AI Networking for the Enterprise Mobile Cloud

Spring 2024

The proliferation of highly mobile enterprise end points is driving the need for distributed cloud architectures that provide seamless connectivity to computing resources, regardless of the location of user devices. Due to its performance, reliability, security and mobility advantages, 5G is emerging as the preferred mode of wireless connectivity. At the same time, the majority of mobile cloud computing resources will be dedicated to AI workloads, which has implications for AI networking and AI edge infrastructure. How is device connectivity assured across a combination of public and private 5G networks? How do applications gain access to computing resources based on throughput, latency and processing requirements? Attend this session to learn from experts who will discuss the leading market trends, technical challenges and business benefits of AI networking for the enterprise mobile cloud.

Speakers:

Stephen Collins is Principal Consultant at 1024tm, a boutique consulting firm that serves leading-edge networking, telecom and cloud infrastructure companies across multiple segments of the enterprise IT and service provider markets. His clients range from startups to billion-dollar businesses, with projects typically involving a mix of business and product strategy, go-to-market planning, thought leadership, product marketing, business development and sales enablement.

Stephen has a proven track record of successfully introducing innovative products into highly competitive, rapidly growing markets, and he brings clients four decades of operational experience in a wide range of executive, product management, engineering, consulting, industry analyst and advisory roles, working primarily with communications equipment manufacturers and telecom software vendors.

In recent years, as a result of numerous client engagements, Stephen has developed a specialization in network visibility, Big Data analytics, full-stack observability and the application of AI and machine learning to drive network automation and service orchestration in complex, mission-critical service provider and enterprise IT infrastructure. He has applied this expertise to a diverse range of projects in 5G network analytics (NWDAF), Open RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) xApps and rApps, SD-WAN infrastructure, Internet visibility and cloud-native infrastructure observability.

Stephen was hired out of college by AT&T Bell Labs, where he worked in software development on T-carrier data communications systems. Leaving in search of a startup opportunity, he joined multi-protocol router pioneer Wellfleet Communications as a founding engineer, where he spent a hyperactive decade in the rapid expansion of the global internetworking market. Stephen then went on to co-found Spring Tide Networks, which developed an innovative IP service switch for service provider networks, culminating in an acquisition by Lucent Technologies for $1.5 billion.

As VP of marketing at Sonus Networks and later at Acme Packet, Stephen gained experience in service provider VoIP. At Tatara Systems, he was active in the formative years of the small cells market. At Active Broadband Networks, he was involved in applying software-defined networking to the development of a Broadband Network Gateway (BNG) router based on a white box switching platform.

Stephen has been a frequent blog contributor and speaker at industry conferences, and he has authored numerous articles for industry trade publications. He holds an M.S. in Computer, Information and Control engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Computer Systems Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Allwyn Sequeira is CEO at Highway 9 Networks. A serial entrepreneur, he was previously SVP/GM at VMware across multiple business lines and new ventures. Allwyn’s first venture was as CTO / VP creating and delivering the industry’s first software-defined networking (SDN) solution, VMware NSX vSphere, which grew to over $2B in revenue. He was then asked to run vCloud Air, VMware’s own cloud service, leading all development, product management, IaaS platform and service delivery, cloud operations and customer success. In his final role, Allwyn led the development and operation of HCX, the industry’s first hybrid cloud migration and inter-networking service between VMware, enterprises and public clouds like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and IBM. This effort led to the creation of Telco Cloud Automation and Infrastructure, which was the world’s first platform integrating 5G containerized network functions, and was chosen by DISH as its 5G platform. Earlier in his career, Allwyn was co-founder and EVP of Products and Operations at First Virtual Corporation (FVC) through its IPO and growth.

Dr. Ali Shah is the Head of  Technology, Enterprise for Nokia Mobile Networks in North America. He joined Nokia in 2019 as the Head of Network Cognitive Services. Ali has experience in Mobile Network Strategy & Solutions, Network Planning and Optimization for Mobile Network Operators and Enterprise customers. Prior to Nokia he held several consulting/leadership positions with Tier 1 vendors and Operators.

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