.11197406

An LSTM-based predictive method for traffic modeling in 5G networks is proposed, using real mobile operator data. Results show that LSTM outperforms traditional RNNs in accuracy and computational stability, with inference times ranging from 2.2 to 2.8 seconds.

Conference

Implementing a Traffic Classifier on Embedded SoC Systems with Deep Learning Processor Unit

F. Rau, L. M. Giraldo, C. Herranz, J. Perez, I. Val, R. Garcia

2025 International Conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM), Split, Croatia, 18–20 Sep. 2025 — DOI: 10.23919/SoftCOM66362.2025.11197409

A traffic classifier is designed and deployed on a Zynq UltraScale MPSoC platform using a Deep Learning Processor Unit, classifying flows from applications like YouTube, Netflix, and Teams. A Fully Connected Neural Network trained with Vitis AI achieves 80.5% accuracy at 700 flows per second, validating efficient AI inference on resource-constrained hardware.

Preprint

A Novel Flow-Based Online Network Traffic Classification Using Machine Learning

F. Rau, C. Herranz, I. Val, P. Georgieva, J. Perez

TechRxiv, 2025 — DOI: 10.36227/techrxiv.175459507.75164419/v1

A flow-based traffic classification model using machine learning extracts 29 statistical and temporal features from 5-second windows, enabling real-time classification while preserving user privacy. Evaluated across multiple applications and six public datasets, the model consistently exceeds 96% accuracy, outperforming state-of-the-art approaches and proving suitable for modern network environments.

Journal

A Novel Traffic Prediction Method Using Machine Learning for Energy Efficiency in Service Provider Networks

F. Rau, I. Soto, D. Zabala-Blanco, C. Azurdia-Meza, M. Ijaz, S. Ekpo, S. Gutierrez

Sensors, vol. 23, no. 11, p. 4997, 2023 — DOI: 10.3390/s23114997

A systematic methodology using recurrent and sequential neural networks is proposed to address energy efficiency prediction in telecom data centers, comparing RNN, LSTM, GRU, and OS-ELM models. OS-ELM outperforms the others in accuracy and computational efficiency, achieving potential energy savings of up to 12.2% in a single day on real traffic data.

Conference

Remote Detection of COVID-19 Using 5G and AI

R. Zamorano-Illanes, I. Soto, W. Alavia, V. Garcia, P. Adasme, F. Rau

13th International Symposium on Communication Systems, Networks and Digital Signal Processing (CSNDSP 2022), Porto, Portugal, 20–22 Jul. 2022, pp. 395–400 — DOI: 10.1109/CSNDSP54353.2022.9907995

Novel solution for SARS-CoV-2 detection from gel electrophoresis images of sewage samples, leveraging 5G connectivity and AI-based image processing for noise reduction and identification of characteristic virus bands for pandemic control.

Conference

MIMO QAM Indoor VLC Using Polar Codes for Low-Cost Emitters and FPGA Receiver

R. Zamorano-Illanes, M. C. Estela, I. Soto, M. Ijaz, F. Rau

4th West Asian Symposium on Optical and Millimeter-Wave Wireless Communications (WASOWC 2022), Tabriz, Iran, 12–13 May 2022 — DOI: 10.1109/WASOWC54657.2022.9798443

Indoor visible light communications system combining MIMO QAM modulation with polar codes, implemented on low-cost emitters and an FPGA receiver platform.

Conference

Forecasting Mobile Network Traffic Based on Deep Learning Networks

F. Rau, I. Soto, D. Zabala-Blanco

IEEE Latin-American Conference on Communications (LATINCOM 2021), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 17–19 Nov. 2021 — DOI: 10.1109/LATINCOM53176.2021.9647788

Deep learning techniques are compared for predicting traffic peaks in a real 5G mobile core EPC node in Chile, addressing the growing challenge of network burst management. LSTM outperforms GRU in prediction accuracy by a factor of 0.4, while both exhibit identical computational cost.

Conference

Network Traffic Prediction Using Online-Sequential Extreme Learning Machine

F. Rau, I. Soto, P. Adasme, D. Zabala-Blanco, C. Azurdia-Meza

3rd South American Colloquium on Visible Light Communications (SACVLC 2021), Toledo, Brazil, 11–12 Nov. 2021 — DOI: 10.1109/SACVLC53127.2021.9652247

LSTM and OS-ELM neural network techniques are compared for forecasting real traffic demand of a Chilean ISP, addressing the challenge of cost-efficient bandwidth management. OS-ELM outperforms LSTM in computational cost by a factor of 2300 while remaining competitive in prediction accuracy, making it a highly efficient alternative for traffic forecasting.

Thesis

Study of the Soiling Effect on the Performance of Photovoltaic Solar Panels in a Residential Area

F. RauB.Sc. in Industrial Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM), 2017

Investigation of the soiling effect on photovoltaic solar panel performance in a residential environment, analyzing the impact of dust and particle accumulation on energy generation efficiency. Includes field measurements and performance degradation modeling under real-world conditions.

Thesis

Project Proposal for LAN Network Installation for a Small Enterprise with Open-Source Security

F. RauB.Eng. in Electrical Engineering (Electronics & Telecom), Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), 2009

Design of a LAN network installation project for a small enterprise incorporating open-source security solutions. Covers network architecture design, hardware selection, IP addressing, and access control policies using open-source firewall and intrusion detection tools.

