Connectivity, Future Networks & Global IoT Infrastructure

Chairpersons welcome and opening remarks.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from the edge of network operations to the very core of how digital infrastructure is designed, managed, and optimized. As organizations contend with unprecedented volumes of connected devices, data traffic, and mission-critical applications, AI-driven network automation is emerging as a strategic imperative rather than a technical enhancement.

This session will explore how forward-thinking enterprises are leveraging intelligent automation to create networks that can predict disruptions, optimize performance in real time, and adapt dynamically to changing demands. Join industry leaders as they examine the business value, operational impact, and future potential of autonomous networking, and discuss what it takes to build the resilient, scalable connectivity foundations required for the next decade of innovation.

Beyond 5G: The Road to 6G, NTN and Ubiquitous Connectivity

The connectivity landscape is expanding rapidly as terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks begin to converge. 6G research, satellite integration and advances in network intelligence are creating new options for organisations operating across complex or hard-to-reach environments.

This panel explores how these technologies will reshape enterprise connectivity strategies, what use cases are likely to reach commercial maturity first and how organisations can prepare without investing too early in unproven capability.

Discussion topics

• The realistic path from 5G to 6G
• Non-terrestrial networks and direct-to-device connectivity
• Integrating terrestrial and satellite services
• Coverage, capacity and latency trade-offs
• Commercial adoption timelines

Private 5G has moved beyond early experimentation, but its value remains highly dependent on the environment, use case and deployment model.

Drawing on real-world examples, this session examines where private wireless is delivering measurable operational and commercial outcomes, the challenges organisations encounter during deployment and how leaders can identify the situations where private 5G offers a genuine advantage over Wi-Fi and public cellular networks.

Managing connected devices across multiple markets and network operators remains one of the greatest barriers to scaling IoT internationally.

This session explores how SGP.32, eSIM and iSIM are changing device provisioning and connectivity management. Learn how organisations can reduce operational complexity, improve deployment flexibility and manage large connected estates more effectively across regions, carriers and device types.

Telecommunications networks are evolving from passive connectivity infrastructure into more programmable and intelligent platforms.

This session examines how AI-RAN architectures can improve network performance, automate resource allocation and create new commercial opportunities for operators. It will also address the practical considerations around infrastructure investment, interoperability and the emerging relationship between connectivity and distributed compute.

Satellite IoT is moving from a specialist solution to a practical extension of terrestrial connectivity.

This session explores how low-earth orbit networks, improving device economics and hybrid connectivity models are enabling reliable coverage across logistics, maritime, energy, agriculture and critical infrastructure. Attendees will hear where satellite IoT is delivering value today and what still needs to improve for broader adoption.

Geopolitical tensions, technology controls and national infrastructure policies are reshaping how connectivity technologies are sourced, deployed and governed.

This panel examines what technology sovereignty means for global IoT programmes, network operators and enterprise buyers. Panellists will discuss how organisations can balance resilience, interoperability and regulatory requirements without creating costly regional silos.

Discussion topics

• Network and technology sovereignty
• Semiconductor and equipment supply chains
• Regional standards and regulatory fragmentation
• Trusted infrastructure and vendor strategy
• Maintaining global interoperability

Cities are becoming some of the world’s largest and most complex IoT deployments. From intelligent transport systems and connected utilities to environmental monitoring and digital public services, connectivity is emerging as the foundation of modern urban operations.

This session explores how municipalities and infrastructure providers are combining fibre, private 5G, LPWAN, Wi-Fi and satellite technologies to create resilient, scalable and future-ready digital infrastructure.

Many smart city initiatives have struggled to move beyond pilot projects. This session examines how leading cities are successfully scaling connected transport, smart lighting, energy management, environmental monitoring and public safety programmes. Learn what has changed, where measurable value is being delivered and what technology leaders should consider when building large-scale urban IoT ecosystems.

For decades, innovation strategies have focused on doing less harm. Today’s most ambitious cities, developers and technology leaders are asking a more important question: how can technology actively improve the world around us? This session explores the emerging vision of a solarpunk future, where connected infrastructure, AI, IoT and intelligent automation help create cleaner, greener and more resilient communities.

From city-wide reuse and circular economy networks to smart buildings that measure, optimise and reduce their own environmental impact in real time, discover how technology is enabling a shift from sustainability to regeneration. Join an innovator at the forefront of smart cities and connected infrastructure as they examine the practical steps needed to build urban environments that are not only more efficient, but fundamentally better for people and the planet.

Ambient IoT could remove one of the biggest constraints on connected technology: the need to power and maintain billions of individual devices.

By harvesting energy from radio waves, light, heat and motion, battery-free sensors could make large-scale deployments more practical across manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare and smart environments. This session explores the standards, infrastructure and commercial models required to move ambient IoT from promising trials into widespread deployment.

Connected operations increasingly span local devices, edge infrastructure, cloud platforms and satellite networks. The challenge is ensuring these environments work together without creating unnecessary complexity.

This closing session presents a practical approach to designing resilient hybrid architectures that maintain connectivity, data flow and service continuity across remote, mobile and mission-critical operations.