Bharat Bhatia is a global telecom leader with over five decades of experience in spectrum management, ICT policy, and regulation. He currently serves as President & CEO of IAFI, Vice Chairman of the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF), and chairs key international groups at the ITU and APT, shaping global standards for 5G, 6G, satellites and Wi-Fi. Previously, he led the international spectrum team at Motorola Solutions USA and played a pivotal role in opening India’s telecom sector, including the launch of the first GSM services and the development of India’s National Frequency Allocation Plan. Internationally, he introduced the concept of Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR) at the ITU and was instrumental in the adoption of ITU Resolution 646 on PPDR. Mr. Bhatia is a Fellow of IETE, holds a BE from the University of Delhi, and has completed leadership programs at National University of Singapore and George Washington University, USA. A sought-after speaker, he continues to guide global discussions on spectrum policy and next-generation technologies.

Graduated in Economics from the University of Brasília (UnB), with a master's and doctorate in Economics from the Catholic University of Brasília (UCB). In the telecommunications area since 2006, he was a consultant and analyst of sectoral information in an association of cellular operators. He also worked as an undergraduate professor at the Catholic University of Brasília (UCB), the Higher Education Institute of Brasília (IESB) and the Brazilian Institute of Capital Markets (IBMEC). He has written articles and book chapters published in Brazil and abroad. He has been a career civil servant at Anatel since 2009, where he was Executive Superintendent, Competition Superintendent, Head of Technical Advisory, and Superintendent of Obligations Control. He was a Board Member from October 2020 to April 2022, when he became Executive President and President of the Board of Directors of the National Telecommunications Agency.

Dr M. Rehan Usman is an Assistant Professor at Kingston University London and Chair of the Digi-Tel Health (DTH) Working Group at the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF) and is also involved in International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standardisation projects. With a multidisciplinary background and a PhD in IT Convergence Engineering, his research spans Resource Management in 5G and beyond HetNets, Cyber Security, Digital Healthcare, Quality of Experience (QoE), and AI-driven solutions for Healthcare and Smart Cities.

Dr Usman has authored several publications in leading journals and conferences and actively supervises research at undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. He has a proven track record of international collaboration and has contributed significantly to knowledge exchange through CPD workshops, particularly in partnership with the Pakistan Engineering Council. His recent organisational roles involve Chairing DTH WG for several WWRF meeting, Chair for RAFCATH Workshop at IEEE CCNC 2025, Co-Chief Organiser for IEEE ICEET (2018–2021), Chair for IoT Enabling Tech. at IEEE CCNC 2019, and TPC member for flagship IEEE conferences such as VTC, GLOBECOM, and CCNC. He also serves as a regular reviewer for prestigious indexed Q1 journals.

Divanilson R. Campelo is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the fields of optical networks, energy-efficient communication systems, and cybersecurity. He has made significant contributions to the development of power- saving techniques in Passive Optical Networks (PONs), particularly through the design of innovative ONU sleep modes. One of his key achievements includes the development of the Watchful Sleep Mode, which has been officially adopted into ITU-T standards for next-generation PON systems. His research has demonstrated over 50% energy savings under realistic network conditions, making a lasting impact on the broadband industry’s efforts toward sustainability.

In addition to his contributions in energy efficiency, he has also worked extensively in cyber-physical system (CPS) security and IoT traffic classification. His work on FID- GAN, an unsupervised fog-based intrusion detection system using generative models, addresses critical challenges in real-time cyber-attack detection with minimal latency. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, received multiple national- level research fellowships, and earned recognition including a Best Paper Award at IEEE Globecom. His solutions balance performance, privacy, and scalability—positioning him as a leading expert in building secure and sustainable future communication networks.

Edmar Candeia Gurjão, Professor of Electrical Engineering at UFCG, has made significant contributions to the fields of signal processing, wireless communication, and applied machine learning. Notably, his research in developing deep learning- based techniques for denoising electroencephalography (EEG) signals—particularly through the use of convolutional autoencoders—has enhanced the performance of brain-computer interface systems. By effectively filtering out noise caused by involuntary movements such as eye blinks and jaw clenching, his work has improved the accuracy and reliability of these systems, contributing to advancements in neurotechnology and human-machine interaction.

In wireless technologies, Prof. Gurjão has contributed to the development of bio- inspired wearable antennas for wireless body area networks (WBANs). These compact antennas, embedded in flexible materials like denim and polyamide, operate across 2G to Wi-Fi bands and are designed for low visual impact. He is also involved in the BINGO project, an international effort to detect faint hydrogen signals for studying the universe’s large-scale structure. His interdisciplinary work bridges communication systems, biomedical engineering, and space science, driving innovative and practical engineering solutions.

