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It’s amazing how much technology plays a part in our day-to-day lives. Whether it be using a navigation tool to speed up your commute or improving efficiencies in the office to immersing yourself in the likes of AR for entertainment, it’s safe to say technology plays a part in every element of work and play.
And with AI chatbots, ChatGPT and advancements in 5G just a few of the mobile technology trends taking the world by storm in 2023 so far, what has got to take a step back to make room for these new – and, ultimately, more efficient – technologies?
When it comes to revolutionising the tech we already use, there are no boundaries to how its power may or can be harnessed in the near future.
Although I have been in post since April, this is my first magazine as editor. I hope you enjoy reading this edition as much as I did overseeing it being put together.
MAYA DERRICK maya.derrick @bizclikmedia.com
“ When it comes to revolutionising the tech we already use, there are no boundaries to how its power may or can be harnessed in the near future”
014 BIG PICTURE Epic moments from Samsung on one of Europe’s biggest billboards
016 LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT
Kathrin Renz: Vice President at AWS Industries
022 FIVE MINS WITH Evangelia Tzifa: Head of Networks Pre Sales UK & Ireland at Ericsson
014
016
022
Image: Samsung
Samsung used an oldfashioned photo booth fitted with their new camera technology to demonstrate their 200MP image sensor fitted to the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Images captured were showcased on the billboard in London’s Piccadilly Circus.
Ran Chae of Global Marcom team at Samsung Electronics’
Device Solutions Division explained: “We took the 200MP photos captured in the booth and posted them up on London’s enormous Piccadilly Circus billboard that reaches nearly 700 inches in height, and then zoomed in about 8.5x to show that the photo quality in every pixel remains true to life even when dramatically zoomed in.”
Kathrin Renz is Vice President at Amazon Web Services (AWS), having joined the company in July 2020. And, with a stellar career spanning more than 20 years in senior leadership positions across the mobile industry, here’s a deep-dive into how Renz reached the dizzying heights at the top of the mobile game.
Starting off with a year in a Business Analyst role at EADS Aerospace and Defense in 1999, Renz obtained both a diploma’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Cooperative Education (Berufsakademie Stuttgart), Germany and a bachelor’s degree with honours in Business Administration from the Open University London. This was all while she kicked off her seven-year career at multinational industrial manufacturing conglomerate Siemens,
where she started as a Business Process Manager in ecommerce, before moving to head up Mergers and Acquisitions in Florida two years later, before heading back to Munich another two years later as Head of Performance Controlling International Businesses. After a further two years in that position, Kathrin’s Siemens journey rounded off in Milan, Italy where she became General Manager of Corporate Audit.
Moving on up Renz’s career next took her to Nokia, where, over her 13-year tenure, she rose from Managing Director of Integrations at Nokia Siemens Networks in both Munich and Helsinki to eventually become a member of the Nokia Group Leadership Team as Chief Strategy Officer
– where she led the company’s corporate and business development efforts, including Nokia’s €15.6 billion (US$16.9bn) acquisition of AlcatelLucent – and eventually to President of Nokia Enterprise, a role held for 18 months from January 2019. In this role, she was responsible for managing the company’s fastestgrowing business that provides Enterprise Networks and Industrial Automation solutions to customers across various industries in BigTech, Energy, Transportation, Manufacturing and Public Sector.
Back in 2014, during her time as VP of Corporate Strategy, Renz characterised herself as “a cosmopolitan person and an international citizen” and said in a magazine interview: “I am passionate
“
There are only two things that can limit us: our imagination and complacency”
about creating value, generating growth, and expanding into technologies that have a positive impact on people’s lives.
“I often say, whether I’m speaking to my own team or in employee town hall meetings, that there are only two things that can limit us: our imagination and complacency.”
A self-proclaimed customer-obsessed person, Renz is an engineer at heart and by trade, using her skills to fuel her passion for solving customer problems and addressing industry specific needs, supporting transformation and, in turn,
helping customers save money, invent more quickly, and transition to the cloud.
With more than 20 years of international management experience, Renz now heads up AWS’ Industries business which includes Financial Services, Healthcare, Energy, Automotive & Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment, & Sports as well as Strategic Accounts and Business Development. During her tenure, AWS’ growth has boomed, with the company working with
Pfizer to accelerate drug development and clinical manufacturing, collaborating with Meta, and introducing new sales of private wireless 5G services, announced in 2021.
And, looking forward to a successful – and more sustainable – future, in March of this year, AWS was recognised as one of three of Schneider Electric’s partners that exhibit superior sustainability leadership in decarbonising their operations, alongside Hewlett Packard Enterprise and KB Home.
“AWS is committed to making the cloud the
KATHRIN RENZ
TITLE: VICE PRESIDENT, AWS INDUSTRIES
COMPANY: AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AWS)
INDUSTRY: STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
LOCATION: GERMANY
Kathrin Renz is the Vice President of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Industries, a position held since July 2020. Prior to her role at AWS, she held a number of high-level positions at Nokia and Siemens, with a career spanning more than two decades. Renz has made the Global Telecoms Business 50 Most Powerful Women and Top 10 Tech Leaders lists during her career,
a testament to her success as a leader of the telco industry. One of the top women in the telecommunications industry, Renz now focuses on Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Industries – Financial Services, Healthcare, Energy, Automotive, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment, Sports – and AWS Business Development.
cleanest way to run our customers’ infrastructure and business,” Renz said.
“This starts with Amazon’s goal to reach net-zero carbon across our business by 2040 as part of The Climate Pledge –10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
“We are pleased to be recognised with the Sustainability Impact
“ I am passionate about creating value, generating growth, and expanding into technologies that have a positive impact on people’s lives”
Award and look forward to continuing to innovate together to build sustainable solutions for our customers and the planet.”
One to watch
Despite a smaller presence on social media than one would expect, Renz is at the pinnacle of the industry game – telco royalty, if you will. And her impact hasn’t gone unrecognised, either. Among her many accolades, Renz has been listed as one of the Global Telecoms Business 50
WATCH NOW
Most Powerful Women and Top 10 Tech Leaders. And, with an eagerness to see more representation in the industry, Kathrin is passionate about building a team that represents the world around us – one that is diverse and inclusive. She is the Executive Sponsor of Women of AWS Industries, which is a network of customers, partners, and employees joining together to attract, develop, and empower women in technologies like Cloud, Data, and
AI/ML across multiple industry sectors.
Diversity and inclusion is a topic that is near and dear to Kathrin’s heart, and she wants AWS Industries to be a place where her team can be authentic, something she believes should be embraced with pride and conviction.
And with Renz’s career at AWS still in its infancy – compared to the tenure and success of her previous positions –there’s no limit as to what trailblazing milestones she’ll tick off next.
I am an Electrical Engineer with extensive experience in the telecommunications sector and have worked at Ericsson for nearly 23 years. Recently, I relocated from Greece to the UK to lead Networks Solutions and Managed Services for all Ericsson customers in the UK and Ireland. This new role comes at an exciting time, as the UK is experiencing significant progress in 5G deployment. Currently, the UK has reached more than 60% 5G population coverage UK operators are preparing to switch on 5G standalone within 2023, which will further improve the 5G user experience and enable the most innovative 5G use cases.
I hold a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). While studying there, I was one of only 15 female engineers in my class. As a result, promoting diversity in STEM and the telecom industry is a cause that is close to my heart.
After completing my PhD, I engaged in postdoctoral activities and research at NTUA until July 2000, when I joined Ericsson in Athens, Greece.
I believe that connecting universities with the private sector and industries is vital for our society’s growth. One brilliant example is our 6G R&D program in the UK in partnership with researchers, academics, and operators to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
During my two decades at Ericsson, I’ve had the privilege of working in various roles and leading brilliant teams from different countries and cultures. And now, as I embark on this exciting new chapter in the UK, I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.
I had a real passion for maths and science from a young age, but it was my experience of a major earthquake in Athens in 1999 that sparked my respect for the critical role
of communications in society. It was crucial in reconnecting loved ones, keeping people safe and rebuilding our communities.
Telecommunications has the power to bring people together, keep them safe, revolutionise the way they work, and create new opportunities. And we’ve already demonstrated the potential of 5G to stimulate economic growth, transform industries and contribute to sustainability efforts. In fact, research shows that new use cases enabled by 5G´s unique capabilities could deliver additional economic growth of £15bn in the UK. We, as telecoms industry professionals, carry a great responsibility to ensure that connectivity is accessible to all. Part of my new role will be working with customers to accelerate 5G in the UK to transform our everyday lives.
“Promoting diversity in STEM and the telecom industry is a cause that is close to my heart”
Ericsson building
Ericsson was founded in 1876 and now employs 105K people worldwide with 15K in their home country of Sweden.
5G, the fastest-growing technology to date, has primarily been focused on consumer use and concentrated in urban areas. For the next stage
of 5G deployment, the challenge lies in driving broader 5G adoption across various industries and enterprises. To accomplish this, we must embrace the unique capabilities of 5G, such as network slicing and private networks, to industry stakeholders.
The good news is that we have already collaborated closely with UK operators and businesses to showcase the exciting advantages of 5G. The Green Planet experience in London last year, in partnership with EE, demonstrated how 5G-powered AR could
create immersive learning experiences. We’ve also worked with industry partners like Ford and Belfast Harbour to exhibit the advantages of 5G in complex environments like ports and factories. Regarding my role as a manager, creating an open and empowering environment is fundamental. It is through this inclusive approach that we can foster fresh thinking and enthusiasm when engaging with customers to explore new possibilities and new business potential for 5G.
In the next 12 months, 5G standalone will be spotlighted in the UK. With this transition underway, my focus will be to enhance collaboration with UK customers to advance network evolution and realise 5G monetisation.
Other priorities include boosting 5G capacity through mid-band (TDD) densification since many sites still need to be upgraded to 5G mid-band. In addition, improving network performance in indoor environments is a priority and presents vast potential for 5G use cases.
Sustainability is also a core focus for me. Our 5G portfolio is 10 times more energy efficient per transferred data than 4G, and we have already observed significant results with our lightweight antenna-integrated radio (AIR 3268), achieving up to a 40 per cent reduction in energy consumption for BT/EE.
I am truly excited about the future and committed towards a strong and successful partnership with our valued customers.
“Telecommunications has the power to bring people together, keep them safe, revolutionise the way they work, and create new opportunities”
WRITTEN BY: HELEN ADAMS
PRODUCED BY: MICHAEL BANYARD
When Anna Maria Blengino was appointed at Sunrise, she requested some posters for the office and invited the entire CIO team to bring in their own paintings and photographic art for the walls.
“You cannot imagine how many came with their pictures,” Blengino says.
So many wanted to offer their art that they ran out of wall-space. Now Blengino has a long waiting list and every second month the art is replaced - except for December, which is a month reserved for the art made by the children of CIO employees.
“It’s a surprise to see that these technical people have a creative side!”
Now working in Switzerland, Blengino was born in Italy.
“As a child I followed my curiosity to take things apart and put them back together,” she says. “I was inspired by my father and by my mathematics and physics teachers, I fell in love with technology.”
She graduated with a geotechnical engineering degree at the Turin Polytechnic and began work in the construction industry. At the end of the 1990s telecommunication was on the rise and captured her interest.
“I started my new career from the bottom and continuously used my curiosity to explore the different options, moving up from hands-on Software Testing to Director positions, in IT Operation and IT Delivery.”
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Riki Efraim-Lederman and Oleg Volpin explain how Amdocs’ comprehensive Kenan system is enabling Sunrise to provide a flawless service to the end customer
The successful business relationship between Sunrise and Amdocs stretches back several years, thanks in large part to the excellent Kenan billing system, on top of the core CRM and Service Inventory platforms, provided by the latter.
When Sunrise recognised the need to upgrade its billing capabilities, the Swiss firm knew it could call upon a tried and trusted partner.
Riki Efraim-Lederman, Division Manager at Amdocs, explains: “Kenan is a really powerful engine that can monetise any product or business process for any customer. It can be deployed on-prem or on any cloud with open architecture, standard APIs and pre-built integration, to dozens of systems.”
Sunrise uses Amdocs products in the vast majority of its features, resulting in absolute alignment between business processes and technical solutions. Kenan, it must be emphasised, is more than simply a billing system. It provides a whole range of services, including the capability to place new orders and provide new products to customers.
