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

Moderator:

• Assessing the business models and the role of automation
• Are networks and IT systems able to open to APIs and 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 and 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 and 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 and programmable networks to deliver on-demand sliced based services to the customer: Establishing the framework
• Moving towards zero downtime in the network: What is the roadmap?
• The role of the vendor and assessing TCO
• Enabling agility with a DevOps-oriented culture: New skills and shifting the mindset
• Maintaining the network while we transform: Keys to success
• Operational transformation: Accelerating the adoption of automation and AI

• 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 and cloud native network services delivery

Moderator:

• New challenges and opportunities: How to deliver the promise of the Zero-X experience to the customer and improve operational efficiency?
• The creative tri-unity system introduced: How China Unicom introduced Autonomous Networks?
• The practice of Network AI & automation: What is the outcome in 2020? How did they archive it?

• Business is the key driver of Autonomous Networks (AN). How we should leverage the AN to facilitate the business's closed-loop?
• Operation automation is the key focus for CSPs. How operational knowledge can empower intelligent operation of networks?
• The future of networks is autonomy, but how can we cooperate to speed up network autonomy?

• New customers and new opportunities: Realising the promise of 5G, IoT, EDGE & ML/AI with autonomous networks - models for success and 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:

• Network Transformation and the journey to autonomous networks
• The 5G opportunity and moving everything to the Edge
• Open networking and the Rakuten vision
• How does Rakuten mobile fit into the overall strategy of the business?