Dr Martha Suarez is President of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance and has over 15 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. In her current role at the DSA she advocates for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, which is essential to addressing key worldwide social and economic challenges. She spent over three years as General Director of the National Spectrum Agency in Colombia, having originally joined the ANE in 2013. Before that, she was awarded with a Marie Curie Fellowship and worked at the Instytut Technologii Elektronowej ITE in Poland for the Partnership for Cognitive Radio Par4CR European Project. Suarez is an electronics engineer, with a master degree in high frequency communication systems and is Doctor in electronics from the University Paris-Est.

Larissa Jales is the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager at GSMA Latin America, based in Brazil. With solid experience in institutional and government affairs mainly focused in the telecommunications agenda, she engages with members, governments and authorities to promote public policies that foster innovation, connectivity, and digital inclusion. She holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Brasília (UnB), specializing in Digital Law from University of Rio de Janeiro State (UERJ) and Public Policy from UnB. She previously worked for operators, associations, and consulting firms in the sector.

JJ Vegas Olmos is a technology leader with extensive international experience in photonics, optics, electronics, and software architecture, having worked in multiple countries and held a wide range of roles — from pure individual technical contributor to pure management, and back to a strong focus on hands-on technical work.

Committed to advancing cutting-edge technologies, JJ has contributed to both academic and industrial R&D, with expertise spanning optical communications, photonics integration, advanced networking systems, and software design architectures. Over the years, he has successfully led and collaborated on diverse, multidisciplinary projects, bridging hardware and software innovation.

Currently, JJ coordinates Research & Development efforts in Europe for the NVIDIA Networking Business Unit in the area of Software Architecture, driving forward innovations that power next-generation high-performance networking solutions. His unique blend of technical depth, leadership experience, and cross-cultural collaboration has made him a valuable contributor to global technology development initiatives.

Luciano Leonel Mendes received the Electrical Engineering and Master in Telecommunications degrees from the National Institute of Telecommunications (Inatel) in 2001 and 2003, respectively. He received the Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in 2007. He developed his post-doctoral studies at the Vodafone Chair Mobile Communications Systems, hosted by Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, from 2013 to 2015. He is full professor at Inatel, where he acts in undergraduate and graduate courses since 2001. Today he is the research coordinator of the Radiocommunication Reference Center (CRR) and the Brazil 6G project, both hosted by Inatel. He is also the coordinator of the xGMobile - the Embrapii-Inatel Competence Center on 5G and 6G Networks and represents Inatel at the One 6G Association and the Global 5G Event. He is a CNPq Researcher Fellow since 2016 and has coordinated the FAPEMIG Project Evaluation Chamber on Engineering and Architecture from 2023 to 2024. His main areas of interest are mobile communication, MIMO systems and Artificial Intelligence applied for digital communications.

Dr. Burak Kantarci is currently a Full Professor and the University Research Chair in AI-Enabled Secure Networking for Smart Critical Infrastructures, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ottawa, Canada. He is also the Founding Director of the Smart Connected Vehicles Innovation Centre (SCVIC) and the Next Generation Communications and Computing Networks (NEXTCON) Research Laboratory, University of Ottawa. He holds a Ph.D. degree in computer engineering from ITU in 2009. He is the author/co-author of more than 300 publications in established journals and conferences and 15 book chapters. His research has attracted more than 10,000 citations. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and of the ACM. Continuously listed among the top-cited scientists in telecommunications and networking based on the data reported by Stanford University since 2020, and since 2021, based on data collected from Microsoft Academic Graph, research.com has listed him among Canada’s top computer scientists. He is a recipient of King Charles III Coronation Medal (Canadian Version), and was a recipient of the Minister’s Award of Excellence from Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (2021) and the 2023 Technical Achievement Award of IEEE ComSoc Communications Software Technical Committee. He is also the winner of the 2024–2025 George S. Glinski Award for Excellence in Research in the Faculty of Engineering at University of Ottawa. He holds the Exemplary Editor Award from IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials (2021), and multiple best paper awards from various conferences, most recently from IEEE Globecom 2024, IEEE VCC 2023, IEEE ICC 2023, Wireless World Research Forum 2022, and IEEE Globecom 2021. He was a Distinguished Speaker of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) 2019–2021. He is also a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Systems Council. He has been a keynote/invited speaker or panelist in 40 events. In 2019 and 2020, he chaired the Communications Systems Integration and Modeling Technical Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has been the general chair, the program chair, or the track chair of more than 30 international conferences. He is an Editor of the IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials and IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, an Associate Editor of IEEE Networking Letters and Vehicular Communications (Elsevier), a former Associate Editor of Internet of Things (2021–2024), and a former Area Editor of IEEE Transactions on Green Communications and Networking (2016–2021).

Erika Rossetto is the Flight Dynamics Manager at Claro Brasil and serves as a Director of the Space Data Association (SDA). She holds a Master’s degree in Astronomy from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where she specialized in orbital debris studies. She also holds an MBA in project management for industry 4.0 from PUC-PR. With over 15 years of professional experience in the space sector, Erika has contributed extensively to initiatives promoting space safety and sustainability. Her leadership and expertise have been recognized both nationally and internationally, establishing her as one of the prominent women shaping the future of the global space industry.