Amdocs’ upgrade of Kenan for Sunrise was a smooth process from planning and execution through to post-production.
Oleg Volpin, Division President Europe and Telefonica Global at Amdocs, says:
“You can think of the billing system as the heart; when the heart is functioning, we are healthy people. When the billing system is functioning, the operation of the telecommunications provider is smooth. Kenan is the heart and is allowing Sunrise to operate flawlessly.”
Fruitful partnership set to continue Efraim-Lederman and Volpin are confident the bond between Amdocs and Sunrise will remain strong for many years to come.
“If you think about a telecommunication and media provider,” adds Volpin, “you need to do a few things: allow your customers to buy new products; address questions or issues that your customer has; and generate money by charging customers for services. These are the three key services Amdocs provides for Sunrise.”
“After the merger between Sunrise and UPC, where I acted as the IT stream lead, I became responsible for IT Strategy & Innovation. Just recently I have been appointed as Sunrise CIO.” This was a new challenge for Blengino, who was honoured and excited to take on the role. She is wellsupported by Sunrise’s IT team and has been welcomed by the Executive Committee. The role of a CIO requires a strategic and holistic
ANNA MARIA BLENGINO CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, SUNRISE
“This role needs a balance between technical expertise and strong leadership skills”
approach to technology, including all aspects of the organisation.
“I believe that this role needs a balance between technical expertise and strong leadership skills. It is important to understand the technology landscape and how it can drive business value. At the same time, it is crucial to communicate effectively with stakeholders across the organisation, building strong relationships with business and aligning technology initiatives with the overall goals of the company.”
Blengino is also focused on creating a culture of innovation and collaboration within the IT unit, believing that by creating
TITLE: CIO
COMPANY: SUNRISE
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: SWITZERLAND
Anna Maria Blengino has been Chief Information Officer of Sunrise since April 1, 2023.
After rejoining Sunrise in 2017 as Director of Platform Delivery, Anna Maria acted as the IT stream lead during the merger between Sunrise and UPC, and then became responsible for IT Strategy & Innovation.
From 2013 she spent four years at UBS, responsible for global worldwide automation shared services.
Anna Maria has over 25 years’ experience in the information technology industry. After her start in a telco-software company, she joined Sunrise in 2005 with responsibility for test management and IT application support.
Anna Maria has a master’s degree in Engineering from Turin Polytechnic and INSEAD Executive Leadership Business Administration and Management certification.
Qinshift, the product of several years of hard work and strategic acquisitions, is a new “family” of six companies across the technology industry
Following a series of strategic acquisitions in the technology space, part of Aricoma Group has revealed its new name: Qinshift.
This “family” of six companies has been assembled to create one of the largest custom software development firms in Europe.
“Qin, to us, means family,” says Ludovic Gaude, CEO of Qinshift. “Shift means to embrace digital transformation and change. Together, we are here to support clients in their transformation journeys.”
An important member of the Qinshift family is Seavus, a tech firm whose main clients fall within the telecommunications sector. The business employs
1,300 software engineers with know-how in quality assurance, custom software development, application maintenance and much more.
One of those key clients is Sunrise, with whom Seavus has been working for almost 15 years.
Kocha Boshku, CEO of Seavus, explains: “Sunrise had a tough nut to crack because it was necessary, in a short time frame, to do a full migration of BSS data into their Enterprise Data Warehouse. We were one of the few companies able to do that due to our niche expertise in the Telco segment, especially in the billing systems domain and its associated data.”
Seavus has delivered a host of benefits to Sunrise, including an unblemished record when
it comes to SOA breaches and 30% cost reduction.
He adds: “Every day, there are other small things going on like data warehouse and CRM ticket resolution; we are three times faster in that domain over the last year.”
Looking ahead, Boshku believes the future of telco is all about optimisation and says customer experience is where Seavus will continue to add the most value.
“Due to the breadth of our offering and exposure to other industries, we can benefit multiple clients,” he concludes. “We are talking about AI optimisation, IoT, data monetisation – all things in which we have deep expertise.”
an environment which encourages creativity and experimentation, Sunrise can drive technological advancements that will benefit the organisation as a whole and continue to attract talented professionals.
“I am a proud mother of a girl and a boy, who despite having had a busy mother in STEM, probably did not perceive it as such a bad experience, because both have decided to study engineering too!
My mantra is: keep moving and stay on top of changes.”
“My mantra is: keep moving and stay on top of changes”
ANNA MARIA BLENGINO CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, SUNRISESunrise
Monetising APIs involves charging other businesses or developers for accessing APIs and using them in their applications. This can be done through a variety of business models. At Sunrise, the key is to provide value to customers and ensure that their APIs are easy to use, reliable and secure.
“When it comes to 5G, there are several monetisation opportunities,” says Blengino. “On top of offering our businesses the ability to use our outstanding 5G network to provide faster and more reliable connectivity to their customers, we can also add to our portfolio value-added services such as analytics and security solutions to help businesses optimise their operations and improve their bottom line.
“In addition, we can explore new business models such as revenue-sharing partnerships with businesses that use our 5G network to deliver services to their customers. For example building Mobile Private Networks. MPNs are private, selfcontained local mobile networks that operate independently of public networks and cover specific locations; a solution for all industries 4.0, such as eHealth or SmartCities, SmartFactories, where business-critical and mission-critical applications are used.”
In April this year, Sunrise became the first mobile network operator in Switzerland to introduce a dedicated Mobile Private Network 5G solution for its business customers. Monetising APIs and 5G requires a deep understanding of customers’ needs
Sunrise provides mobile, TV and landline phone and internet services to consumers and businesses across Switzerland. After merging with UPC in 2020, the new business needed to integrate both its portfolios into one new proposition, and launch new services.
Integrating two separate technology stacks into one was a big challenge, with Sunrise needing to reduce dependency on legacy systems and streamline operations.
Sunrise tasked ZIRA with implementing a holistic new Customer Order Management system to pave the way for new digital services, including HFC, XGS PON, and OTT media services.
ZIRA was able to apply its specialized Customer Order Management solution across both the UPC and Sunrise stacks. Thanks to the solution’s open architecture, the ZIRA team managed the deployment from end to end, orchestrating new flows that allowed Sunrise to roll out the services to all consumers within a matter of months.
Since then, Sunrise has been able to quickly introduce new services like XGS PON and HFC while decommissioning legacy processes, never falling behind the roadmap’s tight timeline.
ZIRA’s flexible, modular solutions work alongside legacy systems, so Sunrise has been able to fulfil their roadmap effectively.
Lejla Pljevljak-Rašidagić Chief Product Officer at ZIRA.“The telecoms industry is changing fast, and it’s our job to ensure Sunrise can quickly react to new opportunities and adapt to new requirements.”
ZIRA delivers digital BSS solutions that streamline the entire order management process for telecoms companies. Over its 25-year heritage, the company has built a strong reputation as niche player for its unified, modular capabilities, fast implementation, and seamless integration.
21% 21% of CIO staff members are women 24% 24% of CIO managers are women 32 CIO staff counts 32 different nationalities
and a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions.
“My objective is to ensure that our organisation stays ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving landscape. We at Sunrise understand the future of these services, especially in the B2B sector, and are preparing the technical enablers to support the commercial demand, in a secure, protected and compliant way.”
Blengino believes that delivering a business roadmap and transformation that is ‘Fit for Future’ while ensuring operational stability, can be a challenging task. This requires a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of the transformation, from technology and infrastructure to people and processes. There are several key steps that organisations can take to achieve this goal.
Start by creating a clear and comprehensive roadmap that outlines goals, objectives and timelines for the transformation. This roadmap should be aligned with the overall business strategy and should be communicated clearly to all stakeholders.
Prioritise the initiatives that will have the most significant impact on the business and focus on delivering those first. This will help ensure that the most critical changes are made while minimising disruption to the business.
Identify and manage the risks associated with the transformation. This includes both technical and operational risks. Ensure that there are contingency plans in place in case of unexpected issues.
Does fine art have deeper meaning? Can an artists’ community make sense of the real world? Do brush strokes on a canvas help unravel communication in the Swiss Alps?
Welcome to Sunrise, Switzerland’s largest private telecom network, offering mobile, Internet, TV and fixed network services. When Sunrise appointed Anna Maria Blengino as CIO, she started with a flourish: on Day 1, she put art crafted by IT employees on the walls of her office.
Anna Maria, a native of Italy, grew up amid Renaissance art, history and literature, museums all over her country. She encouraged her team to bring their art to office. Soon enough, the office was converted into an art gallery with indigenous art. The campaign was a huge success. Artworks were replaced every alternate month, with December dedicated for drawings of children.
This creative facet enabled Sunrise, under the stewardship of Anna Maria, to identify 5G use cases, specifically monetisation opportunities via application programming interfaces (APIs).
According to Anna Maria, Sunrise took this leap of faith, because “5G provides customers with reliable, lightning-fast connectivity, and on top of it, we offer value-added services such as analytics and security solutions to help businesses improve their bottom line”.
Infosys is proud of the partnership with Sunrise: a Swiss pioneer of telecom services and a global digital consulting services provider jointly developed customer-centric solutions to attract and retain digital consumers.
As part of the digital transformation, Infosys conducted design thinking workshops at Sunrise to address dynamics of the business. With the support of Infosys, Sunrise implemented a platform to help subscribers seamlessly register for new services and offers, rolled out a customised tariff plan, and adopted microservices and automation for near zero-touch migration across subsidiary brands.
The Sunrise-Infosys partnership has grown from strength to strength. Driven by sustainability and diversity, this collaboration is set to shape the digital agenda.
Anna Maria believes that maintaining consistency in the quality of service is possible with a team of professionals who always think out-of-the-box. She takes pride in her team’s diversity and believes “innovation is a journey of diverse viewpoints and perspectives”. Today, the Sunrise CIO office is a shining example of diversity with a workforce from 32 nationalities, and women making up 21% of the staff and 24% of managers. Infosys shares this ethos, employing a workforce of 161 nationalities across 66 countries, with 39.4% women.
Infosys joined hands with Liberty Global to support Street Child, a charity providing children across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe with education opportunities (Sunrise is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Global). Infosys established a digital footprint for Street Child to create awareness about the cause as well as provide tools for donors to follow outcomes of ongoing projects.
“Sunrise has pivoted deeply to digital technology to better serve hyper-connected customers. In this journey, we appreciate the role of Infosys to implement key digital programmes as part of a broader digital transformation at Sunrise.”
“The telecom landscape is being disrupted by next-generation digital technology. For a decade, Sunrise has been an early adopter of new and emerging technologies. Infosys is proud to partner with Sunrise in its mission to become the preferred digital services provider.”
Engage all stakeholders, including employees, customers and partners, throughout the transformation process. This will help to build support and buy-in for the changes and ensure that everyone is aligned around the vision for the future.
Invest in the technology and infrastructure needed to support the transformation. This may include upgrading legacy systems, implementing new software solutions, or improving data analytics capabilities.
ANNA MARIA BLENGINO CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, SUNRISE
“It is crucial to communicate effectively with stakeholders across the organisation, building strong relationships with business and aligning technology initiatives with the overall goals of the company”
As the dawn breaks on emerging 5G-Advanced networks, Teradata is helping telcos monetize such innovations, as well as their existing business.
Our multi-cloud AI and analytics ecosystem analyzes all your existing data, empowers every part of your organization, and uncovers deep, 360-degree customer insights to create new revenue streams.
Sunrise’s business is powered by Teradata, and we‘re proud to be working with them.
Learn more >
Develop a comprehensive change management plan that includes communication, training and support for employees. This will help ensure that everyone is prepared for the changes and understands how to adapt to new processes and systems.
Monitor progress and adjust the roadmap as needed. Regularly assess the impact of the transformation on the business and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it remains on track.
Like most technology companies, Sunrise relies on external services when it comes to the implementation and operation of IT solutions that require skills, agility and scalability to support the business.
“Since the new organisation is in place, our strategy with suppliers of professional services has been to progressively move from a Vendor to a Partner relationship,” says Blengino.
To bridge that gap Sunrise plans to:
• Consolidate the ecosystem of traditional Partners operating from on-site, nearshore and off-shore
• Build a solid foundation of trust with the preferred Partners, also based on joint investments on strategic and innovative areas
• Extend the Partner relationship to new players like the Cloud Providers
Sunrise are transforming the telecommunications landscape using Pega (CDH) and BPM, in their groundbreaking strategy, building tomorrow’s connections today.
