Releasing The Potential Of Fixed Wireless Access In Europe

Franco Accordino is the Head of the “Investment in High-Capacity Networks” unit within the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT). The unit is responsible for the deployment and take-up of very high-capacity broadband networks underpinning the Digital Single Market and promoting the European Commission’s vision and policy actions to turn Europe into a Gigabit Society by 2025.

Prior to this role, Franco was the Head of “Knowledge Management and Innovative Systems” unit providing support to DG CONNECT policies and operations and delivering advanced solutions for the European Commission’s internal take up in such fields as data analytics, web platforms (futurium) and artificial intelligence.

Before becoming Head of Unit, Franco led the Task Force “Digital Futures”, a participatory foresight project aiming to devise 2050’s visions and policy ideas underpinned by the digital transformation.

During his experience at the European Commission, Franco worked as a scientific and policy officer and Director’s Assistant in such fields as Future and Emerging Technologies, Future Internet,  High-Performance Computing, Grid and Cloud technologies, Trust and Security.

Before joining the European Commission, he worked at the ETHZ/CSCS National Supercomputing Centre of Switzerland and at the National Research Council of Italy where he conducted research on formal methods, languages and tools for complex systems specification.

He has a long-standing experience in several information technology fields, including formal methods and software engineering, cloud and distributed systems, network centric operating systems, web platforms, AI, machine learning and data analytics.

Konstantinos Masselos has been appointed as the President of the Hellenic  Telecommunications and Post Commission by the Council of Ministers in  February 2018. 

He received a first degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Patras,  Greece in 1994 and an MSc in VLSI Systems Engineering from University of  Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, United Kingdom in 1996. 

In April 2000 he received a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from  University of Patras, Greece in cooperation with the Inter-university Micro  Electronics Centre (IMEC) in Belgium where he was a researcher from 1997 to  1999. 

From 2001 to 2004 he was with Intracom Telecom S.A, Greece where he was  involved in research and development projects on the development of wireless  communication systems. 

He was a lecturer in digital systems in the Department of Electrical and  Electronic Engineering of Imperial College London from 2005 to 2008.  

In 2006 he joined University of Peloponnese where he is currently a Professor in  the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications and leader of the  Computer Systems research group. 

At University of Peloponnese he served as Vice Rector (2010 – 2012), Head of  the Research Committee (2010 – 2013) and Rector (2012 – 2017). He has been  involved in several research and development projects and has consulting  experience with different industries, start-up companies and public  organizations. Since 2005 he is also regularly involved as an expert with  different European Commission units. He was member of the Scientific  Committee of European COoperation in Science and Technology (COST)  Organization from 2015 to 2017. His main research interests include compilers,  high level synthesis, FPGAs, high performance computing and computing  systems for space. He has authored more than 120 papers in international  journals and conferences.

Bent Andre Støyva currently works as a telecommunications Engineer and MM.

He has worked for the Norwegian Communications Authority since 2000 and is involved in planning and awarding licenses for Mobile, Satellite, PMR, SRD and telemetry.

Mr Støyva has also been head of Section for Spectrum Planning since May 2018

Julien is currently actively involved in a number of industry organizations such as the GSMA or the GSA. In particular, Julien is the current Chair of the GSA 4G-5G FWA Forum which promotes the adoption of 3GPP-based FWA solutions, aims at educating the industry about the merits of FWA for the society and aims at fostering collaboration among FWA suppliers to improve the industry’s ecosystem.

Overall, he has spent 20 years in the telecom industry specializing in wireless broadband technologies and cellular IoT.

Previously, Julien has also worked for a number of telecom consulting companies and for the French operator SFR.

Katri has worked 19 years in the telco business and has experience from B2B and B2C business both in Finland and in globally.

She has worked in all key operator business areas including voice services, broadband, TV &  devices.

