2021 Conference Agenda

• Assessing the importance of open networking for the future of communications service providers
• O-RAN: accelerating the transition towards open and interoperable networks
• Running and maintaining the O-RAN: What are the economic benefits (OPEX) for adopting new Open RAN models – do the opex efficiencies truly deliver?
• Intelligent RAN: AI and automation in the O-RAN – what role do they play?
• How O-RAN and existing RAN co-exist: assessing the challenges for automation
• Managing the vendor ecosystem and assessing the role of AI/ML: Accountability issues with end-to-end network performance
• Integration and interoperability challenges: the role of the system integrators in the automation strategy

• Assessing the business models and the role of automation
• Are networks and IT systems able to open to APIs & what about the legacy?
• Telco as a service: achieving scalability, efficiency and control
• Ecosystem models: co-creating and collaborating to drive value

• Transformation to be a digital service provider: keys to success
• Navigating the operational complexity and challenges with 5G
• Integrating AI and Automation into the DNA of the business: people, culture, competency
• Ensuring AI & data are at the core of the transformation model
• Identifying the next phase for operating the networks of the future

Moderator:

• Positioning AI and data at the heart of the innovation model: smarter networks, greater operating efficiency and reinventing customer experience.
• Establishing the right capabilities – human + AI model
• Creating the right environment to integrate AI into the DNA
• Using AI to bring value to every phase of the network lifecycle from planning and design to smart maintenance and security
• Operational AI – moving from concept to implementation: keys to success
• Strategic partnerships – the role of cloud hyperscalers
• Lessons learnt and next steps

• Moving from a telco cloud native to an autonomous network – how do we get there?
• How do we bring this to the next level & where do we focus?
• Defining the role of AI/ML: what is the vision?
• Assessing the challenges to operate and maintain
• The impact of the radical shift in network architecture

Moderator:

• Open & programmable networks to deliver on-demand sliced based services to the customer: establishing the framework
• Operational transformation: accelerating the adoption of automation and AI
• Enabling agility with a DevOps-oriented culture: new skills and shifting the mindset
• The role of the vendor and assessing TCO
• Maintaining the network while we transform: keys to success

• Defining the roadmap for operational transformation
• In the promised future 5G and ‘sliceable’ networks, what should network operations look like?
• What is the optimum organisational model and where does accountability for AI/Automation activities sit within a modern Telco?
• Embracing openness and promoting open platforms where APIs and data is accessible by multiple processes
• Moving towards scalable & cloud native network services delivery

Moderator:

• New customers & new opportunities: realising the promise of 5G, IoT, EDGE & ML/AI with autonomous networks - models for success & use cases
• Collaboration, Co-opetition & Co-creation: Accelerating innovation: Developing a new ecosystem engagement model
• Assessing the role of the vendor, operator and hyperscaler in a world of open networking
• Addressing the heterogeneous network: The evolution of legacy to autonomous networking

Moderator:

• Assessing the changing customer expectations: lessons learnt
• Forging a path to create one of the world’s most adaptive and self-optimising networks
• Accelerating new service introduction and delivery: transforming the transport network with end-to-end service automation deployment
• Integrating with existing OSS inventory and automation systems to execute closed loop automation

Interviewer: