Churn can be a business case killer. Beyond revenue loss, churn typically results in the need to process returned CPEs and update systems and network elements, as well as being stuck with underutilized access infrastructure.

Current market research suggests that offering subscribers more than one service has a positive effect on churn. As a result, network operators are trying to outgun each other by bringing new services to market.

There is a complimentary approach to reducing the negative effects of churn available to the market-savvy network operator-offering subscribers more freedom of choice. A number of network operators worldwide are opening their networks to competing providers of content services based on revenue sharing. While customers continue to switch between service providers, they remain with the same network operator. The result for the network operator is a dramatic reduction in both revenue loss and costs associated with churn. This session will provide an in-depth look at some operators that have made freedom of choice a reality.

Michael Engström Vice President, Global Business Development PacketFront Sweden

Mr. Engström is the vice president of global business development at PacketFront Sweden, and he has been with the company since 2002. Prior to joining PacketFront, he co-founded the consulting companies ANzur Norway and 34 Networks focusing on business management for Greenfield FTTH operators. He spent 10 years primarily in US-based networking companies. Between 1995 and 2000, he worked for Cisco Systems as a consulting engineer and strategic advisor on new market developments in EMEA.

Robert Kjellberg Chief Executive Officer OpenNet

Mr. Kjellberg was previously chief executive officer of Mälarenergi Stadsnät 2000-06, one of Sweden's most successful broadband networks (Vasteras). He was appointed Urban Network Entrepreneur of the Year 2003 by the Swedish Urban Network Association and Marketeer of the Year 2003 in the region. In 2005 at Mälarenergi Stadsnät, Mr. Kjellberg received the CornerStone Award in Dallas for the most advanced FTTP network in the world. The same year the network in Västerås was nominated as one of the 21 smartest cities in the world by the ICF.

Stefano Nocentini Head, TIlab Telecom Italia S.p.A.

Mr. Nocentini is responsible for the complete range of platforms and fixed-mobile services, from traditional voice services to value-added data and the migration services aimed at residential and business customer segments. He is responsible also for Telecom Italia Lab (the R&D group of Telecom Italia). He began his career with Telecom Italia in 1987. Mr. Nocentini was quickly promoted. He led several key and innovative projects, including the introduction of ISDN, development of intelligence network platform and services, evolution of data network toward the NGN - Class 4 replacement, and fixed-mobile convergence. Mr. Nocentini is a board member of Loquendo.

Herman Weerman Senior Business Development Manager @Home

Mr. Weerman is responsible for the next-generation Ethernet-to-the-Home project, providing 100 Mbps using an existing cable-TV (coax) infrastructure. He has an M.Sc. in telecommunications and has worked in the telecom industry since 1986 for KEMA (protocol certification), the telecom department of the Dutch Railways, UPC, and Essent Kabelcom. He started the first broadband-Internet-over-coax service in the Netherlands as early as in 1997 at UPC and received the Telecom Innovation Award for new services over cable-TV networks.