As you have surely noticed, the interest in Open Access Networks is growing by the day, but there is still some confusion about what it really is. Therefore, we have teamed up with our friends at Connected America to arrange a pre-conference day focusing exclusively on Open Access. The program starts at lunch and ends with an Open (Access) Bar close to the venue.
12 pm – 1 pm | Lunch
1 pm – 1:50 pm | Keynote
Understanding the Increasing Popularity of Open Access and key business model considerations for success – Insights from Mikael Philipsson, CEO, COS Systems
The future of fiber is a digital society with Everyone and Everything relying on digital infrastructure. Paired with the current trends of consolidation, more expensive build costs and a race to invest in fiber roll out – all roads lead to shared infrastructure and open access. Mikael Philipsson, former CTO and CEO at one of the largest Open Access networks globally, IP Only (now Global Connect), led this journey on a national scale in Sweden, which has a fiber penetration of 98% today. He shares his insights on why Open Access is the right choice and how to structure the business case to make Open Access a success.
2 pm – 2:50 pm | Panel Discussion I
Three Layers of an Open Access Network: A Thorough Look at Roles and Responsibilities
Moderator: Keith Ponton, Senior Practice Lead, Arcadis
Panelists:
Gregg Shepperd, Senior Engagement Leader at Fujitsu Network Communications
Beni Blell, Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing, Hexatronic
Gabe Gomez, VP Customer Experience, Syringa Networks
Pankaj Gulati, Head of Products and Platforms, Ubiquity
The key characteristics of an Open Access Network are the separation of the network infrastructure, the neutral operations of the network, and the independent service providers selling their services to subscribers. This panel will explain these different roles and show that you can run an efficient fiber network by working with specialized partners without doing everything yourself.
3 pm – 3:50 pm | Panel Discussion II
Exploring the Advantages of Open Access Networks for Internet Service Providers and Their Operations Support Requirements
Moderator: John Zannos, Partner at Digital Ubiquity Capital
Panelists:
Phil Roberts, Chief Executive Officer at Valo Networks
Brian Hollister, CEO and Co-Founder at Bonfire Infrastructure Group
Dan Johnson, Product Manager, Connect Fast
Aaron Hildreth, Founder, Intellipop Internet Services
On an Open Access Network, all parties rely on each other for success. Internet Service Providers often have financial or workforce constraints limiting their ability to build fiber at a large scale. On an Open Access network, their Capex investment is minimal, and they can focus on providing high-quality services and support to their subscribers. But to be able to do this, they need a strong operator partner offering tools to efficiently sell, deliver, and troubleshoot on the shared network.
4 pm- 4:50 pm | Panel Discussion III
Navigating the Choice of Tech Stack for Open-Access Networks: Key Considerations for Success.
Moderator: Isak Finér, CRO, COS Systems
Panelists:
Robin Harder, Woven Product Lead at Arcadis
Sean Dundon, Director – Partner and Channel Development at VETRO FiberMap
Rob Laudati, VP – Product & Partnerships, Render Networks
Don Eben, CEO, Core Network Strategies
Despite the digital nature of fiber networks, a lot of legacy systems, technology, and manual processes are still in use. The Open Access model of sharing one infrastructure creates a whole different set of requirements and challenges that legacy technology can not solve. This panel explores the benefits of a “digital first” approach and how important integrations and automated workflows are becoming – especially in Open Access Networks.
5 pm- 6:00 pm | After-Panel Drinks and Socializing
Grab a beer and take the opportunity to grow your network of Open Access experts. Courtesy of the Open Access Day sponsors.
7 pm – 10 pm | Open (Access) Bar
COS Systems and all other Elite Sponsors are inviting you to continue the fun and discussions at Bar Louie, 360 W Las Colinas Blvd #100, Irving, Texas 75039