Sunrise are part of the Liberty Global Group - learn from their insights on how you could break down barriers in your organisation and empower employees to deliver unparalleled customer experiences
• Move from classic T&M agreements to value based, KPI-driven engagements also opened to value share propositions.
“We can count on extremely solid partnerships with software providers and system integrators,” says Blengino. “We work very closely with Infosys, Seavus and Accenture to run our transformation projects on our key platforms. The backbone of our architecture is the Amdocs BSS (CRM, Billing, and Inventory). We decided to adopt it as our strategic target as it provides full FMC capabilities, and we serve both B2C and B2B markets with a single stack. CRM10 and Kenan Billing are fully integrated. Network Inventory has been consolidated for the two original companies into the target Cramer platform. Pega omnichannel serves as an orchestrator layer to the various front ends.
“Nokia played a pivotal role in driving the automation and optimization of Sunrise’s B2B operations.
By leveraging Nokia’s Open API catalogue-driven fulfilment solution, Sunrise empowered itself to seamlessly integrate and thrive in the expanding digital ecosystem.
“The order and service management are dealt in an integrated COM/SOM provided by Zira and Nokia, which also hosts the real time charging. Our strategy around the e-commerce platform leverages SAP Hybris to deliver an engaging and omnichannel e-commerce experience for our customers.
“Furthermore, the availability of a proven accelerator for the Telco market (TUA),
“It is important to understand the technology landscape and how it can drive business value”
ANNA MARIA BLENGINO CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, SUNRISE
allowed for a fast onboarding of industry specific items like the commercial product catalogue. Ours is a data driven architecture, where one of main roles is played by Teradata and GCP platforms. All our employees collaborate by profiting from a modern digital workplace concept, based on Microsoft suite.”
Sunrise also collaborates with Microsoft to exploit the new frontiers of OpenAI.
“Last but not least the simplification of the financial processes has been completed by converging our ERP to the most modern SAP solutions.”
Over the next 12 months at Sunrise, Blengino’s team will undoubtedly keep creating office art to make their workspace a little brighter. But there is a lot of work ahead.
“We will continue to deliver a roadmap (IT and BUZ) with stable operations and accelerate the technical enablers for the agile transformation,” says Blengino. “We will optimise the engagement and partnerships with our vendors, spread the Sunrise values and leadership principles to the new team.”
Fit for the future is not only limited to the upcoming technologies, but also to new skills and competences. Sunrise will need to identify the future needs and map with the as-is capabilities, identify the gaps (in terms of skills and age of retirement) and set up an upskilling programme, together with a recruitment approach that attracts young talent and embraces diversity.
“We’ll be working with graduates and apprenticeship programmes, partnerships at universities and hackathons,” says Blengino. “At Sunrise, we will keep dreaming big and doing big, supported by a fabulous team!”
With the shutdown of 2G & 3G well-underway in the west, Mobile Magazine looks to the future at how other global powers will meet goals in the next decade
WRITTEN BY: SEAN ASHCROFT
Operators across the globe have either already shut down 3G services or are planning to do so in the near future – a process that has been dubbed ‘sunsetting’. As a rule, 3G services are being retired sooner than 2G, which will remain available in many countries – especially in Europe – for some time yet.
2G remains the go-to option for supporting most IoT applications but, eventually, next-gen IoT products will use 4G, 5G and the latest Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies to ensure they remain connected throughout their lifecycle. As for 3G, its days are well and truly numbered. For many years, 3G was a mainstay because of its voice capabilities, a feature 4G struggled with early on. But with 4G now able to handle the majority of voice traffic, 3G has been rendered redundant.
The shutdown has been a long time coming. For some time now, several new technologies co-existed with legacy tech until becoming too problematic for carriers to manage and manufacturers to support. And so, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association, by October 2022, 51 operators had completed the 2G/3G switch-off, 97 were planning to do so and eight were in the progress of doing so.
A full list of who is turning off what, and when, is available here
Following some analysis, it seems the view that individual operators in specific countries have of the switch-off are shaped by the unique circumstances in that country.
In the UK, for example, Vodafone is taking a phased approach to retiring its 3G network. It is beginning the switch off in the south-west city of Plymouth, with Basingstoke in the south-east next in line.
Vodafone UK Chief Network Officer Andrea Donà says: “We will progress with the switch-off across the UK this year. The other operators will have their own 3G network switch-off plant.”
He then goes on to say that Vodafone UK needs to repurpose the 3G spectrum for 4G and 5G technology “so that we can deliver more efficient and effective service to our customer”.
“In 2016, 30% of 3G data traffic was carried, but now it's less than 4%. For most customers, there will be no difference whatsoever. They will be able to continue making and receiving calls and sending text messages on their 2G, 4G and 5G networks.”
Still in the UK, a Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said that it was supporting the British Government's plans to switch off 2G and 3G networks by 2033: “We’ll
TITLE: UK CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER
COMPANY: VODAFONE
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM
An experienced Chief Operating & Networks Officer, Donà has a track record in delivering the success of telecoms market leaders. His career in telecoms spans more than two decades and he has worked for leading operators including TMobile, O2 and Ericsson. Considerable experience in delivering complex large scale network transformation and modernisation projects in very challenging environments. Deep experience in full turn-key managed service contracts, organisational and business transformation turnarounds, including off-shoring and outsourcing. Held a number of Senior roles with T-Mobile and Ericsson over the last 20 years. Significant international exposure across Europe and Africa with proven leadership capabilities.
Andrea Donà“WE EXTENDED OUR SHUTOFF DATE TO CARE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO CUSTOMERS’ SERVICE AS THEY MOVED TO NEWER, MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES”
ANDREA DONÀ CHIEF NETWORK OFFICER, VODAFONE
TITLE: CHIEF NETWORKS OFFICER
COMPANY: BT GROUP (EE)
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM
McCall joined BT in March 2013 having previously held senior roles at Talk Talk and Carphone Warehouse. He led the launch of BT TV, growing it from 300,000 to 1.8 million subscribers in three years. McCall now heads up Network Services, a newly created organisation which brings together the design, delivery, and operations teams across Networks. The organisation has nearly 6,500 colleagues globally with teams leading in areas such as Private Cloud, Mobile and Network Applications and Services.
work closely with industry partners to develop our approach and will provide further details on our plans in due course.”
EE, meanwhile, will phase out 3G services throughout this year, with the network then closing in early 2024. Its 2G services will be switched off later in the decade. Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group – parent company of EE – adds: “This is an exciting opportunity to benefit from all modern mobile networks have to offer: faster mobile internet speeds, improved call reliability, enhanced security, and greater energy-
efficiency. In some cases, customers could also save money on their phone bill by upgrading.
“Both our 2G and 4G networks already cover more than 99% of the UK population, with our 4G or 5G networks giving customers access to a better, more reliable signal. That is why, for the overwhelming majority of customers, this isn’t the loss of a network but an upgrade to a better one.
“3G networks are less sustainable for the planet due to the amount of energy they use, with 3G accounting for up to 35% of the total power used in our mobile network
despite its falling usage. Switching it off will save the equivalent of the energy needed to fully charge 4bn smartphones. In a time when we are all using resources with care, this means we can reuse the 3G spectrum to run mobile networks more than ten times more efficiently on 4G.
“Every technological step change requires a responsible and considered approach to ensure all customers, especially vulnerable ones, understand what is happening, when, and why, as well as have dedicated support available to them to make the transition.”
“FOR THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CUSTOMERS, THIS ISN’T THE LOSS OF A NETWORK BUT AN UPGRADE TO A BETTER ONE”
GREG McCALL CHIEF NETWORKS OFFICER, BT GROUP (EE)
In the US, the situation is far more advanced, with all major 3G networks having shut down in 2022.
According to Verizon’s Global Network & Technology Corporate Communications Officer, Karen Schulz, the company has been actively decommissioning its 3G CDMA network since 2016, shutting down
its 3G network on December 31, 2022 –although Schulz says the company had originally announced it would shut down the network in 2019.
“We extended our shut-off date to the end of 2022 to care for our customers and make every effort to minimise disruption to their service as they moved to newer, more advanced technologies,” Schulz explains.
KAREN SCHULZNATIONAL CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS FOR GLOBAL NETWORK AND TECHNOLOGY, VERIZON
“WE EXTENDED OUR SHUT-OFF DATE TO CARE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AND MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO CUSTOMERS’ SERVICE AS THEY MOVED TO NEWER, MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES”
“That outreach included proactively communicating through billing messages, digital and traditional outreach and even sending some customers updated devices proactively. Our teams remain available to assist any customer needing support.”
US businesses with multinational operations are likely to run into a spread of different sunsetting timelines, specifically
TITLE: GLOBAL NETWORK & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
COMPANY: VERIZON
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: UNITED STATES
Shultz has worked in national corporate communications and public relations for Verizon – the US’ largest wireless carrier – since 2015 and manages national media relations.
Karen Shultz
Internet of Things (IoT) devices rely on cellular networks to connect to the internet and transmit data. There are over 15bn connected IoT devices worldwide, and this number is expected to double by 2030.
Many IoT devices use 3G networks to connect, but as the 3G switch-off takes place, these devices may be cut adrift, which could lead to serious problems for businesses, who rely on IoT devices to monitor and control their operations.
For example, industrial and manufacturing companies might have 3G-connected windmills or turbines that need to be upgraded before the 3G network is switched off in their area. If these devices can no longer connect to the internet, it will result in lost data, decreased efficiency, and increased costs.
Despite the challenges posed by the 3G switch-off, there are also benefits to upgrading to 4G and 5G networks. These networks offer faster speeds and increased capacity, which can improve the performance of IoT devices.
Plus, 4G and 5G networks are better equipped to handle the increasing number of IoT devices that are connecting to the internet, making them a more sustainable solution for the future.
in neighbouring Canada, which is one of the US’ top trading partners. Canada's 3G networks are not due to be shut down until the end of 2025 – an important factor, given that the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) has incentivised US businesses to move assembly and manufacturing operations north of the border in recent years.
In the absence of a single uniform wireless network technology globally, it is likely that US companies looking to develop new products will find costs higher because they need to support all new and legacy wireless solutions.
In Europe, meanwhile, around 19 operators are planning to switch off their 3G network by 2025, with eight operators planning to switch off 2G networks in the same timeframe. June 2021 saw two German operators – Germany Vodafone and Deutsche Telekoms – shutdown their 3G networks, while O2 Telefónica did so in December 2021.
O2 Telefónica now uses the freed-up frequencies once used for 3G for the faster and more efficient 4G standard. This provides its customers with a more powerful network for digital applications, including social media, music and video streaming.
An O2 Telefónica spokesperson said: “The 2G network will remain in place as
the basic network for mobile telephony and SMS. Mobile data usage runs on the faster 4G and 5G mobile standards in the O2 network. In addition, by converting 3G technology to 4G or 5G, we are able to reduce power consumption by up to 90% per transmitted byte.”
O2 Telefónica currently covers almost the total population of Germany with 4G/ LTE and 2G/GSM, as well as more than 82% with 5G. With more than 44 million mobile connections, it connects most people in Germany with mobile communications.
O2 TELEFÓNICA SPOKESPERSON“4G OR 5G, WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE POWER CONSUMPTION BY UP TO 90% PER TRANSMITTED BYTE”
WRITTEN BY: MARCUS LAW
PRODUCED BY: STUART IRVING
Global interest continues to grow regarding Open RAN, which uses open and standardised wireless base-station specifications to enable the devices and systems of multiple telecom vendors to be interconnected in mobile networks.
However, operators constructing networks incorporating devices from just a single vendor are now facing technical and verification challenges in their efforts to implement Open RAN. NTT DOCOMO, as the world’s only company to have constructed networks implemented with multiple vendors since the 4G era, is leveraging its expertise to support the Open RAN efforts of operators worldwide.
Based on the company’s corporate philosophy of ’creating a new world of communications culture’, today DOCOMO is utilising its individual potential to provide
Through its OREX brand, DOCOMO is offering a pre-integrated solution that simplifies integration, interoperability and lifecycle management
Partner with Fujitsu for sustainable, open solutions that will prepare your network for the future. With Fujitsu
Partner with Fujitsu for sustainable, open solutions that will prepare your network for the future. With Fujitsu
Open RAN solutions, you get the network you want.
Open RAN solutions, you get the network you want.
If you want a sustainable network, Open RAN provides greater choice, flexibility, and agility for 5G and beyond. It delivers faster innovation, supply chain security, simplified operations, and a more competitive vendor ecosystem.
If you want a sustainable network, Open RAN provides greater choice, flexibility, and agility for 5G and beyond. It delivers faster innovation, supply chain security, simplified operations, and a more competitive vendor ecosystem.
The Fujitsu Open RAN solution encompasses O-RAN-compliant RUs, vCUDUs, fronthaul and backhaul transport, software, and 5G services. While the Fujitsu Open RAN solution is a best-of-breed technology offering, we are committed to Open RAN and know each network is unique. However you want your network configured, Fujitsu Open RAN helps to speed service introduction and reduce total cost of ownership.
The Fujitsu Open RAN solution encompasses O-RAN-compliant RUs, vCUDUs, fronthaul and backhaul transport, software, and 5G services. While the Fujitsu Open RAN solution is a best-of-breed technology offering, we are committed to Open RAN and know each network is unique. However you want your network configured, Fujitsu Open RAN helps to speed service introduction and reduce total cost of ownership.
At Fujitsu, our purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation, which we are applying to the RAN network. For virtual RAN (vRAN), we plan a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2025 compared to conventional base stations. Our RUs support advanced sleep mode that automatically turns PA (power amplifier) on and off according to the traffic, which ultimately leads to the reduction in power consumption. Since RUs consume particularly large amounts of power within a radio access network, the reduction in power consumption contributes significantly
At Fujitsu, our purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation, which we are applying to the RAN network. For virtual RAN (vRAN), we plan a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2025 compared to conventional base stations. Our RUs support advanced sleep mode that automatically turns PA (power amplifier) on and off according to the traffic, which ultimately leads to the reduction in power consumption. Since RUs consume particularly large amounts of power within a radio access network, the reduction in power consumption contributes significantly
to sustainability transformation. Our Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) uses advanced AI technology that can orchestrate and control Open RAN networks. Applications inside of the SMO perform RU and vCU/DU sleep control depending on traffic and user quality conditions so that they can reduce power consumption, delivering a sustainable transformation for your network.
to sustainability transformation. Our Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) uses advanced AI technology that can orchestrate and control Open RAN networks. Applications inside of the SMO perform RU and vCU/DU sleep control depending on traffic and user quality conditions so that they can reduce power consumption, delivering a sustainable transformation for your network.
We are an active member of IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) Global Forum, which leads the vision of future communications infrastructure based on leading-edge optical technology and information processing technologies to realize a smarter world in open community with industry leaders (or partners).
We are an active member of IOWN (Innovative Optical and Wireless Network) Global Forum, which leads the vision of future communications infrastructure based on leading-edge optical technology and information processing technologies to realize a smarter world in open community with industry leaders (or partners).
Fujitsu Open RAN Systems Integration solutions allow you to create your best open network while we take care of the integration planning and design, the lab deployment and conformance testing, plus network integration and lifecycle management. Fujitsu makes deployment faster and more flexible with capital and operational cost savings. Innovation and new service introductions are quicker, more responsive, and nimbler.
Fujitsu Open RAN Systems Integration solutions allow you to create your best open network while we take care of the integration planning and design, the lab deployment and conformance testing, plus network integration and lifecycle management. Fujitsu makes deployment faster and more flexible with capital and operational cost savings. Innovation and new service introductions are quicker, more responsive, and nimbler.
With our virtual RAN (vRAN) solution, we plan to have a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2025 compared to conventional base stations.The IOWN GLOBAL FORUM mark and IOWN GLOBAL FORUM & Design logo are trademarks of Innovative Optical and Wireless Network Global Forum, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
highly personalised communication solutions that truly satisfy customers.
Earlier in 2023, DOCOMO adopted the OREX (Open RAN Ecosystem Experience) brand to strengthen the support scheme for international telecom operators in delivering the Open RAN system.
“OREX provides the Open RAN solution, creating a new network experience that is truly open to the world,” explains Sadayuki Abeta, NTT DOCOMO’s Global Head of Open RAN Solutions and OREX Evangelist.
“WE OFFER THE OPEN RAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS, INCLUDING PRE-INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS OR PACKAGED SOLUTIONS”
SADAYUKI ABETA GLOBAL HEAD OF OPEN RAN SOLUTIONS/OREX EVANGELIST, NTT DOCOMO
“We closely collaborate with multiple partners across different layers such as software, Communication-as-a-Service (CaaS) or O-cloud, accelerator and server vendors to establish the Open RAN ecosystem while considering commercial operations.
“We offer the Open RAN experience through various means, including pre-integration solutions or packaged solutions,” Abeta adds. “Additionally, we provide a shared open lab where
TITLE: GLOBAL HEAD OF OPEN RAN SOLUTIONS/OREX EVANGELIST
COMPANY: NTT DOCOMO
Sadayuki Abeta is global head of Open RAN solutions and OREX evangelist in NTT DOCOMO for creating Open RAN ecosystem globally, and shaping them to meet customer and service provider needs.
He has been working for research, standardization and development of the UMTS/W-CDMA, HPSA, LTE, LTE-Advanced and 5G. From 2005 to 2009, he was a vice chairman of 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 and rapporteur of LTE and LTE-Advanced. He is an O-RAN executive committee member. From 2018-2022, he was a General Manager of the Radio Access Network Development Department, which is responsible
Wind River, a global leader in intelligent distributed cloud software, is in the vanguard of businesses driving the digital transformation of missioncritical systems.
One of the areas where the company is helping usher customers into a new era is telecommunications.
“We’re constantly strategizing operations for the future,” says Paul Miller, CTO, Wind River.“5G and virtualized radio access networks (vRAN) are laying the groundwork for applications such as autonomous vehicle control, drone control, and software-based factory automation.”
Looking even further ahead, he predicts that service providers will offer “a fully virtualized environment, from core to edge,” adding that this will be automated “and built on cloud-oriented architecture.”
An important area for Wind River in telecom is its work with Open Telco and Open RAN (O-RAN) deployments.
O-RAN is a key enabler for organizations from many sectors to provide a wide array of new services to their customers. It’s an enabler of edge connectivity and the machine economy, and it provides the foundation for use
cases such as autonomous driving, modern energy grids, and robotics.
Wind River is continually innovating and has leveraged its strategic OREX partnership to share these innovations with the ecosystem.
For example, recent projects include a multi-vendor Open vRAN demonstration with OREX members NTT DOCOMO, Fujitsu, and NVIDIA that showed how an Open RAN system can be energy efficient.
But as well as enabling opportunities, new technologies also bring challenges, most of which concern system integration. OREX helps ease these challenges with activities such as the Open RAN verification environment and the work done recently to define new methods for system integration.
“Distributed networks are complex, so Open RAN solutions must mitigate complexity,” says Miller. “Our focus is on providing ease of deployment, increased levels of automation, and operational efficiency so service providers can better support new 5G use cases.”
operators can remotely access our lab from their office to test the virtual RAN solution. We also offer operational systems like SMO, leveraging our expertise and experience.
“OREX is committed to making 2023 the defining year for Open RAN. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate global communication gaps through the OREX initiative.”
NTT DOCOMO is the number one mobile operator in Japan. Having launched its firstgeneration service in 1979, since then the company has pioneered new technologies.
13
“In 1999, we introduced the i-mode service, which was the first mobile internet service, making us an internet service provider,” Abeta explains.
“For both 3G and 4G, we were among the first operators to commercially launch these services. In 2020, we became the first operator to commercially launch 5G services with a fully multi-vendor interoperable Open RAN.”
Today DOCOMO has three business segments: enterprise, smart life and telecommunications. It has 87m subscribers, with 20m subscribers enjoying its 5G Open RAN services, with a total revenue of around US$44bn.
An expert in the mobile industry for more than 25 years, Abeta’s career at NTT DOCOMO started as a researcher for
In 1997 the second-generation mobile system was introduced in Japan. Instead of GSM, Japan utilised the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) system. “During this time, data services over the mobile network were initiated, but the data rate was incredibly low, starting at only 2.4kbps,” Abeta explains. “It’s hard to imagine today, but at that time, only small text messages could be transferred over the mobile network. Eventually, the data rate increased to 28.8kbps.
“In 1999, we launched the i-mode service, marking the beginning of internet services over the mobile network.
Our customers enjoyed web browsing and games on their mobile devices. Non-voice communication services expanded, but customers had to purchase new handsets to access new applications or games since some applications were hard-coded and only available on specific terminals.”
In 2000, 3G was introduced, with DOCOMO playing a significant role in contributing to the 3GPP standard specification work. “We led technical discussions and managed the discussions as one of the officials, serving as the Chair. We were the first operator to deploy 3G networks nationwide and provided rich content via the 3G network. However, the data rate was still limited to 64Kbps or 384kbps. Later, HSPA technology was introduced, enabling much higher throughput.
“Moving forward, we proposed LTE together with our partners and launched 4G services in 2010,” Abeta describes. “Our 4G radio access network (RAN) was fully multi-vendor interoperable. We defined interfaces that were not initially defined by 3GPP, making us the first operator to deploy a multi-vendor interoperable RAN. The rise of smartphones in conjunction with our 4G services revolutionised the user experience and its benefits are well-known.”
While DOCOMO’s communication services continued to thrive, the company also expanded its non-communication services, evolving into the smart-life service segment.
When it comes to the rollout of 5G, DOCOMO has contributed not only to 3GPP but also to the O-RAN alliance to realise multivendor interoperable Open RAN solutions.
“OREX IS AKIN TO A SINGLE VENDOR SOLUTION, OFFERING A PRE-INTEGRATED SOLUTION THAT SIMPLIFIES INTEGRATION, INTEROPERABILITY, AND LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT”
SADAYUKI ABETA
GLOBALHEAD OF OPEN RAN SOLUTIONS/OREX EVANGELIST, NTT DOCOMO
“In 2018, we established the 5G Open Partner Program, aiming to create new services and address social issues by collaborating with vertical players,” Abeta adds. “Currently, this program has attracted participation from 5,300 companies and organisations.”
As Abeta describes, OREX provides an easier solution for Open RAN, allowing the benefits of vendor competition, mitigating supply chain risks and enabling the selection of equipment from around the world.
“Our solution is designed to simplify the process,” he states. “It is akin to a single vendor solution, offering a pre-integrated solution that simplifies integration, interoperability, and lifecycle management.”
In order to implement this solution, there are a number of challenges to overcome. Many operators have conducted
“THROUGH JOINT INNOVATION, WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL VALUE TO OUR CUSTOMERS”
SADAYUKI ABETA GLOBAL HEAD OF OPEN RAN SOLUTIONS/OREX EVANGELIST, NTT DOCOMO
“OREX PROVIDES THE OPEN RAN SOLUTION, CREATING A NEW NETWORK EXPERIENCE THAT IS TRULY OPEN TO THE WORLD”
SADAYUKI ABETA GLOBAL HEAD OF OPEN RAN SOLUTIONS/OREX EVANGELIST, NTT DOCOMONTT DOCOMO Tower, Tokyo IMAGE: GETTY
trials of Open RAN. However, only a few operators have launched commercial Open RAN services.
“How DOCOMO can help in introducing Open RAN to their commercial networks poses a high-level challenge,” explains Abeta. “We need to understand their current network and propose solutions for improving it, adding value to their network while reducing the total cost of ownership.”
Another challenge of 5G deployment is the variation in 5G frequencies and frequency bands across different countries. “Allocating wider bandwidth in each country becomes a complex task due to band allocation issues. Scaling the Remote Unit (RU) also presents a challenge.
“However,” Abeta asserts, “Thanks to the open interface, we can leverage
solutions from any vendor. We are engaged in discussions with multiple RU vendors to address this situation and find suitable solutions.
“Another challenge is the coexistence with existing vendor networks. The current vendors are not fully supportive of interoperability with the OREX solution, which requires time and effort to overcome.”
As part of OREX, DOCOMO is collaborating with 13 global partners to make Open RAN a reality: AMD, DELL, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Mavenir, NEC, NTT DATA, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Red Hat, VMware and Windriver.