Dr. Lina Bariah received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in communications engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. She was a Visiting Researcher with the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, in 2019, and an affiliate research fellow, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. She was a Senior Researcher at the technology Innovation institute, and a Lead AI Scientist at Open Innovation AI. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Khalifa University, and an Adjunct Research Professor, Western University, Canada. Dr. Bariah serves as the Industry Chair for GenAINet ETI. Dr. Bariah is a senior member of the IEEE, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and IEEE Women in Engineering. She is the founder and lead of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS)-Abu Dhabi Chapter. She was recently listed among the100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G”, by Women in 6G organization. She has authored/co-authored 75+ research papers/book chapters in highly ranked journals and flagship conferences. She is an Editor at IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications. She was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Communication Letters, an Associate Editor for the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, and an Area Editor for Physical Communication (Elsevier). She is a Guest Editor in IEEE Communication Magazine, IEEE Network Magazine, and IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology.

Prof. Fabricio Ramos Neves is a professor at the Bahia University (Universidade do Estado da Bahia - UNEB) in Guanambi. He is also a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Arts, Science and Humanities (EACH) at the University of São Paulo. He holds a PhD in Accounting and Finance, with research interests centered on sociomateriality and the effects of digital transformation on organizational processes. His work encompasses digital transformation, artificial intelligence applications in public organizations, auditing, fraud prevention, and corruption detection. This dual role reflects his academic and research engagement across both institutions.

Dr. Axel Schmidt is the Head of Standardization, Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs at Shure Europe GmbH, a role he has held since July 2023. Based in Cuxhaven, Germany, he is responsible for driving Shure’s engagement in global standardization efforts, spectrum policy, and regulatory compliance for wireless audio technologies. Before this position, he served as Senior Staff Engineer for Standards & Global Compliance at Shure from March 2021 to September 2023.

His career spans more than 20 years in the audio and RF engineering industries, with previous roles including Team Leader Wireless Systems / Research & Innovation at Sennheiser (2015–2021) and Research Engineer RF at Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co KG (2003–2014). He also worked as an RF Design Engineer at Infineon Technologies (1999–2003), as a Research Assistant at Universität der Bundeswehr München (1996–1999), and as a Design Engineer at BSB Ingenieurgesellschaft (engineering company) (1993–1995). Dr. Schmidt holds an engineering degree in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Munich (1987–1993) and is recognized for his expertise in wireless audio transmission, RF design, spectrum management, and international standards development.

Francisco Rodrigo Porto Cavalcanti, Professor of Telecommunications at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), has made significant contributions to intelligent wireless systems. One of his key works involves a reinforcement learning (RL) framework using Q-learning that allows base stations to adaptively select the optimal modulation and coding scheme (MCS) based on channel quality indicators (CQI) from user equipment. By learning from transmission outcomes, the system improves spectral efficiency and reduces block error rates, outperforming traditional fixed mapping and adaptation methods.

His work reflects broader advancements in the mobile communication landscape, where wireless networks have evolved from voice-focused services into complex, high-speed data platforms. The convergence of mobile systems with the Internet has created new demands for intelligent, adaptive technologies that ensure reliable performance under growing data loads. Professor Cavalcanti’s RL-based framework addresses these demands by offering a scalable and efficient solution that adapts to real-time network conditions. With increasing global data traffic and the push toward 5G and beyond, such innovations are essential in enabling high-performance, future- ready communication infrastructures.

Anderson Bravalheri is a Research Fellow at the Smart Internet Lab, University of Bristol, UK. He holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications and Telematics, from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Anderson has extensive experience in telecommunications research, having worked at CPqD Research and Development Center in Telecommunications in Brazil and contributed to European and UK-funded projects, including the MATILDA project (Horizon 2020). Currently, he is involved in the UKRI MyWorld Strength in Places Programme and the SNS JU ECO-eNET project, exploring innovative solutions for 6G networks, including network management, AI orchestration, automation, and edge computing.

Alexander Kühn is the Head of Section on International and National Spectrum management at the German regulatory authority - BNetzA. The Section is responsible for spectrum strategy in the European Union and the authorization for experimental spectrum use. He is based in Bonn, Germany. Alexander has over 15 years of professional experience in national and international spectrum regulation. Since 2004, his activities focused on international spectrum aspects, in particular participating in CEPT and ITU-R meetings. He chaired the WRC preparation of CEPT from 2013 to 2019 and is currently a Vice-Chairman of the ITU conference preparatory meeting to WRC-23 (CPM). His career started in 2002 in the German NRA in the area of electronic signatures and the governance of relevant service providers. He holds second level degree in law.

