About
“Forging Ahead” is an online showcase of cutting-edge innovators solving problems and transforming the telecom industry for the better.
Heard that all before? In all likelihood, so have experienced journalists and analysts.
In these discussion-led conversations we don’t just take innovators’ word for it, we let leading observers of the industry test out their claims and ask the difficult questions… and you have the chance to join in too.
The emphasis in each session will be firmly on practical demonstrations, augmented by discussion with industry thought leaders from news outlets and analysts, together with audience interaction.
Agenda
14 July
3 pm CET: Revenue Generation - Are We Missing A Trick?
When the telecoms media is shouting about AI, robotics, edge, slicing, metaverse, satellites, ISAC and so much more emerging tech, it’s hard to take stock of what we already have and frame it differently. We’ve built up clear propositions, sales organisations and value chains.
But can we leverage existing assets in new ways to reinvigorate the telecoms proposition? Some bright sparks certainly think so. We’ll hear from them, and put their ideas through the wringer, in a session that’s sure to provoke.
5 pm CET: Succeeding in the Digital Trust Business
People have developed fairly effective methods to gauge trustworthiness in their physical environment, but digitally humanity is still learning. Cybersecurity is an important tool, but not the only one, in helping people feel confident that entities online are what they appear to be.
In a digital environment increasingly marred by AI slop, disinformation, misinformation and fraud, the telecoms ecosystem has strengths it can play to, adding value to end users, good actors and – as a consequence – the bank balance. Join us to learn how innovative companies are turning the hyperscalers’ “attention economy” into a trust economy where telecoms plays a crucial part.
15 July
2 pm CET: Operationalising AI Effectively
AI has been a buzzword and a priority for several years now, but the telecoms environment often has reasons to step back. When performance is obligatory and regulation may be incoming, trusting in a black box is worrying. And we have all heard horror stories of AI implementations that fail to deliver impact.
So how do we deliver more than machine learning and automation to our networks? How can we ensure it’s performing, and that it can outperform other, ‘safer’ options? This session brings insights from those at the cutting edge of this issue, destruct-tested by some of the sharpest observers in the business.
4 pm CET: Accessing the Global SME Market
While support for major enterprises gains the headlines, scaling enterprise services down to the vast majority of the B2B sector, the Small and Medium Enterprises, would open the floodgates to sizeable new revenues. The constraints SMEs operate under often leave them needing the simplicity of Wi-Fi and clear value that sells itself.
While some telcos have tried and failed to make the technology and business case stack up for years, other ingenious souls are cracking the code. Join us to learn from their experiences and see how they deliver enterprise services in the toughest part of the market.
Partners & Sponsors
In 2025 we heard from these innovators:
Roger Dewey
CEO and Founder, Able Device
David Knight
CEO, Terbine
Craig Gibson
CEO,
Dupewise
Sam Jackman
Chief Development Officer,
Shared Access
Morgan Curby
CMO,
Proptivity
Michael Karlsen
Co-Founder,
Onomondo
Adnan Saleem
CTO - Software & Cloud, Radisys
Sriram Ramakrishnan
CTO, Aarav Solutions
Ben Coffin
Chief Global Academic Business Manager, NI
James Kay
Business Development Manager, Dejero
Adlen Ksentini
Professor,
EURECOM
Owen O'Donnell
Senior Marketing Manager, Viavi
... And these asked tough questions
Sponsor The Next Forging Ahead
Forging Ahead is a two-day online showcase where real demos meet smart debate—putting your innovation in front of a global audience and in conversation with leading analysts and journalists.
What you get
- Demo Spotlight: showcase your company or solution in a high-impact segment.
- Analyst & Journalist Discussion: gain independent validation and credibility through a moderated conversation with recognised industry voices.
- Ongoing Visibility: logo, profile and links featured on the event hub with continued live + on-demand exposure.
- Brand Amplification: pre-, during- and post-event promotion across our channels to keep your message in market.
- Lead-Ready Collateral: house whitepapers, case studies and resources alongside your profile to convert interest into conversations.
- Repurposable Assets: receive the edited recordings of your segment for ABM, events and sales outreach.
- Thought Leadership: align with the industry’s New Wave—from value-led services to next-gen network models—and shape the narrative.
Optional enhancements
- Join a live panel with analysts and journalists
- Feature additional collateral and campaign bursts
- Extend branding across event touchpoints
- Showcase multiple innovations
Results that last
Sponsors see sustained engagement beyond the live sessions via our multi-channel distribution and on-demand audience.
Ready to lead the conversation?
Position your team in front of analysts, journalists and a global audience—and leave with standout assets and ongoing visibility. Enquire to sponsor and we’ll tailor the right package for your goals.