“Our focus is on developing vRAN technology,” Abeta explains. “While the ultimate goal is to support full combinations,
Intelligent communications and networks can help deliver on sustainability goals. Through low energy infrastructure, better monitoring, faster responses…
NTT DATA helps telcos slash emissions, while enabling their customers to make a step-change in sustainability.
NTT DATA intelligent networking: helping win the battle for the planet.
completing this task requires a significant amount of time. Currently, we have multiple supported combinations and are actively testing their performance.
“We are also engaged in discussions on how to simplify the life cycle management process. Typically, we upgrade our system every six months. However, when it comes to multi-vendor solutions, we need to consider the update cycles of each vendor’s software or firmware, which can be quite complex. To address this, we have aligned the update cycles to streamline operations and create a unified experience similar to that of a single-vendor solution.
“Furthermore, we collaborate with our customers by jointly visiting them to demonstrate the benefits of our solutions.”
As Abeta describes, these partnerships are of extreme importance. “Our product is a joint product, and our solution is a joint
NEC is committed to the principles of openness because we believe it gives network operators the best chance to capitalise on the enormous promise of 5G and stay a step ahead of the demands of our increasingly connected world.
This commitment means more than simply agreeing upon new technical standards; it means a company-wide understanding that we are open to any business possibility that improves customers' likelihood of success.
solution. Through joint innovation, we can provide additional value to our customers. We maintain regular communication with our partners, engaging in discussions almost every day to foster collaboration and drive the development of our joint initiatives.”
Looking to the future DOCOMO has plans in place across each of its three business areas.
“In the enterprise business segment, we are prioritising expanding services in areas such as car connectivity and smart city solutions,” Abeta explains.
“We work alongside other solutions to provide a comprehensive offering to our enterprise customers.”
Within the smart life business segment, existing areas such as “Finance and Payment” and “Video and Entertainment” will be strengthened, while also venturing into new territories like Utilities, Medical and XR. “Our goal is to create new life values and lifestyles through strategic partnerships, leveraging our membership base, data and seamless integration from services to devices,” Abeta adds.
business area, we strive to expand our customer base by promoting
cross-selling between rate plans and lifestyle-related services that cater to diverse customer needs.
“Additionally, OREX represents our new business area where we provide the Open RAN solution. We offer this solution in combination with value-added 5G services to our customers, working closely with our partners.”
While consumer service remains a top priority, as Abeta describes it is becoming increasingly challenging to identify a groundbreaking application or device similar to the impact of the smartphone in the 4G era. “Nonetheless, we are actively exploring opportunities to introduce devices or applications that can be used both at home and on the go, offering enhanced utility as mobile devices.
“Enterprise service represents a significant focus for us, particularly in
As interest in the metaverse continues to mount, entertainment events – from music to sport – are increasingly taking place in the virtual space
WRITTEN BY: MARCUS LAW
nterest in the metaverse is clearly on the rise. The world’s biggest companies – such as Google, Apple, Meta and Microsoft – have each made significant metaverse investments. Meanwhile, according to McKinsey, 2021 saw internet searches for the metaverse increase by an astonishing 7,200%, with approximately 60% of consumers stating their excitement about the transition of everyday activities, like shopping, dating, and working out, to the metaverse.
2018 film Ready Player One, which envisioned a future where people are connected to – and living in –the metaverse, may have been a work of fiction, but with the concept dominating the technology world’s thoughts last year, could the film’s ‘Oasis’ be closer than we think?
Prompted by COVID-19 and the absence of in-person gigs and concerts, the metaverse has made its presence felt in the music industry too. In April 2020, Epic Games’ battle-royale video game, Fortnite, grabbed the music industry’s attention when a lucrative virtual event starring an avatar of Travis Scott brought in 27.7 million unique players, while a digital gig by Lil Nas X on the Roblox platform attracted an astonishing 33 million viewers. Research conducted by Mastercard last year found that almost a quarter (23%) of people aged 16-24 have
already attended a metaverse gig. A further step into this new domain was the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) debut of a new category for Best Metaverse Performance.
Coined in 1992 by American science-fiction writer Neal Stephenson in his dystopian novel Snow Crash, the metaverse is a fullyrealised digital space existing beyond the physical space in which we live.
“The metaverse is sometimes described as a unified space that combines multiple virtual
“The metaverse is an entertainment experience by itself, providing many opportunities for users to access a variety of events”
STAN SAKHARCHUK CO-FOUNDER & CEO, INTEREXYImage: Travis Scott / YouTube Video: Travis Scott and Fortnite
According to McKinsey, today’s metaverse consists of 10 layers, which fall into four categories: content and experiences; platforms; infrastructure and hardware; and enablers.
Content and experiences
• content – developed by users, creators, and developers –enriches metaverse experiences
• applications tied to specific metaverse use-cases, such as learning or events
• virtual worlds where groups can gather, interact, and create
Platforms
• platforms that facilitate access and discovery of content, experiences, and apps
• platforms designed for creators of 3D experiences
Infrastructure and hardware
• people interface with the metaverse via devices, operating systems (OS), and accessories
• the metaverse is powered with underlying infrastructure such as cloud computing, semiconductors, networks, and more
Enablers
• security, privacy, and governance are critical for the metaverse to function well and fairly
• tools and apps that manage digital identity
• tools to access the metaverse economy via payments and monetisation
worlds into a single, interoperable location that can be easily accessed by many users,” according to Stan Sakharchuk, Co-Founder and CEO of software company Interexy. “The metaverse is an entertainment experience by itself, providing many opportunities for users to interact with virtual items and access a variety of events. The fact that it can help users feel like they are in the physical world and engage with unfamiliar, yet acutely familiar, surroundings is entertaining. That’s why providers and developers should consider these capabilities to deliver content that users value and like.”
In October 2021, Facebook rebranded itself Meta to capitalise on the emerging concept of the metaverse. Since then, from gaming to sports to music, brands like high-fashion giants Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana, alongside the likes of Nike, Adidas and Coca-Cola, have embraced the concept of the metaverse.
According to a report from the Capgemini Research Institute, while meaningful interaction in the metaverse is currently
only possible in relatively small groups, the potential for mass interaction is clear.
While the strongest wave of interest for the metaverse comes from tech enthusiasts, who account for only 4% of Capgemini’s survey population, the research also noted that 93% of adult consumers surveyed are metaverse-curious.
“The way people use the internet is going to change. The metaverse can be understood as a network of different platforms – such as Horizon Workrooms, The Sandbox or Roblox – where we will store, work, communicate, play and educate
“The metaverse can be understood as a network of different platforms where we will store, work, communicate, play and educate ourselves in the future”
MATT REDMAN, SVP STRATEGY FOR EUROPE, VALTECH
Image: Meta Quest / YouTube
Video: Horizon Workrooms - Remote Collaboration
Reimagined
ourselves in the future,” explains Matt Redman, UK Strategy lead at global business transformation company Valtech. “All this is made possible by digital avatars that we can use, enabled by virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, to interact with other users and enjoy immersive experiences.”
By 2026, 25% of people will spend at least one hour a day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social and/or entertainment, according to Gartner, Inc.
“Vendors are already building ways for users to replicate their lives in digital worlds,” said Marty Resnick, Research Vice President at Gartner. “From attending virtual classrooms to buying digital land and constructing virtual homes, certain activities are currently being conducted in separate environments. Eventually, they will take place in a single environment –the metaverse – with multiple destinations across technologies and experiences.”
Last year’s FIFA World Cup could be described as the first Web 3.0 World Cup, with fans in the stadium able to view live information from players’ speed to heatmaps and possession percentage through the FIFA+ app. Meanwhile, the North American National Basketball Association (NBA), in collaboration with Niantic, the maker of Pokémon GO, has announced the launch of NBA AllWorld, which will overlay a video-game environment on a real-world map, using realworld basketball courts for virtual games and allowing players to choose any location.
Well-known brands such as Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, IWC, Dolce & Gabbana and Tiffany & Co. are becoming increasingly involved in digital fashion and experimenting with digital collectables or NFTs (nonfungible tokens). Nevertheless, there can be a natural tension between personality rights and copyright when it comes to digital avatars – especially when it involves a celebrity, explains Holly White, Head of Service Development at Rouse.
“We are expecting to see more and more issues arising from this as entertainment companies in the gaming and music sectors are increasingly utilising digital avatars to carry virtual concerts and events for fans,” comments White.
“From attending virtual classrooms to buying digital land, activities are currently being conducted in separate environments. Eventually, they will take place in a single environment – the metaverse”
MARTY RESNICK RESEARCH VICE PRESIDENT, GARTNER
We are expecting to see more and more issues arise as entertainment companies in the gaming and music sectors utilise digital avatars to carry virtual concerts and events for fans”
HOLLY WHITE HEAD OF SERVICE DEVELOPMENT, ROUSE
“Personality rights refer to the right of an individual to control the commercialisation of their identity, and from their perspective, this would include digital avatars. This becomes more complicated because the personality rights of a celebrity are limited if that individual is under a contract with an entertainment company to fulfil a project. Further, a grey area arises if the contract is terminated early or ends at the intended date. When this happens, the question at hand would be who has ownership over the digital avatar.”
If the metaverse is considered to be a network of virtual worlds, safety and ethical aspects will be important to establish the sense of community that is central to its mass adoption. Whether for consumer or employee/workplace use cases, brands will need to address these concerns and have a way to regulate them before they create and deploy their virtual spaces, while also balancing privacy, security and data issues.
Based on a social media scan of over 180,000 conversations, research by Capgemini found that concerns around sexual harassment, personal safety, and privacy issues are top of consumers’ minds.
“Regarding data privacy, the collection and use of consumer data are more important now than ever,” White adds.
“Data misuse or non-compliance pose big risks to businesses; they can significantly damage a brand’s reputation and even the ability for a business to operate if licences are revoked. With creations like NFTs, noncompliance can feel inevitable because data stored in blockchain technology is not erasable. But it’s vital that businesses understand where they have responsibilities and comply with the law.”
WRITTEN BY: MARCUS LAW
PRODUCED BY: MICHAEL BANYARD
n today’s world, broadband connectivity has become an essential part of our daily lives. From remote work and online learning to streaming entertainment and staying connected with friends and family, high-speed internet access is crucial for many aspects of modern life.
As a result, some even argue that broadband should be considered the
fourth utility alongside water, electricity, and gas.
“If I asked my kids if they would prefer to have the gas, water, or WiFi on, they’d unanimously say ’The WiFi,’” comments Richard Perry, Network Delivery Director at London-based broadband company Community Fibre.
“For everything else, we’ll put on another coat, or we won’t wash for a couple of days,”
Community Fibre is on a mission to build a network that provides Londoners with the fastest and most reliable fibre services at the most affordable prices
he laughs. “Today, WiFi is such a key thing, for all ages. If I look at my parents, who are elderly now, they are so reliant on broadband for staying in touch with people, managing their bills, and switching on their heating. It touches everyone.”
Community Fibre is on a mission to provide a true fibre-to-the-home service to residents of one of the busiest cities in the world. It offers the fastest 100% full-fibre broadband in London, with up to 10,000 Mbps for businesses and up to 3,000 Mbps for consumers, at the most competitive prices on the market.
“We build, own, and operate our own dedicated 100% full fibre network,” comments Perry. “We’re at the cutting edge of the latest technology that’s available. We aren’t reliant on anyone else’s network, we are deploying our own. And that gives us superfast gigabit-
capable broadband, delivered directly to the home.”
As Perry describes, Community Fibre is on a mission to build a network that provides Londoners with the fastest and most reliable fibre services at the most affordable prices, whilst being recognised for our outstanding customer experience and community spirit.
“We’ve got one of the largest fibre-tothe-home networks in Greater London,” he says, “and we’re striving to have the largest in the next couple of years.”
The aim: supplying full fibre to 2.2m Londoners Joining Community Fibre in 2021 after a number of years working for Vodafone and most recently Virgin Media, Perry has seen the business grow dramatically. The one millionth premises milestone
“We’ve got one of the largest fibreto-the-home networks in Greater London, and we’re striving to have the largest in the next couple of years”
RICHARD PERRY NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY FIBRE
will be reached soon, while the business has a north star target of reaching 1.3 million homes able to connect to its network by the end of 2023, and 2.2 million customers by the end of 2024.