Punit Rathod (Member, IEEE) received the Ph.D. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India. He has more than 15 years of wireless research and development experience. He has a diverse experience of working as an academic researcher and a co-founder of a startup with deployed equipment in public-safety agencies in India and multinational companies. He has contributed to national and international standardization efforts at 3GPP, IEEE, and ITUR. His recent work has been focused on spectrum and standardization as a Lead-Technical Standards with Qualcomm Standards and Industry Organization.

Dr. Lina Bariah (Senior Member, IEEE) received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in communications engineering from Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. She is currently a Lead AI Scientist at Open Innovation AI, an Adjunct Professor at Khalifa University, and an Adjunct Research Professor, Western University, Canada. She was a Visiting Researcher with the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, in 2019, and an affiliate research fellow, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, UK. She was a Senior Researcher at the technology Innovation institute. Dr. Bariah is a senior member of the IEEE, IEEE Communications Society, IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and IEEE Women in Engineering. She is the founder and lead of Women in Machine Learning and Data Science (WiMLDS)-Abu Dhabi Chapter. She was recently listed among the100 Brilliant and Inspiring Women in 6G”, by Women in 6G organization. She was an Associate Editor for the IEEE Communication Letters, an Associate Editor for the IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, and an Area Editor for Physical Communication (Elsevier). She is a Guest Editor in IEEE Communication Magazine, IEEE Network Magazine, and IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology.

Dr. Agostinho Linhares currently serves as Chairman of the ITU Radio Regulations Board (RRB) and is Director of the Instituto de Pesquisa para Economia Digital in Brasília. He has played a central role in shaping Brazil’s international spectrum policy, overseeing national preparations for the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC23). He has previously led the Brazilian delegations to WRC15 and WRC19 and served as VicePresident of the 2019 Radiocommunication Assembly (RA19). In addition, he was VicePresident of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) PCC.II from 2018 to 2022. With a distinguished career in spectrum management, radiocommunication policy, and international negotiations, Dr. Linhares has been a prominent voice in advancing regional and global frameworks for spectrum use and digital transformation.

Ângelo Antônio Caldeira Canavitsas is Petrobras’ ITC Regulatory Relationship Manager, a position in which he is responsible for the overall management of the radio-frequency spectrum across Petrobras’ nationwide telecommunications network to ensure full compliance with current regulations . Since 2017 he has been a Sectoral Relationship Manager at Petrobras, formally classified as a Manager under an exclusive-dedication regime . In this role he is the company’s primary liaison with regulatory bodies—most notably Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), but also the Brazilian Air Force Command, the Navy Command (Commando da Marinha) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) . He manages the licensing of Petrobras’ telecommunication stations before ANATEL and of its Aeronautical Telecommunications Service Provider Stations (EPTA) before the Air Force’s Department of Airspace Control (DECEA), and oversees regulatory audits of all Petrobras stations . Since 2016 he has also been the company’s Regulatory & Licensing Coordinator, acting as Petrobras’ representative before ANATEL and as coordinator of the Ad-Hoc Propagation Group attached to ANATEL’s Radiocommunication Study Group 5. This group is tasked with increasing Brazilian scientific output in radio-wave propagation, thereby strengthening the country’s participation in international forums—especially ITU-R Study Group 3 (Propagation) and Study Group 1 (Spectrum Management)—through scientific papers and technical contributions . From 2006 to 2016 he served as Spectrum Administrator Coordinator, where he implemented Petrobras’ Radio-Frequency Database integrated with geo-referenced resources and ANATEL’s SITARWEB system, led internal regulatory-compliance audits, and organised seminars on telecommunications regulation .

Ronaldo Santarem is the current Vice President of UTC América Latina (UTCAL). From November 1974 he worked as a Telecommunications Engineer at Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A. , and in January 2012 he became UTC América Latina’s Vice President . He also served as the Chairman of the UTC América Latina Summit in 2012

Dr. Halim Yanikomeroglu is a Chancellor’s Professor at Carleton University, Canada, and the Founding Director of Carleton-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) Lab. He is among the handful of academics recognized for substantial and impactful contributions in all three layers of NTN: aerial (UAVs), near-space (high altitude platform stations, HAPS), and space (satellites) networks. He has been among the champions of the UAV base station concept. He coauthored the highest number of papers in literature in HAPS networks. Dr. Yanikomeroglu has led several large-scale and high-profile collaborative research projects with industry (Canadian and international), the Government of Canada agencies, as well as the academic institutions and research centres around the world. His extensive collaboration with industry has resulted in 42 granted patents (several of his IP have been successfully commercialized). He has coauthored a high number of papers in 33 different IEEE journals. He gives around 25 invited seminars, keynotes, panel talks, and tutorials every year. He supervised or hosted in his lab 180 postgraduate researchers. Dr. Yanikomeroglu is a Fellow of several scholarly societies, including IEEE, the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA); he served as a Distinguished Speaker for the IEEE Communications Society and the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. He served as the General Chair, Technical Program Chair, and Steering Committee Chair/Member of several major international IEEE conferences as well as in the editorial boards of several IEEE periodicals. He is currently serving in various governance and leadership roles in the IEEE. Dr. Yanikomeroglu received several awards for his research, teaching, and service. He holds a BSc degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the Middle East Technical University, and MASc and PhD degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Toronto.

