Experiences like Internet of Things, virtual reality, self-driving cars, robotics, smart cities and more will test networks like never before. A software-centric architecture that can adapt quickly to these increasing demands is the answer. John Donovan will highlight AT&T;’s progress in transforming its network as well as a view into innovations shaping tomorrow’s connected world.

Explosive customer demand and networking technology innovation mean speed, flexibility and automation. Join Yvette Kanouff to hear how Cisco is driving virtualization, automation and orchestration to create the programmable, elastic network of the future. The presentation will focus on how Cisco innovation empowers Service Providers to achieve the business outcomes that matter: faster time to market for service creation, new business models for profitable revenue and reduced operating expense.

Incumbents beware! Collaborative economy companies grow faster, learn faster, and adapt faster. This talk will explain how and why every sector of the economy is being transformed by this broadening economic phenomenon. Telecommunications too!

Open source technologies are leading the way towards digital transformation with advanced security, accelerated innovation and unparalleled agility. Hear Tim Yeaton, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure Business Group at Red Hat discuss how open source technologies are empowering service providers to reduce costs, increase responsiveness to customer expectations and rapidly deliver new services.

Ubiquitous connectivity, the continuous stream of data, and intelligent platforms together create unprecedented ways for brands, governments and places to create environments of experience for their customers and consumers. The great danger lies in having old mindsets applied to new opportunities. Customer care is no longer about a 24-hour call center. User Experience (UX) and Customer Experience (CX) are under transformation. Customers expect more, and organizations can deliver more. The question is “Of what?” Is it greater engagement? A higher bar for meeting of expectations? A more in-depth immersion into a brand and its offerings? Or lower costs? Greater efficiency? Higher satisfaction? This panel of UX and CX specialists will dissect how human behavior and digital knowledge will combine to create new paradigms of interaction in a consumer driven world of business and government.

The communications industry is undergoing tectonic shifts with the ever growing demand for higher data throughputs and capacity, and the increasing diversity of consumer and machine wireless mobility requirements. Aparna will discuss Verizon’s market direction amidst these trends, and the company’s comprehensive network evolution strategy incorporating new LTE advanced features and 5G technologies.