This rapid growth is one of Perry’s favourite things about his current role. “I think one of my favourite things about the industry is the fast pace of change,” he says, “and the opportunity to bring our customers much faster and better connectivity allowing them to transform the way they can work, learn and relax at home.”
With the pandemic forcing people to work from home and homeschool, there was an enormous reliance on high-quality broadband. “The fact that I played a part in bringing that to as many
TITLE: NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM
Richard Perry is a highly experienced senior leader with over 25 years of experience in the telecoms industry, with a proven track record in strategic delivery and infrastructure build whilst driving operational efficiency and transformation initiatives.
Perry has a reputation in leading geographically dispersed multiskilled teams and a strong belief in people and leadership development. He says: “I’m driven by people and what they can achieve when given the right support to execute a strategy. This also extends to working with Delivery Partners to form a collaborative and long-lasting partnership which ultimately delivers success for both organisations and our customers.”
KMCO Group has consistently delivered the stability & engineering professionalism demanded by our clients & customers throughout London, the Midlands, South of England & Ireland. We believe that when it comes to building networks & related services, we do it better than anyone else.
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people as possible has probably been the most interesting thing because it’s tangible: you can see the end products of what you’re actually building.”
For Community Fibre, this growth is clear. Since joining the business, the organisation has tripled in size. “We’ve scaled delivery from 200,000 premises to fast approaching one million,” Perry says.
“We set out a clear strategy a couple of years ago that by the end of 2023, we wanted to reach 1.3 million premises across London, increasing to 2.2 million by the end of 2024. And we are on that trajectory path now.
“Every year, we have doubled, in terms of organisation size, customer connections, and also the amount of premises that we’re able to connect up. So we continue to grow to meet those
“We’ve scaled delivery from 200,000 premises to fast approaching one million”
RICHARD PERRY NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY FIBRE
challenges and find more ways to be efficient as clearly we can’t just keep increasing the size of the organisation in keeping with a scaling customer base and network.”
With approximately 3.7 million premises in London, and with plans to have built networks to at least 2.2 million of those by the end of 2024, few organisations can claim a similar footprint in the city.
But Community Fibre’s mission doesn’t stop there. The aim, Perry explains, is to build the best fibre network in London, but also to do this with the customer experience and community spirit in mind.
“We continue to invest in our people, continually looking at innovative ways to reach more homes in the fastest, most economically viable manner,” he comments.
“We develop relationships with landlords, in both the public and private sectors, to serve more multi-dwelling units to provide them with fibre to the home. This is a key requirement in London, given the amount of multidwelling units compared to many other cities in the country.
As its name would suggest, community is at the heart of everything
“We’re very much supportive of sharing best practices and working together to achieve our goals”
RICHARD PERRY NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY FIBRE
Driven by our brilliance philosophy and by investing in our teams, we work with Community Fibre to design, build and connect properties with a brilliant fibre network.
Community Fibre does. The company provides free 1Gbps broadband to over 500 community centres around London, giving high-speed internet access for training, work, education and community projects, and offers digital skills training to residents in connected Community Spaces through its network of digital ambassadors.
“We have digital ambassador programmes,” Perry explains. “We enable community centres and spaces in conjunction with some of our larger social landlords. So it isn’t just about selling to individuals, it’s about what can we do for that local community to create and provide more access to broadband.”
All this growth wouldn’t be possible, Perry explains, without having a clear strategy set down from Community Fibre’s board, having great people in position, and striking real, lasting partnerships with build partners. These long-lasting relationships, he adds, have enabled Community Fibre to scale and grow.
900+ Number of employees
“We’ve got a number of build partners that we work with to design our network in the first place, and then to build our core distribution, and, also, then to serve our multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and single dwelling unit (SDU) premises.”
Among some of Community Fibre’s build partners are Niocomm, KMCO and FibreWorks, which the organisation started working with as far back as 2019.
“It isn’t just about selling to individuals, it’s about what can we do for that local community to create and provide more access to broadband”
RICHARD PERRY NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY FIBRE
1.3m Target
by the end of 2023
“As we’ve scaled our network, they’ve scaled their ability to support our everincreasing build demands. So we’ve got a long-standing relationship with them, and they’ve been a key success to our partnership.
“Similarly with Indigo, one of our main design and planning partners, we’ve worked extensively with them over the last three years or so to create the plans for our build partners to go and execute on.”
Central to Community Fibre’s approach is one of partnership rather than a traditional client-supplier relationship. This combined effort is helping Community Fibre, and its partners, achieve their goals.
“We work really closely with all of our partners,” Perry says. “It’s a combined effort. I’ve seen in other organisations, in other industries, there’s often a very traditional client-supplier relationship manner. We don’t have that. We work hand-in-hand. Our success is their success and vice versa.
“We are very much part of each others team,” he adds. “And that’s the way in which we found success to deliver. So we don’t have all the answers, our build partners don’t have all the answers, but working together, we come up with workable solutions.
“We encourage dialogue between our build partners as well, so we don’t try and keep them separate,” Perry asserts. “If something’s working for one build partner, then we’re pretty confident others will
benefit from that as well. So we’re very much supportive of sharing best practices and working together to achieve our goals.”
The rollout of full fibre broadband is an increasing priority. Although broadband is sufficient for most household needs, the demand for services that use a lot of data, such as online video streaming, is on the rise.
And with the UK Government setting a target for gigabit broadband to be available nationwide by 2030, as Perry explains, the future will see more and more coverage of full-fibre broadband.
“In terms of future trends, we are going to see more emerge in the coming years. Better connectivity enables more people to have a better work-life balance. And because there is less reliance in an office,
“I’ve seen in other organisations, in other industries, there’s often a very traditional clientsupplier relationship manner. We don’t have that. We work hand-in-hand”
RICHARD PERRY NETWORK DELIVERY DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY FIBRE
there’s the flexibility to work from home, even work from other locations that aren’t home on a day-to-day basis.”
Also on the horizon will be new TV services and ways for people to consume media. “I think TV services will massively change in the coming years,” Perry predicts. “We’ll be less reliant on the traditional TV subscriptions that we get today. And even just paying for your TV licence. There’ll be more over-the-top services. To enable that, you need to have good, reliable, fast broadband.”
This, Perry describes, is a pivotal time for the industry. But with increasing competition and more choices than ever
for consumers, it is in everybody’s interests to ensure as many premises have access to fast, reliable broadband.
“In terms of the rest of the industry, it’s at a pivotal moment right now. There are lots of alternative networks throughout the country, each receiving significant investment and that’s great. But in order to maintain that investment, you have to be delivering on your plans, both in terms of build and sales.
“What’s put Community Fibre in such a strong position is demonstrating we continuously deliver against our plans,” concludes Perry. “In the coming years, we’ll see some more mergers and acquisitions along the way in the UK telco space. But, ultimately, it’s in everyone’s best interests to ensure that as many premises throughout the UK have access to superfast, reliable broadband.”
Dan Hubert, CEO and Founder of kerbside management, mobility and parking application AppyWay, delves into how technology propels innovative and sustainable transportation solutions
WRITTEN BY: MAYA DERRICK
Smart mobility providers are companies that provide forward thinking and cutting edge transportation solutions that are often powered by advanced technology. With searches for smart mobility solutions dating back to at least the 1960s and laying the foundations for ICT-based sharing platforms established and evolving today, it shows how big a role developing technology has had on the sector. And at AppyWay, CEO and Founder Dan Hubert and his team have spent the last 10 years curating, developing and rolling out a platform ensuring ease of navigating roads and decarbonising cities from the kerb up.
Founded out of frustration when trying to park in central London, a spark of inspiration hit Hubert, motivating his idea to digitise the streets and put viable transport information in people’s hands before leaving home – and starting his trailblazing decadelong journey to digitising the kerbside.
AppyWay runs on a one platform, twosides, three questions answered-basis – Where can I park? Is there availability? Can I charge/pay?
By bringing the kerbside – what AppyWay in its early days as AppyParking highlighted as an undervalued asset – into the digital age, technology not only allows drivers to make better informed travel decisions but allows cities to activate their decarbonisation efforts.
“Ten years ago there were no maps, no data, no platforms, no sort of concept about digitisation,” Hubert explained. “Being so very ahead of its time is a painful place to
“AppyWay is a solution that gives cities full control over the kerbside”
DAN HUBERT CEO & FOUNDER, APPYWAY
be, especially when you're trying to make a data platform with no data. And then I jumped on my bicycle to start mapping out all the zones across London – because the zones didn't exist – compiled it into a consolidated jigsaw of all restrictions, stuck it into an app, and got it into the app store.
“And then I would say the rest is history. There's been a big old decade of highs and lows to get to where we are now. But now it's a fully loaded end-to-end system that unites the public and private sector through one digital kerbside ABI.”
By mastering the art of rapid data capture, AppyWay has now mapped 550 towns and cities, expanding into Europe by adding Dublin to its portfolio. The data, which creates digital twins of the cities in fine detail, creates a copy with between three to 20cm accuracy.
Hubert added: “We then have processes that can take the imagery that's been scanned and of the parking signs and then turn them into geospatial files. So that's quite a big advancement because we can scan up to 17 miles per day and
“Being so very ahead of its time is a painful place to be, especially when you're trying to make a data platform with no data”
DAN HUBERT CEO & FOUNDER, APPYWAY
550
AppyWay has now mapped 550 towns and cities, expanding into Europe by adding Dublin to its portfolio. The data, which creates digital twins of the cities in fine detail, creates a copy with between three to 20cm accuracy.
we can map large cities and have them scanned, mapped, processed and live in an API within a couple of months. For the complexity of the regulation we're dealing with, that's pretty impressive.”
Among AppyWay’s many successes, Hubert has seen advancements in the development of its own proprietary platform that cities use that allows other
partners to come onto the platform and build other surfaces. This is significant right now because cities are having to deal with outdated regulation in an analogue world and AppyWay is working within those constraints, but allowing them to optimise their day and we can speed up that endto-end management or change from the curbside from being one thing to another.
“So say from a paid bay to an EV bay, we can speed up the process end-to-end by 75%,” he added. “So it means that local authorities then can expedite the rollout of more sustainable curbside. Lambeth Council is a customer of ours and they currently have 4% of their curbside dedicated to sustainable options. They want to get to 25% by 2030. And the only way they can do that, uh, is by using our platform.
“AppyWay also combines real-time availability and does payments as well. So it's a solution that gives cities full control
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over the kerbside, creates a consolidated platform like an operating system for them to manage and monetise and maintain an optimise and decarbonise their curbside.
“And in doing so, the data from that platform then can go out to drivers, fleets, logistics – the list goes on, because it turns out everyone who has a car, or everyone who sits behind a wheel of a car or in the backseat of a car needs access to the curbside.”
TITLE:
CEO AND FOUNDER
COMPANY: APPYWAY
INDUSTRY: SOFTWARE COMPANY
LOCATION: LONDON
Dan founded AppyWay in June 2012 as AppyParking, a tool that makes parking easy for everyone. But now armed with bestin-class kerbside data, APIs and full stack management systems, Dan and the AppyWay are at the forefront of tackling urban issues of modern-day living: congestion, mobility, pollution, even dying high streets.
Making accessible parking more accessible And as well as making large strides in technological advancement and helping travellers make more conscious decisions, AppWay’s technology ensures no road user is disadvantaged when it comes to ease of access.
Explaining how in some cities like London Blue Badge holders may not necessarily be able to park in any designated bay, Hubert showed how AppyWay, at the touch of a button, meets the kerbside requirements for all, eliminating hidden barriers.
“If you go through central London you'll see quite a lot of disabled blue badge holders with parking tickets,” he explained. So the ability for our data to be converted into tunnel vision for a disabled user is pretty significant. You can see how everyone needs the curbside for different dwell times and our data can be interrogated in a way that services them to help give them the best accessibility.”
And accessibility also applies to the likes of EVs. Hubert added: “We have a big project with Connected Kerb, which is one of the
“We can scan up to 17 miles per day and we can map large cities and have them scanned, mapped, processed and live in an API within a couple of months”
DAN HUBERT CEO & FOUNDER, APPYWAY
largest ChargePoint operators. We're doing real time availability of an EV bay, because when an EV vehicle isn't plugged into that charge point, no one knows what's going on there. So people turn up and hope for the best.
