The main evolution tracks for the telecom industry in the last years have been the increased penetration of broadband connectivity and the migration of new and existing services to IP. This session addresses the convergence of the above-mentioned evolution tracks to shape the future of the telecom industry, looking at technologies and network architectures that allow to further improve service offer and to simplify infrastructure maintenance.

National deployment of VDSL2 and IP-aggregation fits with this convergence. The panelists will highlight the technical and the operational challenges behind the creation of a fiber-rich network and behind the activation of the VDSL2 technology on the last mile to deliver video grade signals. To complete the chain, this session will address the operator approaches in deploying the services on VDSL2 in the homes.

Laurent Claus Vice President, Solution Development Belgacom

Mr. Claus took his current role in 2007, encompassing network engineering and IT development. Challenges include the convergence of the fixed and mobile organizations, while building the IP network and IT systems of the future. Mr. Claus joined Belgacom Mobile (Proximus) at the start-up and held various positions including switching engineer, O&M manager and call center manager, before he became member of the management committee in the role of customer service director in 1998. As from 2004, responsibilities of CTO were added to his role. Mr. Claus graduated as an electromechanical engineer from the University of Ghent and holds a Business and Administration degree from the University of Brussels.

Frank Dederichs Head of Development Swisscom

Mr. Dederichs is responsible for the Development business unit with the Network, Process IT, and Product IT divisions in Swisscom's Network and IT department. His career is connecting a large background in strategy, IT, and telecommunications as well as a profound knowledge of the telecom business. Prior to joining Swisscom, Mr. Dederichs held several management positions at software and telecommunication companies. He holds a doctor's degree in computer science from the Technical University of Munich and completed numerous trainings, including programs at MIT Boston and HSG St. Gallen.

Patrick Delcoigne Director, Network Infastructure Engineering Belgacom

Mr. Delcoigne is in charge of solution development in fixed and mobile networks. The readiness of the VDSL2 was his challenge of 2007. It allowed a flash deployment of thousands of IPDSLAMs and the launch of the VDSL2 video services with HDTV in early 2008. In 2006, Mr. Delcoigne cared for activating a national IP-aggregation network complemented by a DWDM topology. In 2002, he took a leading role in the birth of Broadway, the nationwide fiber-rich network. Mr. Delcoigne joined Belgacom in 1994 to take responsibilities in operations, logistics, finance, and engineering. Mr. Delcoigne obtained his master's degree in telecommunication at the University of Louvain, complemented by a postgraduate at the Solvay Business School.

John Frieslaar Senior Consultant Huawei Technologies

Mr. Frieslaar has accumulated 26 years of telecommunications and ICT experience within the global voice and data communications market. Much of his career has focused on working in the equipment vendor community, where he worked for companies such as Lucent Technologies, Madge Networks, ZTE, and Huawei.

Jess Li Vice President ZTE USA

Dr. Li is responsible for the planning, management, and marketing of ZTE’s access product portfolio for the North America market. He joined ZTE in late 2006 and represented ZTE in many standards meetings, conferences, and trade shows. Previously, Dr. Li worked as a product manager in Fujitsu Network Communications, responsible for metro and access transport network products.

Jürgen Lison Vice President ISAM Product Group, Fixed Access Networks Group Alcatel-Lucent

Mr. Lison manages Alcatel-Lucent's successful IP DSLAM product group. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Lison was in charge of the business management office for Alcatel's Access product portfolio in North America, including the digital loop carrier and fiber-to-the-user products. In 1996, Mr. Lison was part of the Alcatel team that won the DSL deployment contract with the U.S. Joint Procurement Consortium, consisting of BellSouth, SouthWestern Bell, Ameritech, and Pacific Bell. To support the aggressive rollout of DSL with SBC, Mr. Lison relocated to California in 1997. Mr. Lison joined Alcatel Belgium in 1992 as a software designer for Remote Access Systems and has been involved in Alcatel's DSL product group from its inception. Mr. Lison holds a master's degree in telecommunications from the University of Brussels.