I am passionate about technological innovation for the benefit of human, open minded, a true networker, integrative and ambitious to develop solutions for the better. In 2020, I decided to take on the CEO position at the NGMN Alliance, an operator driven global mobile telecommunications alliance. Through global collaboration between mobile operators, vendors, software-, consultancy companies, and research institutions, we guide the future of mobile telecommunications. In addition to supporting the full potential of 5G, today we work mainly on three topics that are key to the future of mobile communications: Mastering the Route to Disaggregation with a focus on the End-to-End Operating Model, Green Future Networks and 6G.

My multifaceted education and experience combines technology and business: I studied telecommunication engineering and hold an Executive MBA, I am a Systemic Business Coach and worked in senior management positions in multinational corporations including vendors, mobile network operators and consultancy firms. I am adicted to permanent learning. Nothing is as certain as permanent change.

And, we need more female colleagues in technology professions and senior management positions!

Knud Erik Skouby is professor and director of center for Communication, Media and Information technologies, Aalborg University-Copenhagen. Has a career as a university teacher and within consultancy since 1972. The working areas have for the last 25 years been within the telecom area focusing on mobile/ wireless: Techno-economic Analyses; Development of mobile/ wireless applications and services: Regulation of telecommunications.

Project manager and partner in a number of international, European and Danish research projects. Served on a number of public committees within telecom, IT and broadcasting; as a member of boards of professional societies; as a member of organizing boards, evaluation committees and as invited speaker on international conferences; published a number of Danish and international articles, books and conference proceedings in the areas of convergence, mobile/ wireless development, telecommunications regulation, technology assessment; demand forecasting and political economy.

Board member of the Danish Independent Research Council and the Danish Media Committee. Chair of WGA in Wireless World Research Forum; Special Advisor to GISFI (Global ICT Standardization Forum for India).

Sudhir Dixit is currently a Senior Fellow and Evangelist of Basic Internet at the Basic Internet Foundation in Norway and heads its San Francisco office. He has over 30 years of experience in computer networking and telecommunications, and related fields. From 2015 to 2017 he was the CEO and Co-Founder of a start-up, Skydoot, Inc, in the cloud-based and collaboration space. From December 2013 to April 2015, he was a Distinguished Chief Technologist and CTO of the Communications and Media Services for the Americas Region of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Services in Palo Alto, CA, and prior to this he was the Director of Hewlett-Packard Labs India from September 2009. Prior to joining HP Labs Palo Alto, Dixit held a joint appointment with the Centre for Internet Excellence (CiE) and the Centre for Wireless Communications (CWC) at the University of Oulu, Finland. From 1996 to 2008, he held various positions with leading companies, such as with BlackBerry as Senior Director, with Nokia and Nokia Siemens Networks in the United States as Senior Research Manager, Nokia Research Fellow, Head of Nokia Research Centre (Boston), and Head of Network Technology (USA). From 1987 to 1996, he was at NYNEX Science and Technology and GTE Laboratories (both now Verizon Communications) as a Staff Director and Principal Research Scientist.

Dixit has 21 patents granted by the US PTO and has published over 200 papers and edited, co-edited, or authored eight books published by Wiley, Artech House and Springer. He is presently on the editorial boards of IEEE Spectrum Magazine, Cambridge University Press Wireless Series and Springer’s Wireless Personal Communications Journal and Central European Journal of Computer Science (CEJS). He is Chairman of the Working Group C on new directions in networking and communications at the Wireless World Research Forum (WWRF), where he is also a Board Member. From 2010 to 2012, he was an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Davis, and, since 2010, he has been a Docent of Broadband Mobile Communications for Emerging Economies at the University of Oulu, Finland.

A Life Fellow of the IEEE, IET, and IETE, Dixit received a Ph.D. degree in electronic science and telecommunications from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K. and an M.B.A. from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.

Dr. Hendrik Berndt is Vice-president of the Wireless World Research Forum for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He dedicates himself to positions as Senior Advisor to partners in Asia, the Americas and Europe to contribute to solutions for the bigger global societal ICT challenges. Berndt is advisor to the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) Japan.

He has been continuously appointed to support the European Commission for establishing next generation mobile communication system research directions, currently with focus on Beyond 5G. Since 2015 Berndt serves as board member of the IEEE ComSoc Industry Communities Board, vice chairing its Special Interest group for 5thG. Additionally, he holds the position as Senior Consultant for the chair of Communications Technology (ComTec) at the University Kassel.

