About 5G Blitz Week

The world is only starting to see what 5G is capable of. The ultra-low latency provided by 5G is a pivotal part of our digital evolution, bringing with it use cases such as Industrial IoT, Autonomous Vehicles and Smart Cities, but there is more to come. Join Fierce’s 5G Blitz Week as we explore 5G Milestones to date, key 5G applications and as we explore core technological components supporting the connectivity ecosystem. View on-demand here.

AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 27

11:00AM-12:15PM ET:
THE 5G ADVANCED USE CASE – WHAT’S NEXT FOR 5G?

11:00AM-11:15AM: Keynote
11:15AM-11:30AM: Partner Keynote
11:30AM-12:15PM: Panel Discussion

It is safe to say that we are only scratching the surface of 5G capabilities. 3GPP’s Release 18 detailed the start of 5G Advanced, the next iteration of 5G connectivity that will bring with it even more impressive use cases. So as the connectivity ecosystem continues to evolve, what can we expect in the years to come? From Digital Twins, Machine Communications, and the Metaverse, join this session as we explore what 5G Advanced will bring, and how these use cases will continue to define the connectivity industry as we evolve closer to 6G.

AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 27

12:15PM-1:15PM ET:
5G FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS TO AND THROUGH THE HOME – SPEED, LATENCY, RELIABILITY AND OTHER CONSUMER DRIVERS

This panel will review the current directions to consumer Fixed Wireless Access services as well as the increasing requirement on wired networks for 5G/LTE reliability backups. In addition, discussion will circle from LTE through mid-spectrum to millimeter wave where is the future of wireless based Home Networking going? The demand for not only speed but low latency and reliability – all the way to end device, which means a reliable and performing Wi-Fi network. The panel will touch on the correlation between new Wi-Fi 7 / 6GHz mesh Wi-Fi and 5G access. It will discuss the current and future directions of FWA Gateways and the opportunities to leverage these “instant on” devices to bring not only broadband services but added-value services in the home, enabled by container-based open-source software. 

AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 27

2:00PM-2:45PM ET:
5G IN 2023 – INDUSTRIAL MILESTONES ACHIEVED SO FAR

2:00PM-2:45PM: Panel Discussion

The 5G hype is fully justified, with the use cases it will bring, 5G is set to redefine connectivity. Since 3GPP’s release 17 in December 2017, the industry has invested billions of dollars in the 5G network architecture – but what does this mean in real terms? What has been delivered? For many, the biggest milestone may the release of the first 5G smart phone in 2019, but those in the industry know that 5G is capable of much more than that. From Augmented Reality for repairs, to Automated guided vehicles, the low latency provided by 5G is bringing to life a new era of industrial workloads. Join Fierce as we explore the 5G industrial milestones achieved to date, and as we discuss what the future will bring.

AGENDA
TUESDAY, MARCH 28

11:00AM-12:00PM ET:
CONNECTING THE 5G ECOSYSTEM: OPEN 5G CORE

11:00AM-11:15AM: Keynote
11:30AM-12:00PM: Panel Discussion

Responsible for data aggregation, traffic management and communication, the 5G Core Network defines fundamental 5G network characteristics, including increased agility, increased network capabilities and network slicing selection, characteristics which are further enhanced in an open core environment. Open 5G Core functions are built on a disaggregated, cloud-native, service-based architecture where different network functions lend themselves to others thus allowing for smooth implementation and upgrades without disturbing existing functions. The Open 5G Core Network is needed to support 5G Advanced Use Cases in addition to meeting the increasing demands for private 5G and enterprise networks. Despite such importance, security concerns have been raised due to the nature of the service-based architecture creating network element exposures. As such, what is the best way to deploy an Open 5G Core Network? How can security concerns be minimized? Join this session to find out the answers.

AGENDA
TUESDAY, MARCH 28

2:00PM-3:15PM ET:
CONNECTING THE 5G ECOSYSTEM: THE ROLE OF OPEN RAN

2:00PM-2:15PM: Keynote
2:15PM-2:30PM: Partner Keynote
2:30PM-3:15PM: Panel Discussion

Everyone in the Telco industry will be no stranger to Open RAN. A standard relating to the design of the RAN which is disaggregated, open and increases the vendor pool, open RAN networks will offer the opportunity for operators to build their 5G networks in an efficient and more cost-effective manner compared with legacy predecessors. Despite the benefits, there are still questions relating to optimization, creating uncertainty in the operator community. What role will system integrator or RAN Intelligent Controllers (RIC) play in optimizing functions in the open interface, and who are responsible for these? What role will AI/ML play in leveraging cross-domain functions not only in the RAN but also in other parts of the network?

AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

11:00AM-11:30PM ET:
CONNECTING THE 5G ECOSYSTEM: UNDERSTANDING 5G XHAUL TRANSPORT: TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATIONS

11:00AM-11:15AM: Keynote
11:15AM-11:30AM: Keynote

The Xhaul (fronthaul & backhaul) refers simply to the transport systems between the core network and its various subnetworks. These transport systems have previously been composed of wired and wireless infrastructure, but the 5G ecosystem is suggested to make this more complicated due to the increased traffic and data exchange required to support the ultra-low latency environment. In addition to the fronthaul and backhaul components, the 5G ecosystem will require a midhaul layer, thus increasing the support interface. It is essential that operators navigate 5G transport correctly to avoid capex-intensive operations. What technological innovations exist to help synchronize the layers of the Xhaul? What role can analytics & automation play in ensuring seamless 5G Xhaul functionality?

AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29

2:00PM-3:30PM ET:
CONNECTING THE 5G ECOSYSTEM: 5G FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS

2:00PM-2:15PM: Fireside Chat
2:15PM-2:30PM: Keynote
2:30PM-2:45PM: Partner Keynote
2:45PM-3:30PM: Panel Discussion

5G Connectivity is poised to deliver use cases which will transform the way many live their lives. From telemedicine, remote education and industrial IoT, 5G connectivity will undoubtedly be paramount in the digital evolution. What role will Fixed Wireless Access play in ensuring 5G is available for everyone? It is estimated that 18% of the US’ population live in rural areas, many of whom are deeply affected by a connectivity gap created by supplier incumbency. So, what solutions exist to ensure rural population centres aren’t left behind? 5G Fixed Wireless Access could offer one solution. This technology refers to antennas strategically positioned to provide wireless coverage for in up to 30-mile radiuses. But what considerations do operators need to make when deploying this technology? Is its performance superior to a wired connection and is it a viable long-term solution?

AGENDA
THURSDAY, MARCH 30

11:00AM-12:15PM ET:
DELIVERING EFFICIENT 5G STANDALONE ARCHITECTURE & HYPER-AUTOMATION

11:00AM-11:15AM: Keynote
11:15AM-11:30AM: Partner Keynote
11:30AM-12:15PM: Panel Discussion

Leveraging Standalone 5G Architecture in network deployment creates an opportunity for operators to run their networks more efficiently, as well as deliver a multi-vendor, multi- service-based network. However, complexities exist around agility which sheds doubt on how operators can manage multi-service functions in their network. Hyper automation offers one solution. Hyper automation delivers end-to-end automation across 5G Network and allows functions to become more agile and efficient. What can operators do deploy hyper automation within their networks? And what are the best practices and challenges when adopting end-to-end hyper automatic network functions.