After 20 years of heavy investments by both wireline and cellular industries, access networks are still network bottlenecks. Telcos and multiple-system operators have invested billions to upgrade their network to support high-speed data services. However, today they are considering a major overhaul either with fiber or DOCSIS 3.0 to further increase the bandwidth to the end user. Similarly, celcos's most valuable asset is the spectrum they own (i.e., access network). Despite the less than stellar deployments of 3G in Asia and Europe, cellular communication companies, or celcos, are investing heavily in access resources to bring better and faster data services to their subscribers. The access network is still where the action is.

Telecom operators need to provide a ubiquitous, high-bandwidth, reliable and affordable access network to meet the bundle requirement of the marketplace.

No single technology can meet all these requirements. Network operators have to rely on different technologies, both wireline and wireless, to reach their subscribers at all times. The goal of this panel is to provide a panorama of innovative solutions that combine technologies such as DSL, HFC, broadband over powerline, satellite, WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, and Wi-Fi into an integrated communication package.

Patrick Pfeffer Chief Network Architect DETECON

Dr. Pfeffer has 18 years of experience in telecommunications as a researcher, implementer, and analyst. He joined Detecon in 2003 and has led projects on data mining, location-based services, broadband wireline and wireless access, and fixed-to-mobile substitution. Before joining Detecon, Dr. Pfeffer held various senior management positions with Gluon Networks, Alcatel and US West. In 1991, he was a visiting professor at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Dr. Pfeffer started his career at INRIA, a research organization founded by the French government.

Ken Couch Director of Marketing, IPTV and Broadband Access Nortel

Mr. Couch is responsible for global product marketing of Nortel's IPTV and broadband access businesses. He is a veteran at Nortel with 18 years of service in a variety of positions, including engineering, product management, and marketing. Mr. Couch received his electrical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee and his M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Trevor Deane Vice President, Technology, Chief Technology Office Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago

Prior to joining TSTT three years ago, Mr. Deane held executive technology positions in private sector communication companies that had initially trialed early DOCSIS 1.0 HFC technology and then rolled out a nationwide pre-standard broadband fixed wireless network.

Benoit Mercier Associate Vice President, Marketing Alcatel North America

Mr. Mercier is responsible for strategic analysis of the wireline carrier market, including go-to-market plans and budgets and positioning for key markets with an emphasis on Alcatel's end-to-end IPTV solution. He has held various positions within the company, focusing on optical and access products, most recently serving as a systems engineer associate vice president. Prior to joining Alcatel more than 16 years ago, Mr. Mercier was a systems engineer at Nortel Networks, working on optical products and emerging SONET standards.