Western Europe: Does Mobile WiMAX have a role in the heartland of LTE?

Moderator
	Caroline Gabriel Research Directory, Rethink Research Associates
Panelists
	Gerry Collins Director of Wireless for the Europe Middle East and Africa Region, Nortel		Faisal Ahmed VP Strategy & Market Planning, UK Broadband
	Giovanni Gasbarrone Top Clients-ICT Services, Market Development, Telecom Italia		Brendan O'Rourke COO, Freedom4
	Karlheinz W. Huber Managing Director, MGM Productions Group Communications GmbH

Western Europe is generally regarded as the toughest region for WiMAX to make an impact as a mobile, wide area system, because of the strong entrenched interest in UMTS and its natural successor LTE. However, most national regulators are supporting a measure of technology neutrality in the 2.5GHz spectrum band, with license auctions starting this year, and some non-UMTS operators are looking to acquire these licenses in order to deploy WiMAX as a disruptive technology. Also, there has been considerable activity in 3.5GHz, with some providers arguing that the business case in this band is as compelling as in lower frequencies. In this session, operators working in countries with a variety of regulatory regimes and business climates discuss the pros and cons of Mobile WiMAX in a region where it will have to live closely alongside LTE.

WiMAX Applications in Public Sector Market is now is a key issue, not only addressing the digital divide. ICT applications based on WIMAX solutions may address a variety of vertical markets (such as logistics, transportation and public sector market applications) especially in mature Western European markets.

Impact of WiMAX on wireless broadband services in Eastern Europe

Moderator
	Adlane Fellah CEO & Founder, Maravedis
Panelists
	Dr. Milan Kovacevic Deputy Executive Manager, SAGA d.o.o Beograd		Pawel Olech VP of Marketing and Sales, Exatel
	Stanimir Popov CEO, Trans Telecom		Krassimir Stoitcheff CEO, Max Telecom
	Emil Nikolov President & CEO, Nexcom Telecommunications

By contrast with the western region of the continent, eastern Europe has proved a very active early territory for WiMAX, in both fixed and mobile forms. Start-up and existing operators have taken advantage of a wealth of new 3.5GHz spectrum, and of relatively underserved, but high growth, markets. Many early adopters are now facing key decisions, such as whether to expand the business model from traditional fixed access into mobile services, and how to address convergence and the entry of 3G operators. In this panel, WiMAX providers with strong experience of the opportunities and challenges of eastern Europe look ahead to what the next phase of WiMAX will bring to the region.

The Disruptive Potential of WiMAX in Russia and CIS

	Prof. Sergey Portnoy Alvarion		Yuri Ginosyan CEO, CEDICOM JSC
	Michael Cunnyngham Chief Technical Director, Intellecom		Ekaterina Murga M&A Associate, Knightsbridge Associates

Russia is likely to be in the top five countries in terms of investment in WiMAX in 2008-12, and as such is eyed with keen interest by the vendor community. Several new and existing operators are planning massive roll-outs in major cities and rural areas, and some are also pushing into neighboring CIS states such as Ukraine. However, there are challenges in the region too, including consolidation of providers, economic and regulatory uncertainties, and the difficulties of generating profits in the vast and sparsely populated east. Operators facing these challenges will discuss their experiences so far, and how they believe WiMAX services will develop in the coming few years.

WiMAX in the Middle East

Moderator
	Adlane Fellah CEO & Founder, Maravedis
Panelists
	Tony Chaya Operations Manager, Pesco Telecom		Khaled Ismail GSM Services Officer, Orascom Telecom
	Rabih Daher Chairman of Broadmax Holding, GABS Group

The Middle East is becoming a hotbed for new communications technologies, as many countries start to kickstart competition and regulatory change, and operators look to target affluent but underserved populations. Several Middle Eastern operators are embarking on ambitious pan-regional programs driven by WiMAX, and incumbents are interested in the technology as a means to increase broadband availability rapidly, and to pre-empt 3G in some areas. In this session, panelists discuss the growth potential of this small but rich region and the role WiMAX can play in its development.

Africa: The Sleeping Giant for WiMAX

Moderator
	Caroline Gabriel Research Director, Rethink Research Associates
Panelists
	Uzoma Udemba Chairman & CEO, TrendTV, Communications Trends (Nigeria); GDC Coordinator, African Operators
	Roger Diogo People Wireless Africa

From the start of the next decade, Africa is likely to be the biggest growth region for WiMAX. Some major economies such as South Africa and Nigeria are already seeing a high level of early activity, but in many others, regulatory, economic and political instability may delay major roll-outs for a few more years. The rewards, when they come, could be huge, with many nations having an urgent need for broadband services and little or no 3G build-out. Some build-outs are by local ISPs, but the big projects are likely to come from international groups using WiMAX as a vehicle to leapfrog mobile incumbents and create pan-Africa operations. Representatives from both groups discuss the future for WiMAX and the obstacles that need to be overcome to fulfil its potential.