Berndt is founder of the 2015 established International Institute for Innovation Aysén–Patagonia. From 2001 until 2014 Berndt held the position as CTO and CSO of DOCOMO’s Communications Laboratories Europe, in Munich, Germany. From 2000 to 2010 he has been teaching con-currently as Visiting Professor at the Global Information and Telecommunication Institute, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan. Berndt was stationed in the US from 1993 until 2000. During these years he worked within Bellcore, Red Bank, NJ; as Executive Director of Advanced Technology for Global One in Reston, Virginia; as invited member of Sprint’s Office of Network and Architecture Planning in Kansas and held the position as Chief Technology Officer of the TINA-C headquarters in New Jersey, USA. His recent publications are directed towards 6G.

Dr. Seshadri Mohan is a Professor in the Systems Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he served as Chair from 2004 to 2013. He previously held industry leadership roles as CTO and Acting CEO of IP SerVoniX and CTO of Telsima. An accomplished researcher, he has authored over 100 publications with more than 5,900 citations and holds 15 patents in wireless networking, location management, authentication, and connected vehicle technologies. He has received numerous honors, including the SAIC Publication Prize and the 2010 IEEE Region 5 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award.

Dr. Mohan co-founded Intelli Nexus, LLC to advance connected car and IoV solutions, and since 2017 has chaired the Connected Vehicles Working Group of the WWRF.

Expertise: Wireless and Optical Networking, Source and Channel Coding, 4G LTE and LTE-A, Massive MIMO, 5G.

Nigel Jefferies is a senior standards manager with Huawei Technologies and Chairman of the Wireless World Research Forum, a global partnership between industry and academia to develop a research agenda for mobile communications. Previously he was Head of Academic Relationships within Vodafone Group Research & Development and a Principal Mathematician at Racal Research Ltd. In the past he led the European-funded IST project SHAMAN, which studied the security of future mobile systems, and ran the Secure Applications Steering Group for Mobile VCE. Other collaborative research projects on various aspects of security for mobile communications include 3GS3 in the UK-funded LINK programme, and ASPeCT and USECA in the European ACTS programme. His research interests include cryptography, security of systems and applications of mathematics to telecommunications. He received a PhD in functional analysis from Goldsmith's College, London, and an MA in mathematics from the Queen's College, Oxford. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and a Chartered Mathematician.

Sparsh is an enthusiastic professional, carrying 18+ years' experience in Telecom (2G till 5G) and ICT Industry. He was instrumental in transformation of MS and telco tools applications and platforms with CI/CD exploring AI/ML use cases. He had stints with conglomerates like Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Accenture and Rakuten Symphony. Sparsh served organisations in diverse roles as SME, Team Lead, Portfolio Management, Programme Management, Consultant and Network Specialist.

His last assignments - Launch of Germany's first and world's second successful O-RAN on Open Network unleashing the Vendor agnostic Network - was one of its kind. He contributed this journey as consultant for process frameworks and supply chain of logistics and inventory, managing network rollout - DC, CU/DU, Edge-DC, and Network testing on Prod.

Sparsh is holding a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communication engineering and MBA in sales and marketing. At NGMN he is responsible for the Work Programmes on 6G, Cloud Native Solutions, Framework for Future Communication Networks, Network Automation, and Security Competence.

Anderson Emanuel De Azevedo Goncalves is a seasoned Brazilian telecommunications engineer and industry leader with over 30 years of experience in the market. As the Director of Regulatory Strategy at Telefónica Group, including Telefónica Brasil, he oversees regulatory policies and strategic initiatives critical to navigating Brazil's complex telecom environment. His expertise encompasses regulatory affairs, B2B solutions, MVNOs, interconnection, network planning, engineering, project management, and sales consulting. Known for his strong negotiation skills, strategic vision, and team leadership, Anderson actively contributes to regulatory working groups with Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (Anatel), driving best practices and fostering professional knowledge exchange to enhance the telecom sector. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in aligning company strategies with evolving regulatory frameworks, ensuring compliance while promoting innovation. Anderson is passionate about mentoring emerging professionals and strengthening industry collaboration to sustain growth and competitiveness. His commitment to excellence and adaptability has earned him recognition as a trusted voice in shaping Brazil’s telecommunications future.

A creative future starts from sharing a tiny idea. I am happy to connect your idea and technology with NICT’s wide area of research resources.

Shari Scott is Senior Director, Space Services and International at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Shari leads Canada’s engagement at the International Telecommunications Union – Radiocommunication Sector and at the Organization of American State’s CITEL PCC.II. Shari was Canada’s Head of Delegation to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). Shari is also responsible for all aspects of spectrum management related to satellite spectrum in Canada, including allocation and utilization policies, engineering, licensing, and coordination, as well as for engineering and policy for aeronautical and military spectrum. She has worked in the spectrum program at ISED for almost have of her 33 years in the federal public service. Prior to that she held progressively senior positions in technology-related policy and programs at the federal level. Shari holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.