“We can give real time availability of that bay to drivers, removing that range anxiety and then destination anxiety when they turned up and found out someone's someone else's park there.
“We can help field service engineers who are parking up to eight times a day to do, say smart meter instals or boiler repairs – making sure that they are compliant, don't get a ticket, know the exact distance from the curbside they can park at to the job they're at – to reduce the hundreds and thousands of pounds of parking fines that they get each year.
“Ultimately, there are billions of vehicles in the world and vehicles are a parking disaster waiting to happen. The problem's not going away by any stretch of the imagination, so the world is our oyster.”
“Cities are having to deal with outdated regulation in an analogue world and AppyWay is working within those constraints, but allowing them to optimise their day”
DAN HUBERT CEO & FOUNDER, APPYWAY
WRITTEN BY: TOM SWALLOW
PRODUCED BY: THOMAS LIVERMORE
Hands up, then, who saw this one coming…a leading telecommunications provider giving similar treatment to cars as it would handheld digital devices? While it would have made for a ludicrous conversation a decade or so ago, connectivity has become a staple in modern life, naturally progressing towards various applications in the automotive sector.
EV manufacturers have embarked on a journey that will mark its place in history as the most significant evolution of transport, which also comes with a lot of responsibility to protect drivers and passengers in alignment with their contributions to global sustainable change.
This can be witnessed throughout countless connectivity exploits and, as explained by David Brown, Head of Connected Mobility Product Portfolio at Vodafone Automotive, telecommunications and digital services play an integral role in the future of electrified mobility.
The services provided by Vodafone Automotive – a global service subsidiary of Vodafone – include hardware and software and Brown leads the product management team to deliver next-generation connectivity-based services to customers looking to improve road safety and vehicle security, efficiencies, and emissions reduction. Non-connected services are supplied as upgrades to on-board vehicle systems and connectivity-based services
are fulfilled through multiple solutions, including vehicle-to-everything (V2X) services, which enable communications between cars and their surrounding infrastructure, driving behaviour monitoring and crash reconstruction.
In the vehicle security area the company offers professional services to locate and retrieve cars to minimise vehicle losses, as well as solutions that dynamically predict the probability of an event occurring over a certain period of time, such as notifying drivers on risky zones.
DAVID BROWN HEAD OF CONNECTED MOBILITY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO, VODAFONE AUTOMOTIVE
“If you break down a telematics solution into its constituent parts, you’ve got the hardware, you’ve got the connectivity, the platform, and the service”
Through a passenger-vehicle lens, Vodafone Automotive’s solutions enable peace of mind that the latest electrified cars – as well as ICE vehicles in previous years – are the safest they can possibly be while also achieving greater energy usage and other benefits. Ultimately, the mission of the company is, as Brown states, “about making mobility safe, secure and accessible.”
These three words form the pillars of innovation that Vodafone Automotive focuses on, which also carries over to fleet
“‘Time to green’ means realtime vehicle communication with traffic lights to reduce idling time”
DAVID BROWN HEAD OF CONNECTED MOBILITY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO, VODAFONE AUTOMOTIVE
operations and other commercial uses. As far as safety and security goes, the goal is pretty simple: to reduce the number of stolen cars, traffic issues and accidents occurring on public roads each year. Overall, it means to help move forward a more sustainable and safe mobility.
“The first pillar is really focused on the safety side of things and the aim to reduce road deaths to zero,” says Brown.
This is where cooperative connected mobility services generate key benefits that really come into play, particularly in cities and other urban environments where infrastructure is enabled with V2X
TITLE: HEAD OF CONNECTED MOBILITY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
INDUSTRY: MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS MANUFACTURING
LOCATION: UNITED KINGDOM
David joined Vodafone in 2010 and took over product management responsibility in mobile phone devices, then in motor insurance telematics. In this role, he created a new programme function to deliver customer onboarding for complex solution deployments of insurance telematics in Northern and Central Europe. In 2019, he broadened his responsibility to lead a team of product managers and define a new product portfolio across all key verticals - Insurance, Fleet and Automotive. David holds a degree in Managerial and Administrative Studies from the University of Aston.
technology, which provides an added layer of safety to drivers while on the road. Vodafone’s product is appropriately named Safer Transport for Europe Platform (STEP) and introduces connected capabilities to provide more safety measures to drivers and vulnerable road users.
Leveraging the 5G and edge cloud capabilities developed by Vodafone, the automotive segment is about to tailor its architecture to enable V2X capabilities and package STEP on top of it. The idea of the cars having the ability to connect with others in the vicinity will encourage a more cooperative mobility ecosystem
“Being part of Vodafone, we are able to access 5G technologies and edge cloud, which, with competence in architecture design and V2X software developments
from Vodafone Automotive, has allowed the development of that capability for the entire ecosystem,” says Brown.
Working in the insurance realm is key for Vodafone Automotive, as it supports the overarching goal of road safety. Citing an example of the great work achieved by Vodafone Automotive, Brown explains a scenario where its connected solution not only benefits the drivers, but also provides a call handler with more scope for a quality service.
“When visiting a UK-based insurer that provides services to brand new drivers on the road, I was able to see first-hand how our solution makes a difference,” says Brown.
What Brown saw was how Vodafone Automotive’s solution enabled call managers to handle customer cases much more
effectively, using data to gain clearer insight into the incident, whether it be low energy crashes or more serious accidents.
By leveraging telematics services, insurers have, for many years, managed the risk of a wide range of drivers. From the perspective of new road users, this is to reduce insurance premiums, but these days we’re beginning to see the real benefits to providing vehicle usage data.
“Bearing in mind these can often be young drivers, understanding how our technology can help provide a level of assurance in high stress situations really brought it home for me. The impact was that our service meant the insurer could focus on the young drivers struggling in a time of need.”
This goes to show the impact that connected mobility has and how Vodafone
“We have Vodafone behind us, which gives us collaborative access to the 5G technologies and Edge Cloud and has allowed the development of V2X services a lot quicker”
DAVID BROWN HEAD OF CONNECTED MOBILITY PRODUCT PORTFOLIO, VODAFONE AUTOMOTIVE
Automotive is able to integrate with infrastructure and businesses to not only achieve its goals in line with its own pillars, but breed a new quality of service to its partners’ customers. Leveraging some of the best technologies on the market and almost 15 years’ experience in helping insurance to digitalise policies, the company tailors that insightful approach to insurance, which is but one way that it contributes to safety.
“If you break down a telematics solution into its constituent parts, you’ve got the hardware, you’ve got the connectivity, the platform, and the service – we play in all these parts. Being part of the Vodafone family the connectivity is naturally a core part — we have our factory for the design and manufacture of hardware, and of course we have the platform and the service network covering over 50 countries. The fact that we can bring all of those together makes us unique and makes us a leader in the market,” Brown says.
Much like the digital ecosystems that enable businesses and homes to function, road transport is entering a new era of connectivity that will allow devices to share and access data from vehicles and infrastructure components surrounding them. An example of this from a safety perspective is how assessments are made of the road ahead, which has been adopted on major highways, but is still yet to leverage this to the highest degree.
With vehicles connected to other vehicles and data shared with infrastructure – which will in turn be shared with other road users – this unlocks new functions to enable realtime insights on the road. This is V2X.
With V2X, road users could begin to see real-time updates in the vehicle made useful to them as they travel. Vodafone Automotive
recognises the potential of V2X in ensuring that any road collisions or diversions are reported and managed instantly to the driver, preventing any further incident or dialling out inefficiency.
“The key point is that this communication needs to be instant to deliver value to the road user. This is possible thanks to our 5G networks and multi-edge computing,” says Brown.
Not only can such a solution save time and emissions in cities, but with drivers more aware of the road condition changes, they can focus on the surrounding environment, which could reduce collisions with nearby cyclists, pedestrians, and other cars –fostering a more mindful approach to travel.
A great example of V2X is being designed and implemented by Vodafone, which Brown explains allows drivers to determine, what he calls, ‘time to green’.
In March 2022, Vodafone launched STEP to enable faster and more efficient safety information distribution with road users using its proprietary technologies.
To be successful in this, the company ensures an agnostic solution that is compatible with all in-vehicle navigation systems and third-party apps to provide access to real-time traffic and collision data.
Road users will be directly connected with transport authorities to gain a better understanding of the road conditions and leverage these insights to avoid accidents, congestion, and delays on the road.
The issue of road congestion can be seen globally with more cars on the roads in cities, but access to real-time data has the potential to limit this by keeping drivers informed. This would be enabled throughout connectivity - data sharing between cars and traffic lights.
“For example, you are in London and you are stuck in traffic. You are at the traffic lights, traffic lights turn green, you’ve raced to the next set of traffic lights, and by the time you get there, they’ve turned red. You’re then idling for 30 seconds,” Brown says.
“‘Time to green’ effectively means communicating with those traffic lights and
the road infrastructure; it will tell you when the next set of traffic lights are due to change and recommend your approach to the traffic lights so that, by the time you get to them, you don’t need to apply the brakes – losing all momentum in the vehicle and using lots of energy to get the car back up to speed.
“We see V2X aligning with autonomous vehicles, whereby each system can complement each other to create extra layers of protection for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
“This is where the system, through maybe cameras or through smartphone applications, is able to determine where
pedestrians and cyclists are in a shared space of the road,” Brown says.
“An example is with lorries, where quite often cyclists ride alongside. You can have a warning system that tells the lorry driver, even though the cyclist is in their blind spot, they are there – ’proceed with caution’.
Though all these solutions show promise for a safer, more sustainable road network, it requires collaboration amongst a variety of players such as OEMs, roadside infrastructure providers, public authorities and vehicle fleets across Europe. Particularly in the realm of EVs, the demand and readiness is there for connected car services, but education plays
a key role in enabling progress – revamping the road infrastructure network. Future prospects are bright for connected mobility and will even present new opportunities later down the line.
“Our focus is mainly on safety and security. Of course, as the applications and use cases evolve there will continue to be interesting and wide ranging commercial benefits. We want to make roads safer, and STEP will enable us to do that. Understanding how drivers interact with it will enable us to delve deeper into connected mobility.”
CityFibre’s Elsa Chen and Vova Gerneshii of GMS delve into how technology plays a significant role in improving CX in mobile and telecommunications
WRITTEN BY: MAYA DERRICK
Good customer service is at the forefront of any successful business, as it is a direct connection between customers and your company.
Ensuring positive customer experience practices leads to improved relationships with customers to ensure their return time and time again.
Here, CityFibre’s Chief Customer Officer Elsa Chen and Vova Gerneshii, Product Director of Enterprise at communications service provider for enterprises and mobile operators Global Message Services (GMS) illuminate the ways technology plays a crucial role in improving CX in mobile and telecommunications –an industry often tarred with the same brush.
“High-quality customer service plays a crucial role in building a respected and well-loved brand,” Gerneshii explains. “When a brand consistently delivers exceptional support, it establishes a strong reputation in the market. For example, a consumer electronics company that provides quick and effective technical support can earn a reputation as a reliable, trustworthy brand. This can also set it apart from other brands that have slower response times or ineffective feedback channels.”
GMS' CPaaS solution enables brands to unify multichannel customer communications via a single API and selfservice platform. Complementing this is an AI-driven chatbot and CCaaS platform that enables brands to build engaging, two-way communication 24/7 at any touch point, significantly enhancing CX.
umlaut continues a decade-long partnership with TPG Telecom, offering specialised, in-depth expertise to support TPG’s 5G rollout.
the build, deployment, and planning, all the way through to optimisation, engineering, and operation. We’re also offering our services across the fibre and fixed wireless network sector, as well as cloud and cybersecurity.”
umlaut is a globally recognised, technologydriven and future-oriented company providing end-to-end consulting, engineering, and testing services to companies across the automotive, aviation, energy, rail, telecommunications industries and beyond. Founded 24 years ago in Germany, umlaut has grown into a multinational, globally active company - recently acquired by consultancy giant Accenture - with more than 4,500 employees delivering specialised consulting, engineering, and network testing services to the world’s largest enterprises.
“We are defined by the added value we create for our clients, their companies, products, and their end customers as well,” says Hakan Ekmen, global CEO for umlaut’s telecommunication unit. “Our credo is to always add something on top, like the umlaut from which we get our name.”
