SLT-Mobitel is set to make history by hosting Sri Lanka’s first-ever event organized by TM Forum, the leading global alliance of telecommunications and tech companies. The TelcoNEXT event will gather the country’s telecommunications leaders, stakeholders, and global industry experts on October 29, 2024, at the Grand Ballroom, Waters Edge, to chart the future of digital innovation.
This landmark gathering aims to explore transformative strategies and breakthrough technologies that will define the next era of growth in the telecom sector. The agenda includes keynote speeches, presentations, and panel discussions that will highlight the achievements and challenges faced by local telcos while examining how collaboration across various sectors can propel the nation’s digital economy forward.
With over 200 attendees expected, including representatives from leading telcos, telecom-related companies, government authorities, regulatory bodies, banking sector leaders, technology partners, system integrators, and senior executives from various industries, the event promises to serve as an influential platform for the Sri Lankan telco industry.
The programme will commence with opening remarks by SLT-Mobitel CEO Janaka Abeysinghe, followed by a keynote address from TM Forum Chief Technology Officer George Glass. He will outline crucial industry challenges and offer guidance on how the telco sector can move beyond its current ‘Code Red’ situation. Glass will also discuss transformative solutions being developed by TM Forum and its members through Open Digital Architecture, as well as the importance of ecosystem collaboration and innovation.
A significant highlight of the event will be a panel discussion titled ‘Reigniting Growth and Innovation in Sri Lanka.’ This session will focus on the telecom sector’s pivotal role in building the nation’s digital economy and bridging the digital divide. Panellists will include representatives from Sri Lanka’s leading telcos, government authorities, and corporate leaders, discussing topics such as readiness for 5G, bridging the digital divide, and enabling digital services. Glass will moderate the discussion.
Following the main conference, TM Forum experts will hold an exclusive closed-doors workshop for SLT-Mobitel executives and representatives from the network, IT, and product development teams. Led by Glass, Vice President Member Services Greg Geodgenian, and Regional Engagement Manager Hamsya Rajendran, the session will focus on implementing industry standards, analyzing successful case studies, and exploring proven strategies that have helped global telcos overcome similar challenges.
TM Forum is a global alliance with over 800 members from various sectors, including telecommunications, technology, and digital services. Notable members include AT&T, Bharti Airtel, China Telecom, BT Group, Cisco Systems, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, Accenture, and Brunel University. These organizations collaborate to drive innovation and transformation in the telecom industry, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and sustainability.
The selection of Sri Lanka for this inaugural event reflects the country’s burgeoning digital economy and the telecommunications sector’s commitment to innovation. SLT-Mobitel is regarded as an ideal partner for collaboration due to its extensive network, innovative adoption of technologies like 5G and AI, commitment to sustainability, customer-centric approach, and strategic vision for digital growth in Sri Lanka. These attributes align closely with TM Forum’s goals of promoting telecom innovation and collaboration in the region.
The TM Forum TelcoNEXT event further reinforces SLT-Mobitel’s commitment to aligning with global standards and solidifies its position as a forward-thinking industry leader in the global telecommunications sector. Moreover, this initiative marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between SLT-Mobitel and TM Forum, with plans to establish it as a recurring event, contributing to Sri Lanka’s vision of digital transformation and economic growth.