Mr. Vinicius Caram serves as Superintendent of Spectrum Planning at Anatel, Brazil’s national telecommunications regulator. He holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering and a postgraduate degree in Telecommunications Management from the University of Brasília (UnB), is a specialist in Governance and Regulatory Oversight from the National School of Public Administration (ENAP), and holds a certification in Governance and Leadership in Artificial Intelligence from the Harvard Kennedy School. With extensive experience in telecom regulation, spectrum policy, licensing, and wireless innovation, he plays a leading role in spectrum management, 5G deployment, and Brazil’s digital transformation agenda, with a focus on modernizing infrastructure, shaping policy frameworks, and promoting inclusive connectivity to drive sustainable growth and digital equity.

Alan Macieira serves as the Telecommunications & Critical Operations Manager at Neoenergia, where he leads the implementation and management of advanced telecommunications and smart grid solutions. With deep expertise in planning, standardization, and deployment of smart grid technologies, Alan ensures the reliability and efficiency of communications critical to energy distribution. He has a proven track record of managing complex, high-impact projects, driving innovation, and optimizing operational performance across Neoenergia’s network. Alan’s leadership has been instrumental in enhancing the technological foundation that supports Neoenergia’s energy and telecommunications infrastructure, aligning with industry best practices and future-ready standards.

Eric Fournier is the Director for Spectrum Planning and International Affairs at the Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR), the French public agency responsible for spectrum management. In this role, he oversees the preparation and revision of the French national table of spectrum allocation and leads the coordination of French positions in international spectrum meetings within organizations such as the ITU, CEPT, and the EU. Mr. Fournier has served as deputy head of the French delegation for multiple World Radiocommunication Conferences (RRC-06, WRC-07, WRC-12, WRC-15, and WRC-19). Throughout his career, he has been actively involved in major spectrum evolution discussions in Europe. He chaired the Electronic Communication Committee (CEPT/ECC) from 2013 to 2018 and led the European Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-12. Currently, he chairs the Radio Spectrum Policy Group's (RSPG) Good Offices, which addresses cross-border coordination and interference issues within the European Union. Mr. Fournier is a graduate telecom engineer from SUPELEC, France.

David will join Ofcom to lead its Spectrum Group, which is responsible for ensuring the UK’s wireless spectrum—a valuable and finite resource—is used efficiently and effectively. Most recently, he was President of the Communications Research Centre, the Canadian government’s hub for advanced wireless telecommunications, spectrum management, and broadband improvement. David has also held leadership roles in product management, operations, and engineering at BlackBerry and Nortel Networks. At Ofcom, his team manages the airwaves that millions rely on daily for mobile phones, WiFi, satellite services, emergency communications, broadcasting, and more. They optimize spectrum allocation, license spectrum users, prevent interference, and oversee the sale or release of spectrum for new services such as 5G and climate mapping, while collaborating internationally to standardize spectrum use worldwide. With a deep understanding of both the technical and regulatory aspects of spectrum management, David is well-equipped to address the challenges of a rapidly evolving wireless landscape and to support the development of innovative communication technologies.

Xavier Piednoir is the Director of International Projects at ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). He has extensive experience working in the field of telecommunications standardization, particularly related to smart cards, IoT, and interoperability testing. Before his current role, he worked as a Smart Card Engineer at France Telecom R&D. He has served as a technical officer at ETSI and was the chairman of the ETSI Technical Committee for Smart Cards and Personal Identification (TC SCP). His responsibilities include managing ETSI's international projects and collaborations, supporting standardization in emerging technologies, and representing ETSI in global forums. He is actively involved in strategic initiatives related to 5G, cybersecurity, intelligent transport systems, and digital sovereignty.

Jerome O. Vogedes is a Principal Member of Technical Staff at AT&T, where he serves within the Network Chief Technology Organization and represents AT&T at leading industry technical forums such as the 3GPP, focusing on advancing the company’s interests in the development of radio systems and interfaces. He brings over 20 years of experience in applying and developing international wireless standards, with a broad technical background in R&D for radio access networks, protocol development, spectrum management, and performance metrics. Prior to joining AT&T, Vogedes founded J. Oliver Consulting, where he led wireless standards projects for top technology companies, and held senior roles at NextNav and Motorola involving innovation in mobile systems and standards leadership. He holds both an MS in Engineering Management and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, and is a named inventor on numerous patents related to wireless communications and location technologies. Vogedes is widely recognized for his leadership roles as a delegate, chairman, or rapporteur in various major wireless standards organizations, helping to drive strategic advancements in mobile and positioning technology for both public safety and commercial applications.

