Nowadays, service providers around the world worry about the way they can bring their advanced data, voice, and video services to the full extent of their existing or potential customer base. At the same time, they are gradually moving away from the best-effort "Internet access-only" offering toward communication and entertainment service offerings, mostly pushed by the competitive environment.

Transforming the access network to suit the very demanding needs of triple-play offerings is not an easy task, and this can be confirmed by service providers who are willing to testify on their consolidated plans for implementation.

What are the key parameters to be successful in the altering broadband market?

• Provide all end users with an optimal bandwidth offering by mixing different network flavors and topologies in the most cost-effective way.
• Take away all technical hurdles for end users to subscribe to services by remotely mastering their digital homes.
• Migrate legacy services to a wide array of new (triple-play) services while securing the cash cow (i.e., voice) via a cost-effective network evolution toward IMS, WiMAX, and VoIP.
• Make sure that the best-in-market operational processes and operations support systems (OSSs) are in place to optimize per subscriber costs.

Providing all end users with an optimal bandwidth offering in the most cost-effective way creates a typical requirement such as bringing fiber to the most economical point. To deliver full-service offerings, including IPTV, service providers are bringing fiber closer to the end user and change their access technology being used, from ADSL to ADSL2plus, very-high-data-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL/VDSL2) or passive optical network (GPON) technologies.

Dirk Van Den Berghen President, Access Networks Division Alcatel

Mr. Van Den Berghen started his career in 1983 in Alcatel. He worked in various functional areas in Alcatel: research and development, sales support, portfolio strategy and product management. He has been based in countries around the globe, including Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Norway, and Singapore. In 1998 he was appointed vice president of the Data business unit in the Switching Systems division. In 2001 he became vice president of the Next Generation Networks business unit, and in 2003, he led the chief technology office in the Fixed Networks division. In this role, he contributed to the acquisition of TiMetra and to the integration of the Alcatel and TiMetra product development strategy and product portfolio. Since the end of 2003, he joined the IP division, where he was appointed vice president of the Regional Support Centre Europe and South, based in Antwerp, Belgium. Under his leadership, the new 7x50 product IP/Ethernet portfolio was successfully positioned with many customers.

Gilles Coullon Vice President, Very High Broadband, Network and IT division France Telecom Group

Mr. Coullon's responsibilities include worldwide strategy and planning of very high broadband network and IT solutions. Before assuming his current role, he was DSL access network chief technical officer. He started his France Telecom career in R&D, where he was involved in several positions in payphone services, telecom management network partnerships, and next-generation network trials (including a multiplay service trial on a cable network in the Netherlands).

Erlendur Steinn Gudnason Director of Development, ICT Iceland Telecom (Síminn)

In 2000, Mr. Gudnason was founder and chief executive officer of the software company Islandsvefir, which was later bought by Síminn, where he has been employed ever since. In 2002, he was set to define and set up a customer support unit for EVE Online, an MMOG game launched in May 2003. In 2004, he was appointed director of the technical division at data services and was responsible for launching one of the first IPTV services in Europe in November 2004, with VoD services launched in October 2005. In 2006, he was appointed to his current position.

Gary Lund Chief Technology Officer Aliant

Mr. Lund is responsible for all of Aliant's network engineering requirements and leads the management of Aliant's technology relationship with Bell Canada. With more than 23 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Mr. Lund has held increasingly senior leadership positions with Aliant and the New Brunswick Telephone Company. He has been an active contributor to a variety of local community groups and organizations, including the Hampton Rotary Club, the Board of Directors for CADMI Electronics, UNB Engineering Advisory Board, Sun Microsystems of Canada Executive Network, and TARA Board of Directors.

Peter Maxwell Head of Network Strategy and Architecture Eircom

In addition to his main duties, Mr. Maxwell is the lead negotiator for eircom's NGN RFP, covering Access, IP & Ethernet, Transport, and Advanced Voice. A telco veteran with 23 years of experience, Mr. Maxwell has held a number of senior management positions in eircom in both Networks and Operations, including director of Access Network, Dublin district manager, head of Network Planning, head of Switching and Signalling, head of Network Projects, and Dublin PABX sales and service manager.

Bjorn Netland Project Director, Broadband Development Telenor

Mr. Netland is responsible for developing and implementing Telenor's IP-based next-generation broadband network in the Nordic region. He is also responsible for development of the transport network. He has worked in various functional areas in Telenor, including research and development, strategy, and network development. Since 2000, he has been responsible for developing Telenor's all-IP-based network strategy.

Steen Krogh Nielsen Chief Architect TDC

Mr. Nielsen assumed his current role in October 2006. Mr. Nielsen joined TDC in 1986, where he was involved in optical and broadband technology research and development until 2000 and had management responsibility after 1995. From 2000, he has held management positions at TDC Networks, heading the network strategy section from March 2005 to September 2006. Mr. Nielsen has a Ph.D. in physics.

Philippe Ribonnet Head of Network and IT Management Belgacom

Mr. Ribonnet is in charge of Belgacom FLS' IT and network infrastructure, operations, engineering, applications, and systems. He started merging the IT and network activities into a single and convergent structure, allowing to deliver integrated business solutions such as IDTV, VoIP, and security. Previously, he held the position of strategy and business development director at Proximus, the mobile subsidiary of the Belgacom Group, where he had been working in various roles since its creation in 1993.