One year on from the launch of Gen AI, this year we expect to see the operational launch by CSPs across the globe. For most, vast research into security, performance, and ROI is still ongoing as uncertainty remains due to GenAI presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for change. Meanwhile, CSPs are also focused on reinventing services with cloud-enabled technologies, network APIs, quantum and more to futureproof both fixed and mobile network investments.

Helping to navigate the market, senior leaders at Orange, Liberty Global, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Group, and more will talk through the challenges and opportunities with a range of keynotes and panel discussions as Network X Headliners return to take centre stage from 8-10 October in Paris.

The Network X Headliners Stage delves into various key themes and emerging disruptive technologies shaping the industry over the next five to ten years: GenAI, network APIs, NTNs and Quantum are new to the Headliners for 2024, whilst the discussion continues around technologies including open-source, cloud networks, next-gen PON, the smart home, and much more. By attending these sessions, attendees will gain insights into critical trends and the future of the telco industry, empowering them to drive positive change.

On day one, the agenda will feature a host of leading telcos. Bruno Zerbib, Group CTIO at Orange will deliver an operator keynote and he will be followed by Peter Arbitter, Senior Vice President of Magenta Business API (MACE) at Deutsche Telekom who will dive into the strategies and business cases for leveraging APIs to drive new revenue in the telco industry.

Soon after, the Headliners will switch focus to fibre access with a panel discussion on ‘Private Equity, M&A and FTTH Rollout – How shifting priorities, the economic climate and consolidation will impact national fibre landscapes’. This panel will cover challenges in deploying fibre broadband across Europe, investment needs, structuring profitable fibre businesses, and mergers and acquisitions. Gabriel Mohr, Partner of Arthur D Little will moderate the session. Joining Mohr, Lise Fuhr, Director-General at ETNO and soon-to-be-announced senior spokespersons from across challenger FibreCos, private equity, and an incumbent operator.

For attendees looking to take home critical considerations for a successful next-generation PON upgrade system, a dedicated session, How to Decide Your Next-Gen PON Upgrade Strategy’, will follow. Experts will discuss managing costs and efficiencies, exploring use cases and potential services for XGS-PON to >100G PON technologies, and navigating the balance between monetisation opportunities and upgrade costs. Craig Thomas, CEO of the Broadband Forum, will be a featured speaker on this panel.

On day two, the focus will be on the changing field of using AI and automation to facilitate the next-generation telco transformation. Nirali Patel, VP of Data Strategy and AI at Liberty Global, will deliver a keynote on how telcos can leverage AI partnerships and acquisitions to transform internal operations and capitalise on the latest developments to benefit both its operations and the end-user experience. This session will also cover the timelines and developments for the telco LLM and its impact.

The search for network autonomy is rapidly driving the industry towards AI. A panel discussion, titled ‘Are fully autonomous networks a reality or wishful thinking?’, will explore this topic from various angles. The panel will delve into the current state of networking autonomy, the potential of generative AI to accelerate network transformation, and whether the hype surrounding AI can translate into new business models.

The final opening keynote on day three, ‘Fibre, Wi-Fi, Satellite and 5G to enable tomorrow’s societies’, will explore the power of multi-access connectivity, approaches to building, converging, and delivering next-generation connectivity solutions. The session will also address the critical challenge of managing the influx of data generated by hyperscale data centres and ensuring a secure and reliable network.

A later panel session, ‘Seizing the B2B opportunity – what is the value telcos can bring to the table?’, dives into the B2B market, exploring the driving forces behind evolving enterprise network requirements and the key growth areas in enterprise network solutions. Experts will also discuss how telcos can transform their offerings to deliver greater value to their enterprise customers.

Commenting on the first-look at the Headliners Stage agenda, Sam Oakley, Senior Portfolio Director, Informa Tech, said: “The dynamic telco industry requires a constant juggle between infrastructure upgrades with the need to embrace disruptive forces like AI, network APIs, and NTNs. This year’s Network X Headliners Stage will provide a crucial platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing. By connecting industry experts and changemakers through challenges faced and lessons learned, we can drive industry growth, ultimately leading to smarter technology investments and better returns from those investments. We look forward to welcoming audiences to the Headliners Stage and seeing what comes from this year’s discussions.”

Network X will return to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in 2024, between 8-10 October. To register for the event, please here.