Light Reading's 2020 Vision Executive Summit Investigated the Challenges and Opportunities Presented by Next-Gen Communications Networks

NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One hundred telecom executives joined with Light Reading (www.lightreading.com), the market-leading online community for the global communications sector, and its research division, Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com) at the 2020 Vision Executive Summit (http://www.lightreading.com/iceland/), an exclusive event which took place in Iceland last week to investigate the scope, challenges and financial opportunities presented by next-gen communications networks.

To read all of the coverage on the event visit: http://www.lightreading.com/business-transformation.asp  

For telecom executives tasked with defining long-term business strategies, 2020 has been identified as the year that 5G will deliver new network architectures, new high-capacity applications and new business opportunities for service providers and large enterprises. The next generation of wireless broadband connectivity will also have a major impact on developing global innovations, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and cashless commerce, as well as the transformation of key industry verticals such as automotive, healthcare, education, retail, municipalities and utilities.

The event highlighted that the next five years will be full of disruption for the communications networking and services sector, with developments such as cloud services, virtualization, distributed data centers, 5G, IoT, Gigabit broadband, telco analytics and the convergence of telecom and IT capabilities influencing strategic thinking and investment/workforce decisions. Other key trends showcased at the Summit include the growing need for network operators to build security-focused teams, the potential for cloud capabilities and IT advances to enable new levels of networking innovation, and the need for relationships to be forged between traditional service providers (fixed, mobile and cable network operators) and the so-called 'OTT' companies such as Netflix and Amazon.

While there are many challenges ahead, new research findings from Heavy Reading unveiled at the Summit show that communications service providers are optimistic about their ability to adapt and thrive during the next five years. About two-thirds of service providers identified security as the most essential ingredient for 2020, while virtualization and next-gen cloud services were also rated essential to the service providers' future.

About two-thirds of service providers rated the Internet of Things as essential to their future in the next five years and slightly less than that also saw analytics as a critical element going forward. There was less certainty around trends such as distributed data centers and Gigabit Cities.

Stephen Saunders, founder and CEO, Light Reading said, "Vision 2020 dispensed with the standard, tired conference format of panels and keynotes to bring a C-level audience together and engage them in an "in the round" discussion of the strategic business issues that will dominate our industry through the end of the decade. Thanks to the contributions of all of our attendees, it was a huge success. Once again, Light Reading has ignored the conventional wisdom around what a live event can be. We're the only company doing this, because we're the only event company that is truly focused on content. And that's a fact."  

Here's what attendees had to say about the 2020 Vision Executive Summit:

• "Thank you so very much for such an incredible summit. It was well worth the trip.  Calix thanks you," said Robert Balsamo, VP, Product Strategy, Calix
• "I want to thank you for putting on such a well organized and interesting event.  It truly was a great forum for idea sharing and meeting other like-minded players in the space," said Ray La Chance, President & CEO, ZenFi
• "I want to congratulate you all on a fantastic inaugural 2020 Vision Executive Summit!  I'm grateful for the opportunity you provided me to participate in such a unique, well run, forward-looking event. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this phenomenal conversation about the future of our industry, and interact with some of the leading minds driving the innovation in telecommunications," said Gary Johnson, CEO/GM, Paul Bunyan Communications.

Brocade and Cisco were the 2020 Vision Executive Summit sponsors. Both companies partnered with Light Reading to develop the event content and original research.

Next year's 2020 Vision Executive Summit will take place in December 2015.

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About Light Reading

Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) combines its research-led online communities and targeted events portfolio to help those in the global communications industry make informed decisions. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for telecom analysis for more than 350,000 subscribers each month, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading produces targeted communications events and focused one-day conferences each year for cable, mobile, and wireline executives across five continents.

Media Contact:
Meryl Franzman
Beyond Words Communications Inc.
[email protected]
617 739 1769

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SOURCE Light Reading

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