Projects

Research projects and contributions.

📡
Active

OWIN6G — MAC Scheduling for Ultra-Dense 802.11 Networks

Marie Skłodowska-Curie project (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01). Research on efficient MAC scheduling algorithms for ultra-dense wireless sensor networks based on 802.11 standards in 6G scenarios.

6G802.11MACOWIN6G
🔈
Completed

Embedded Traffic Classifier on SoC

Real-time network traffic classifier deployed on embedded SoC hardware using a dedicated deep learning processor unit. Developed during visiting research at DSDC Group, Valencia. Presented at SoftCOM 2025.

Embedded MLSoCDL Accelerator
Completed

ML for Energy Efficiency in ISP Networks

Systematic comparison of RNN, LSTM, GRU, and OS-ELM for traffic prediction in Internet Service Provider networks. Applied to real Chilean ISP data, achieving potential daily energy savings of 12.2%. Published in Sensors, 2023.

OS-ELMLSTMEnergyISP

Curriculum Vitae

🎓 Education

2024 – Present
Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering
Universitat de València, Spain
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow (OWIN6G). Focus: MAC scheduling for ultra-dense 802.11 networks.
2021 – 2023
M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)
1st Place, 2023 Graduating Class
2017
Solar Energy Diploma Program
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile — School of Engineering
2013 – 2017
B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM)
Top 10, 2017 Promotion
2005 – 2009
B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering (Electronics & Telecom)
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)
1st Place, 2009 Graduating Class

🔬 Academic Experience

Mar 2024 – Present
Doctoral Researcher — OWIN6G
MaxLinear Hispania S.L. / Universitat de València, Spain
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01.
Feb – Mar 2025
Visiting Researcher
Instituto de Telecomunicações, Aveiro, Portugal
Traffic classification using incremental learning.
Oct – Dec 2024
Visiting Researcher
DSDC Group, Valencia, Spain
AI-driven embedded systems for real-time data processing and hardware acceleration.
2021 – 2023
Researcher
CIMTT, Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Traffic prediction, neural networks, and ML for telecom operators.
2018
Engineering Lecturer
Duoc UC, Santiago, Chile
Applied Physics, Industrial Automation, Human Resources Management.

💼 Professional Experience

Mar 2024 – Present
PhD Researcher
MaxLinear, Inc., Valencia, Spain
PhD Researcher focusing on studying efficient MAC scheduling for ultra-dense wireless sensor networks based on 802.11 standards.
Jul 2015 – Mar 2024
Senior Project Manager — Services & Networks
Entel S.A., Santiago, Chile
PM for Core Data, Core Voice, and Packet Core. Delivered 5G NSA, SDN, MPLS/IP Core expansion, CDN for Google, Meta, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon. Vendors: Huawei, Cisco, Ericsson.
Apr 2013 – Jun 2015
Project Manager — Backhaul & Access Network
Entel S.A., Santiago, Chile
PM for FO, MMOO, and satellite access and backhaul for 4G/LTE and corporate clients. Led transport network for Chile's Ministry of Health (<1 year TTM).
Nov 2011 – Oct 2012
FTTH Consultant
Aseta — Asociación de Telecomunicaciones de la Comunidad Andina, Quito, Ecuador
Consultancy for CNT EP (National Telecom Corp). Design and deployment of FTTH/G-PON networks; training and regulatory procedures for copper-to-fiber migration.
Sep 2009 – Nov 2011
Project Engineer
Entel S.A., Santiago, Chile
G-PON, MMOO, and FO projects for 3G/4G network growth. Technical Leader of the G-PON Commercial Project (FTTB): first in LATAM, ~1000 buildings in <1 year.
Mar – Sep 2009
Satellite Station Engineer
Tu Ves S.A., Curacaví, Chile
Operation of Satellite Digital TV System (HeadEnd & UpLink); maintenance, fault detection, and control of reception, encryption, encoding, and satellite transmission systems.

🏆 Awards & Recognitions

2024
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow
European Commission — HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01
2023
1st Place — M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering
USACH, 2023 Graduating Class
2017
Top 10 — Industrial Engineering Graduates
UTFSM, 2017 Promotion
2009
1st Place — B.Eng. Electrical Engineering
USACH, 2009 Graduating Class
2004
1st Place — High School Diploma

📋 Certifications & Training

2025
Research Colloquium NextGCom2025
Greece, October 2025
2025
The Double Nature of ML/AI in Cybersecurity
Albania, June 2025
2021
Innovation Management Certified Professional (IMCP)
2020
Project Management Professional (PMP)® #2746245
PMI, January 2020
2020
Scrum Foundation Professional Certified (SFPC) #42152609

🔧 Skills

Programming
PythonMATLABC++
ML / DL Frameworks
TensorFlowKerasScikit-learnPandas
Platforms & Tools
LinuxArduinoRaspberry PiNS-3 Simulator
Languages
Spanish (native)English (professional)

Contact

Open to collaborations, discussions, and academic inquiries.

“Science is but a perversion of itself unless it has as its ultimate goal the betterment of humanity.” — Nikola Tesla