Currently Katri is leading DNA’s Home Broadband Business. She has also succeeded in growing DNA from a market challenger into a clear market leader in fixed broadband in 2021 and  as the forerunner of 5G in the market with different 5G product propositions including the development of DNA Koti 5G (FWA).

Patrick has been at the forefront of FWA since the first 3G device 20 years ago.

He has been a senior business development professional with many big brands in the FWA space. Novatel Wireless (Inseego), Digi International, Option and Ubee to name some.

Mr Robinson has seen 3G launch and with it the first embedded routers from Novatel (Ovation 1 and 2), He has worked with M2M FWA with Digi international on some very large deployments.

Patrick was with Option when LTE launched and is now VP Europe for ATEL with the roll out of 5G around the world and is also VP Business development for all strategic projects globally.

Stéphanie Char joined IDATE in September 2019 as Research Director in the Media-Telecom division. She specialises in market research, demand analysis, quantitative modelling and forecasting of the main market trends as well as telecom operators’ performance in the fixed, mobile and media markets. Before joining IDATE, she worked for various market research and consulting firms and at the OECD.

Stéphanie is currently undertaking an Executive MBA at HEC Paris (class of 2022) and holds a Master’s degree (MSc) in Economic Development and Politics from the University of Manchester (2008).

Maarit has an extensive expertise in telecoms, broadband and internet matters. She joined ETNO from the Internet Society, where she served as a Senior Manager Europe and where she has acquired strong experience of broadband policies as well as extensive links with internet and tech stakeholders.

Maarit also had direct experience of the telecoms business during her 6 years at Cisco and has developed a strong service-oriented, hands-on profile acquired in leading consultancies Interel and Schuman Associates. She also has a strong European academic background from the College of Europe, LSE, King’s College and SciencesPo. Maarit is a Finnish national, she also speaks English and French.

Philippe Lefebvre is responsible for the Commission’s 5G deployment strategy including policy development and economic aspects, in particular regarding the implementation of the “5G Action Plan for Europe” and EU connectivity targets.

Before his current position, he was responsible for the broadcasting sector as well as for the general secretariat of the Radio Spectrum Policy Group in the EU spectrum policy unit. He also worked in several other Commission’s departments between 1996 and 2003 including electronic commerce and financial technologies.

Prior to joining the European Commission, Philippe Lefebvre held middle management positions in the Belgian’s Generale Bank (1983-1986), as Vice President for MasterCard Europe (1987-1991), and as Director Debit Products with Visa International in the US (1992-1995).

Philippe Lefebvre was born in Luxembourg. He graduated in electrical & mechanical engineering (MS) from the Brussels University and in economics (MBA) from the same university.

Harald Gruber is head of the Digital Infrastructure Division at the Projects Directorate of the European Investment Bank based in Luxembourg. He oversees a team of sector experts involved in sector and technology analysis as well as project appraisal.

He also works on the Bank’s business strategy with respect to financing of digital infrastructure, semiconductors, space, industrial policy and the economics of digital transformation in general.

Mr Gruber has also contributed in defining new financial instruments for digital infrastructure and services jointly with European Commission, national promotional banks and private sector.

Harald has a considerable record of accomplishment in scientific publication. Recent work is on formulating proposals for a digital industrial policy[1] . More in general, he has published articles in refereed journals as well as books. He is on the editorial board of academic journals. He has been also professor at Bocconi University (Milan) for telecommunications economics.

Harald Gruber holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Michael Opitz is Partner and Head of the TIME (Telecom, IT, Media, Electronics) Practice of Arthur D. Little in Central Europe, located in Munich.

The focus of his work lies in the areas of Strategy & operating model, Digital Transformation & Infrastructure based business models.

Michael studied Business Administration at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. He holds a master degree and PhD.  He has international work experience including Europe, Americas, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Arthur D. Little Michael gained working experience in the banking industry.  He publishes regularly in well-respected business magazines and is often speaker and moderator at high level European executive events.