The proliferation of broadband has helped to secure the creation of knowledge-based economies in many countries around the world, enabling businesses to remain competitive against growing economies in other parts of the word. Broadband creates a more productive and efficient marketplace and a more flexible workforce, and by introducing new business models, broadband will change the shape of some sectors of the market altogether. But without fundamental support, many businesses will remain unable to fully exploit these opportunities. Government ministries, industry regulators, and the ICT industry must work with businesses to ensure that availability and access to broadband becomes a universal reality for everyone, everywhere.

This session will address the opportunities that broadband brings for individuals, enterprises, and society as a whole; provide concrete examples of benefits derived from using broadband; identify the obstacles that prevent us from taking advantage of these opportunities; and generate ideas on what can be done to eliminate these barriers in a relevant time frame.

Torbjörn Nilsson Senior Advisor to CEO and Ericsson Group Ericsson

Mr. Nilsson's illustrious career has encompassed 30 years at Ericsson, with senior management positions in strategic product and marketing management. He also served as vice president of marketing and sales in the United States; chief marketing officer and senior vice president and head of group function marketing and strategic business and development; and chief strategy officer and senior vice president and head of group function strategy and product management with Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.

Michael Bartholomew Director European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO)

Mr. Bartholomew is responsible for running the Brussels-based secretariat. Mr. Bartholomew oversees all working groups and develops public policy for Europe's largest telecom companies at the highest levels of government across the European Union and worldwide. Prior to joining ETNO, he served as director for European affairs for the Motion Picture Association. Mr. Bartholomew also founded a Brussels public affairs consultancy, which he managed successfully for nine years. He began his career as a journalist and has worked for the Associated Press, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and his columns on European affairs have been published in leading international newspapers. Mr. Bartholomew holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Illinois.

Kenneth Ducatel Cabinet Member, Information Society and Media European Commission

Mr. Ducatel has been a member of Reding's Cabinet since November 2004. He has worked on information society policy for more than 20 years. Mr. Ducatel was a member of faculty at the University of Manchester for 14 years. His first experience in the European Commission was in DG Employment in 1995, when he worked in the secretariat to the High Level Group on the Information Society led by Professor Luc Soete. From 1997 to 2003, he worked at the European Commission's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in Seville, where he led the institute's flagship Futures Project. Mr. Ducatel holds a Ph.D. in economic geography from Bristol University and an M.Sc. in transport policy from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom.

Erik Hallberg Senior Vice President and Head of Market Area Broadband Services Sweden TeliaSonera

Mr. Hallberg currently heads the Swedish telecom company’s Swedish Broadband Services operations, with approximately 5,500 employees and revenue of about €2 billion. During his eight years with TeliaSonera, Mr. Hallberg has headed its Baltic operations as well as carried out several turn-around operations in several of the company’s market areas.

Mike Wright Executive Director, Wireless Engineering and Operations Telstra Australia

Mr. Wright's charter is to lead the design, development, and operations of Telstra's wireless networks. He has made significant contributions to the establishment of Telstra's mobile voice and data networks during their evolution through analog, GSM, and CDMA to the completion of Telstra's world-class nationwide 850 MHz HSDPA-capable Next G™ network in October 2006. He started his career in Telstra Australia, designing and building local telecommunications networks before moving onto pioneering work with the development of the first mobile network in Australia in the 1980s.