Exhibitor innovations live at the show

This year’s sponsor and exhibitor line-up features industry giants such as Qualcomm, Orange, Huawei, Ciena, Cisco, Nokia, Mavenir, Plume, Heights Telecom, TP-Link, and CIG, alongside a host of emerging players and innovative solution providers such as Airties, Lifemote, and Bitdefender. Across the three days, attendees will have the opportunity to experience live demonstrations of cutting-edge network infrastructure technologies, from fibre and Wi-Fi to mobile networks and optical transport systems.

Attendees can expect a wealth of exclusive product launches and hands-on experiences that showcase the tangible benefits of these advancements. Among the new technology, Lifemote will introduce its comprehensive in-home Wi-Fi suite, featuring the anticipated SelfCare solution, offering an omnichannel experience with AI advancements. Leading global intelligent technology company, TCL, will showcase next-gen home broadband solutions, including AI-driven 5G CPE, 5G RedCap, Wi-Fi 7 FTTH, and 5G outdoor receivers.

Subtonomy, the telecom product provider dedicated to technical customer support, will demonstrate its new API product. It provides the data needed to ensure chatbots can answer technical support questions for individual customers recognising different languages.

Providing cybersecurity to telecom providers around the world, AI-powered data intelligence company BlackDice will announce the launch of its new feature of its data intelligence platform enabling operators to monitor traffic at a granular level, enabling advanced threat detection and faster response times.

In the fixed network space, integrated communications information solution provider, ZTE, will unveil all-optical solutions and green energy-saving technologies, while AXON Networks will present its Orchestrator platform for real-time network management. Also in the sector, Skylane Optics will offer 100G bidirectional transceivers to upgrade existing infrastructure.

Expert insights

The event will host a comprehensive speaker programme across 8+ stages addressing key industry challenges and opportunities. Covering topics such as the evolution of mobile networks, NTNs, AI for fibre and 6G, it will provide valuable insights to help businesses navigate the complexities of telecommunication networks.

The return of the Network X Headliners Stage promises speakers from top executives from Orange, Vodafone, BT, and more, discussing key trends such as AI, next-gen passive optical networks (PON), and the impact of quantum technologies. These sessions will provide a comprehensive view of the future of telecoms, with thought-provoking discussions from those at the very forefront of innovation.

New for 2024, the Accelerate Stage, a brand-new platform designed to dive deep into the next wave of telecom innovation. Attendees can expect dynamic discussions on the transformative potential of Generative AI, Network APIs, quantum technologies, and other emerging technologies that promise to redefine the industry.  Notably, experts including Linze Wu, Researcher at China Telecom and Dr Ioannis Tomkos Researcher at the University of Patras, will explore 6G developments, while Dr Jonathan Knight, Professor at the University of Bath and Alessandro Fedrizzi, Professor at Heriot-Watt University will tackle quantum computing’s role in cybersecurity. Additionally, this stage will host the Start-Up Championships, giving a platform to 16 of the hottest start-ups and learning how they plan to disrupt the marketplace.

Over at the Broadband Development Congress on the Fibre Stage, the panel session, ‘Operationalising AI in the Cloud and Broadband Networks: How to Maximize the Impact of AI’ will feature a valuable lineup of industry experts. Moderated by Michael Philpott, Research Director at Omdia, the session will include insights from Mohamed Amine Benizane, Head of Technology at Algérie Télécom, Rickard Damm, VP of Consumer AI at Deutsche Telekom, and Olivier Ferveur, Chair of ISG F5G at ETSI and Network Engineer at Post Luxembourg. Together, they will explore strategies for effectively integrating AI into cloud and broadband infrastructures, with a focus on enhancing network performance, improving service delivery, and driving operational efficiencies.

Jarno Niemela, Head of Mobile Access Technologies at Elisa, will deliver an operator keynote on ‘Transforming RAN Automation’. This session will explore advanced RAN automation methodologies designed to enhance the efficiency of 5G mobile networks using cloud-based approaches, including Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment/Continuous Testing (CI/CD/CT).

Also on the Mobile Networks Stage, Lin Wei, President of Telco Cloud & 5G Core at Huawei, will present a keynote on ‘Telco Cloud-Native Reshapes the Future of Telecom Networks’, exploring how high stability is essential for carriers' business success and in what way the Dual-Engine evolution represents the optimal path for transitioning from virtualisation to containerisation. Attendees will learn about achieving end-to-end automation in the industry, highlighting the value of flexibility and agile cloudification.

Gathering on the Mobile Services Stage, Olivier Loridan, Senior Analyst for Enterprise 5G Services at Omdia, Valerie Grau, Marketing Lead for 5G and IoT, and Xavier Nunez, Smart Place Digital Innovation Lead at BCP Council, will engage in a panel discussion about how 5G networks are essential for meeting the connectivity needs of enterprises. The session titled, ‘Meeting the enterprise needs in the emerging ecosystem’ will highlight the enhanced capabilities in orchestration and automation that streamline processes, from network management to service provisioning. Additionally, the panellists will examine how exposing services and APIs can unlock innovative use cases and collaborations across with other players in the ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Partner Workshops at Network X offer attendees the chance to engage directly with industry standards bodies, such as the Broadband Forum, ETSI, and GSA. These hands-on sessions will cover a wide range of topics, from fibre infrastructure and fixed wireless access to smart home standards to enable service monetisation.

Networking aplenty

Network X recognises that building strong relationships is crucial to success in the telecoms industry. This year’s event introduces The Green Networking Lounge, offering a welcoming space for attendees to connect, recharge, and schedule one-on-one meetings through the Network X app. Whether attendees are forging new connections or strengthening existing partnerships, Network X provides an ideal environment for networking and collaborating in a relaxed setting.

For senior executives, Network X will offer exclusive access to the VIP Roundtables, intimate, moderated discussions designed to explore the industry's most critical challenges and opportunities. With limited availability, these sessions are expected to be one of the key highlights of the event. Topics will include the future of 5G, the impact of edge computing, and the evolving regulatory landscape for network infrastructure. Here, confirmed roundtable participants include Peter Arbitter, Senior Vice President of Magenta Business API at Deutsche Telekom, hosting ‘How to Ensure Telco APIs Will Truly Drive New Revenues’ and Curtis Knittle, Vice President of Wired Technologies on ‘Scaling FTTP Networks to Meet Growing Data Demands’.

Network X offers a diverse range of networking socials for attendees, with a balance of fun and professional engagement. From laid-back happy hours to the Network X Party and energising 5K runs around the Eiffel Tower, this year’s event will provide numerous opportunities for industry professionals to connect in a relaxed setting.

Network X Awards

Capping off the first day of the show, the Network X Awards will take place on the evening of 8 October 2024 at the prestigious Hôtel de Ville in Paris. This ceremony will celebrate the impressive achievements, innovations, and excellence that have defined the telecommunications industry over the past year.

From smart home solutions to AI-driven projects and 5G and fibre services, the Network X Awards will recognise excellence across multiple categories that reflect the key themes of this year’s event. With entries from over 25 countries, the competition is fierce, and the awards promise to showcase the industry's most forward-thinking solutions.

Sam Oakley, Senior Portfolio Director, Informa Tech, said: "With a week to go, we are looking forward to welcoming the global telecommunications industry to Paris for Network X 2024. This year's event is going to be packed with insights, chances to collaborate, and access to the latest innovations that will push the industry forward and accelerate revenue streams. If you're in telecoms, you definitely don’t want to miss this - it’s going to be transformative for the future of connectivity."

Network X will return to the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in 2024, between 8-10 October. To register for the event, please visit https://networkxevent.com/pass-types/