In the telecommunications industry - where Ekmen has been overseeing umlaut’s operations for the past 14 years - umlaut delivers “services and expertise from end-to-end, starting with
In Australia, umlaut has been a core partner of TPG Telecom for more than a decade. “Prior to the Vodafone-TPG merger, we were a longstanding partner of Vodafone at a group level where we worked with them on numerous projects over the years,” Ekmen explains. “We had a strong history with Vodafone Hutchison Australia, working with them on infrastructure and security projects, as well as 5G.”
“As the telecom sector continues to innovate and develop new technologies and services, we’re going to see 5G deliver real-time connectivity and faster data speeds. And we’ve been closely engaged with TPG on their own deployment of 5G, as well as the development of new products and services to capitalise on this next generation of telecommunications technology,” says Ekmen. “With our specialised set of skills and in-depth, detailed knowledge of the verticals where TPG is focusing its efforts, I think we can continue to strengthen our partnership, help them adopt and capitalise on new technologies, and drive winwin outcomes for both umlaut and TPG for many years to come.”
chatbots plays a significant role in modern CX and offers round-the-clock customer support, allowing customers to receive assistance and information at any time.
“Another key advantage of AI chatbots is their scalability,” he says. “They can handle a large volume of customer inquiries simultaneously with no fatigue or delays, while providing quick, instant, and efficient responses. Thanks to their interactivity, advanced AI chatbots can deliver deeper personalisation than more static or passive channels.
It’s amazing what’s possible when you consciously challenge the norm and choose never to stand still”
ELSA CHEN CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER, CITYFIBRE
“The power of customer service excellence, ultimately, is the cornerstone upon which we can build competitiveness and growth”
ELSA CHEN CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER, CITYFIBRE
“Leveraging customer data and preferences, they can understand customer behaviour at an individual level. Data such as their purchase history and browsing preferences can be considered to help deliver more personalised recommendations.”
And, when a human touch is required, AI chatbots can be configured to assess problems that are too complicated early in the dialogue, allowing the issue to be handed over to a live human agent.
But, as Chen adds: “One AI size doesn’t fit all.”
“We ensure personalisation through our interactions with ISP partners and their specific needs,” she says. “Different ISPs have different customer experience requirements; there tend to be some common denominators, but customisation is encouraged.
In CityFibre’s book, service co-creation means developing bespoke AI solutions rather than expecting a standard solution to serve all. The creation process involves our operational teams working with customer experience experts from different ISPs to ensure our AI-powered
TITLE: PRODUCT DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE
COMPANY: GLOBAL MESSAGE SERVICES (GMS)
INDUSTRY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOCATION: SWITZERLAND
Gerneshii is a product strategy and growth leader with 12 years of hands-on experience in scaling and evolving B2C and B2B products across communications, fintech, and blockchain. He is a Reforge Growth Strategy alumnus as well as the author of a programmatic advertising patent application, and has been recognised as a Global Talent in Digital Technology by Tech Nation UK.
“AI chatbots can handle a large volume of customer inquiries with no fatigue or delays, while providing quick, instant, efficient responses”
VOVA GERNESHII PRODUCT DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE, GLOBAL MESSAGE SERVICES (GMS)
engagement tool is tailored to deliver a seamless service in every scenario.
“This bespoke way of working with ISPs has already turned old industry norms on their head. It’s amazing what is possible when you consciously challenge the norm and choose never to stand still.”
Addressing the telecoms industry’s customer satisfaction record, Chen says there is no reason for poor client experience to be the norm – so it shouldn’t be.
“Many of us relate to the frustration that can come with upgrading our broadband, or, even worse, when seeking help during a service outage – and the experience stays with us. The power of customer service excellence, ultimately, is the cornerstone upon which we can build competitiveness and growth. Our commitment to raising the bar takes inspiration from outside of telecoms; Uber or Amazon are great examples of frictionless customer experience. Like them, we are investing and exploring the role innovation and technology can play.
“By using clever AI algorithms, service delivery – from an end-user’s perspective – can be made effortless and intuitive, and problems can also be solved quickly, often before the customer is even aware of them.
“We are also utilising talent from outside telecoms, helping to embed the customercentricity we see in these other sectors. Having the right people leading this charge is vital because we must challenge every aspect of what has been accepted to date and draw on a diverse range of expertise if we are to successfully set the standard for what good looks like in UK telecoms.”
Partnering with mobile operators, GMS enhances their messaging business and protects revenues by optimising A2P, P2P, and P2A traffic exchange, while preventing SMS and voice fraud.
Gerneshii highlights how although harnessing AI is crucial, the importance of human touch should not be overlooked: “The use of AI chatbots in customer service can lead to gains in productivity and efficiency for the human workforce. Repetitive tasks can be automated, and this enables human agents to focus on more complex and specialised customer issues.
“AI chatbots can also be programmed with predefined rules and algorithms to deliver accurate and consistent responses. This reduces human error or inconsistencies that might arise from a lack of knowledge or fatigue.”
And, just because a customer may be interacting with a chatbot rather than a human being, it doesn’t mean customers will be cheated out of a personalised experience. Gerneshii explains how personalisation can be enabled when setting up dialogue flows for a chatbot – for instance, when a user provides their personal data such as their name and preferences, during the first conversation, the chatbot stores this information in context for use in future conversations.
Chen continues: “Complex scenarios often require a more hands-on, tailored approach. Managing customers through any upgrade or migration journey, for example, is a resourceintensive process.”
She explains how – using an AI-powered engagement tool concept launched in 2022 with a large ISP partner – it put much less strain on the customer and proved more cost effective. Exchanges between the technology and customers are human-like, conversational, and can handle various enquiries and requests.
“From an end-customer perspective, as well as for our large ISP partner, they can happily avoid the expense and operational pain of call centres, making the migration process troublefree. Everyone wins!”
The pair acknowledge that, though there is still much to learn when it comes to enhancing customer service, tech and AI can nevertheless pave the way to identifying patterns and predicting future customer needs to aid brands in delivering the best CX possible.
VOVA GERNESHII
PRODUCT DIRECTOR OF ENTERPRISE, GLOBAL MESSAGE SERVICES (GMS)
“AI chatbots in customer service can lead to gains in productivity and efficiency for the human workforce”Photo: © CityFibre
Fifth-generation technology – or 5G –continues to be rolled out worldwide after it was first deployed back in 2019. Now an increasingly standard technology for broadband cellular networks, the technology helps bridge the digital divide. 5G infrastructure plays a significant role in the modern digital landscape and is poised to revolutionise various industries by enabling faster speeds, lower latency,
increased capacity, and connections billions of devices worldwide.
And talking worldwide, our Top 10 round-up highlights a variety of companies and how with a widespread geographical presence, their efforts expand 5G infrastructure deployments on a global scale – both while in competition with like-minded business and by working together toward a common goal.
As 5G continues to revolutionise the industry, we round up the Top 10 companies shaping the future of the technology – and those at the forefront of change
Title: CEO
Company: Singtel
HQ: Singapore, Singapore
Employees: 8.5K+
Asia’s leading communications technology group, Singtel invests in research and development and has received recognition for its thought leadership and achievements in 5G infrastructure. Singtel has a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, 5G and technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses.
Ng joined as Chief Executive Officer in May 2023 after a decade at HP and contributes to Singtel’s efforts in 5G infrastructure development, network deployment, and overall strategy implementation.
Title: Senior Vice President
Company: Comba Telecom
HQ: Shatin, Hong Kong
Employees: 850+
A 5G infrastructure giant known for its comprehensive portfolio of solutions, research and development focus, global presence, strategic partnerships and industry recognition, Comba Telecom contributes to the development and deployment of 5G networks on a global scale. Huo, Comba’s Senior Vice President, has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry and contributes to the company’s 5G product development and market expansion.
Title: CTO Europe, Outdoor Wireless Networks
Company: CommScope
HQ: North Carolina, USA
Employees: 12K+
With partnerships and a focus on innovation, CommScope contributes to the development and deployment of 5G networks worldwide, addressing diverse market needs and is recognised for its industry leadership and commitment to advancing 5G technology.
Torres regularly makes appearances in videos and on panels about 5G to enhance industry and customer understanding, including on topics such as making roll-outs easier and greener, accelerating deployment and ongoing 5G needs.
Title: CEO
Company: A1 Group
HQ: Vienna, Austria
Employees: 10K+
Although uncertain of what the future holds, A1 Telekom attests it is geared up for future demands. The brand is unleashing the potential of digitalisation by accelerating 5G rollout plans across the CEE markets. CEO Arnoldner heads up A1 and his future oriented, optimistic and passionate outlook to leadership, partnered with his extensive experience, propels A1’s place as a 5G infrastructure company. Alongside Nokia, A1 reached 2Gbps data rates with 5G 3 Component Carrier Aggregation technology at the end of 2022.
6 - 7 September 2023
Business Design Centre, London
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Title: Global 5G, Chief Commercial Officer Company: NEC Corporation
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Employees: 16.5K+
Kiga previously managed delivery of numerous mobile network virtualisation and BSS/OSS transformation projects in 4G/5G era and international deployment of packet CORE and RAN products. Now they are responsible for global go-tomarket strategy and sales of NEC’s Open Network portfolio covering mobile network infrastructure, software and services.
NEC has been recognised as a visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for 5G Network Infrastructure for Communications Service Providers and continues to play a leading role in 5G.
Title: Head of Products, 5G/Edge
Company: Fujitsu
HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Employees: 61K+
Fujitsu’s experience, comprehensive solutions, strategic partnerships, research and development efforts, and global presence contribute to its standing as a significant player in the 5G infrastructure domain. Previously Product Manager of Azure Cloud Services for North & Western Europe, Whalley became Head of Products, 5G/Edge in April of this year and will lead the brand – which has made significant contributions to the development and deployment of 5G infrastructure – to continue its impact worldwide.
Title: Vice President 5G and IoT Solutions
Company: Huawei
HQ: Shenzhen, China
Employees: 195K+
Dr Memon boasts more than 25 years of industry experience, including over 13 at Huawei. With a focus on 5G, IoT and Vertical Industry Solutions, Memon is engaged in designing and configuring various IoT and 5G vertical solutions along with various ecosystem partners.
His focus is working closely with telco, enterprises and Ecosystem partners on designing and configuring the Vertical Industry Solutions with 5G, IoT, cloud, AI and applications.
In April, Huawei executives revealed 5.5G connectivity that will take consumers closer to the peak speed with a 10Gbps download as 5G speeds worldwide decreased thanks to the broader adoption of its connectivity
Title: CTO
Company: Ericsson
HQ: Stockholm, Sweden
Employees: 113.5K+
Ericsson was the first company to bring 5G to four different continents, and has been able to roll out 5G using their existing hardware. The 5G service is available to 63 countries and there are 147 live networks. Ericsson in Denmark is currently working with Faroese Telecom to achieve 100% geographical coverage across the The Faroe Islands’ total land area and sea coverage of up to 120 kilometres in all directions.
Cooper has worked for Ericsson for more than 18 years , and before taking on his role as CTO, spent six-and-ahalf years as Head of Networks, 5G & IoT alongside an 11-year stint as Head of Sales and Engagement Practices.
Title: CTO APJ
Company: Nokia HQ: Espoo, Finland
Employees: 82K+
Celebrating enterprise customers partnering with them to deliver the extraordinary, Nokia has 286 commercial 5G deals worldwide and 98 live 5G operator networks. McCabe, like the company he works for, is focussed on digital transformation, cloud technology
and evolved communications. Although Nokia boasts an array of 5G achievements, in 2021, Nokia –in partnership with TPG Telecom – deployed Asia Pacific’s first live 5G femtocell, with the solution allowing operators to provide their customers with superior indoor 5G coverage.
Title: President and GMPresident and GM at Samsung Networks Company: Samsung
HQ: Suwon-si, South Korea
Employees: 98.5K+
Samsung continues to push for 5G delivery and provides commercial 5G services across the world – particularly in Korea, the US and Japan. Dr Kim was at the forefront of how Samsung made preparations to lead the 5G era. With an extensive knowledge of cutting-edge technologies – including 5G – Kim’s blend of in-depth knowledge and the ability to manage diverse team of engineers and business has helped catapult 5G to the forefront of the 5G game. Kim also consulted the likes of the UK government on how Samsung’s building and managing secure, high performing, reliable 5G networks across the world.
26 - 27 September 2023
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