With bandwidth no longer an effective tool for customer retention, carriers are looking for killer applications such as IPTV to increase customer stickiness. However, other stake holders such as pay TV, cable, and Web content players are not sitting still. They are all flexing their muscles for a piece of the action. They are betting on multiple applications to get video to the user through many mechanisms such as mobile TV, piggybacking the Internet.

This panel will examine the options for carriers, content providers, equipment makers, and service firms to make an impact and generate revenue in this venture. It will examine the collaboration that is required among all of these stakeholders for IPTV monetization. How can they work together to overcome entrenched competition in the form of pay TV, and with looming competition in the form of Internet piggybacking? The panel will include senior representation from carriers, content providers, an equipment maker, and a professional service firm to provide a perspective on how the ecosystem will shape out in the future based on their experiences.

Ram Kumar Associate Vice President Infosys

Mr. Kumar is responsible for the R&D and product engineering services portfolio business at Infosys. Most recently, Mr. Kumar was the founder and CEO of WIncNet Corp., a wireless infrastructure firm focused on a mobility softswitch for enterprise VoIP and data mobility. Previously, he led Voiceworkz Inc., a network technology firm, from a concept to a VoIP gateway platform product, sales, and a liquidity event. Mr. Kumar held executive management positions at Scient, SAP, and OSF. He has a master's degree in computer science and business administration from Boston University.

Eric Chan General Manager, Business Development and Planning Hutchison Telecom

Mr. Chan oversees business strategic planning, partnership, and alliance development and leads a team to develop new telecommunication products and new business streams such as ICT solutions and other value-added services for the company. He was instrumental in many network service developments in Hong Kong and has masterminded a wide range of strategic projects, including trading networks and industry-wide platforms. Before joining Hutchison Telecom, Mr. Chan held various management positions in the IT and telecom industry and most recently was vice president of Data and Broadband Services, Commercial Business at PCCW.

Raghu Puri Managing Director, Transmission Networks APAC Scientific-Atlanta, A Cisco Company

Mr. Puri's department represents products for transmission of video across satellite and terrestrial networks in support of content providers, cable operators, and telcos. Since joining Scientific-Atlanta in 1994, he has held various management roles in business development, sales, product management, and marketing. Mr. Puri has more than 15 years of experience in broadband communications. Prior to joining Scientific-Atlanta, he was with Sprint from 1988 to 1993. Among his various roles, Mr. Puri was responsible for marketing products to mid-level enterprise accounts and re-engineering Sprint's field sales and customer service operations.

Chinnee Tong General Manager, Business Development Microsoft TV

Mr. Tong started his long career in telecommunications with AT&T Bell Labs in New Jersey and was responsible for products engineering and development, and network optimization and planning while he was in the US. In 1993, he moved back to China and has held many senior positions with multinational companies in China. He was director of network planning with AT&T China, vice president and general manager of Glenayre Electronics China, president of CommWorks in 3Com China, and vice president of UTStarcom before joining Microsoft in year 2005.