Havish Koorapaty has B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University. He has almost 30 years of experience with Ericsson in wireless communications systems spanning 2G to 6G and over 250 technical papers and patents. He was the recipient of the Ericsson Inventor of the Year award in 2016. Havish has participated in standardization efforts in the 3GPP, ATIS, TIA, IEEE, ETSI and O-RAN standardization bodies. He was the recipient of the 3GPP Excellence Award in 2015. Havish served as a vice-chairman in 3GPP RAN1 and as a co-chair for the O-RAN next Generation Research Group (nGRG). He is currently Vice President for standards and industry initiatives in the Americas at Ericsson. He is also a co-chair of the Steering Group in the Next G Alliance as well as a co-chair of the ATIS Open RAN Committee.

Chief Engineer at the GSMA, responsible for technical working groups and standardisation activities. Ian has a wide range of experience across multiple industries in advanced technology including military sensor and communications systems, system simulation and modelling, software development teams in financial services and as Head of Network and Service Architecture for Vodafone Group. When not on the end of a Teams call, Ian is most likely to be found traipsing across Salisbury Plain with his dogs; it is here he does most of his problem solving.

Mr. Martinhão is a highly experienced Telecommunications Engineer, holding a degree from the National Institute of Telecommunications (INATEL), a Master's in Telecommunications Management from the University of Strathclyde, UK, and a law degree from the Higher Education Institute of Brasília (IESB). Over his extensive career, he has held key roles including Planning Engineer at Telebrás, Systems Engineer at Telebrás before transferring to Anatel, where he advanced to Specialist in Regulation of Public Telecommunications Services, Spectrum Engineering Manager, and General Manager of Certification and Spectrum Engineering. He served as National Telecommunications Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, National Secretary for Informatics Policies, President of Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. (Telebrás), National Secretary for Technological Development and Innovation, and Special Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communications. His leadership and expertise have played a vital role in shaping Brazil’s telecommunications policies and infrastructure.

Angeliki Alexiou is a professor of Broadband Communications Systems at the department of Digital Systems, ICT School, University of Piraeus, Greece. She received the Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens in 1994 and the PhD in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London in 2000. Since May 2009 she has been a faculty member at the Department of Digital Systems, where she conducts research and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Broadband Communications and Advanced Wireless Technologies. Prior to this appointment she was with Bell Laboratories, Wireless Research, Lucent Technologies, (later Alcatel-Lucent, now NOKIA), in Swindon, UK, (January 1999-April 2009). Professor Alexiou is a co-recipient of Bell Labs President’s Gold Award in 2002 for contributions to Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (BLAST) project and the Central Bell Labs Teamwork Award in 2004 for role model teamwork and technical achievements in the IST FITNESS project. Professor Alexiou is the Chair of the Working Group on Radio Communication Technologies and of the Working Group on High Frequencies Radio Technologies of the Wireless World Research Forum. Her current research interests include radio interface for 6G systems, MIMO, THz wireless communication technologies, Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces, Joint Communications and Sensing, Near-Field Communications and Machine Learning for wireless systems. She is the technical manager of (SNS JU) INSTINCT project and the project coordinator of TeraWireless HORIZON-MSCA Industrial Doctoral Network.

Dr. Hiroyuki Atarashi is currently the Chair of ITU-R Working Party 5D (WP5D), an expert group focused on IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) within ITU-R. Following his involvement in the research and development of 4th generation mobile communication systems at NTT DOCOMO, INC., he initiated international standardization activities for IMT in 2006. Since then, he has actively participated in these standardization efforts within ITU-R and APT (Asia-Pacific Telecommunity). He has been attending ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) since 2007. At the 2023 WRC held in Dubai, he served as the Committee Chair responsible for agenda items related to terrestrial services.

Kim Mota is a career civil servant at Anatel (Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency), a specialist in the Regulation of Public Telecommunications Services. On 29 April 2025, Anatel published Personnel Ordinance No. 43, which, at her request, dismissed Rodrigo Cruz Gebrim from the commissioned post of Executive Management, code CGE-II, with the role of Manager of Spectrum, Orbit and Broadcasting/ORER, and appointed Kim Moraes Mota to the same position, effective 15 May 2025. Thus, Kim Mota became the new Manager of Spectrum, Orbit and Broadcasting (ORER), attached to the Executive Management of the agency. Previously, Kim Mota worked as an advisor at the Superintendence of Licensing and Resources for Service Provision (SOR) at Anatel and also as a senior advisor in the same superintendence. She contributed to the development of new studies aimed at the satellite sector, influencing long-term planning for communications in Brazil. Her technical work played a decisive role in aligning Brazilian proposals on the international stage, especially during the last World Radiocommunication Conference, with emphasis on debates related to space sustainability—a priority theme for Brazil. In addition, Kim Mota has participated in international events such as ITU’s Space Connect, where she was a speaker and shared the Brazilian perspective on satellite regulation and LEO constellations.

Master's degree in Telecommunications Engineering. He has worked in the planning, implementation, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications networks, primarily transmission systems. Since 2007, he has worked at the National Regulatory Authority, primarily monitoring compliance with mobile phone operators' obligations. Since 2019, he has served as an Advisor to the Superintendence of Granting and Resources for the Provision of Telecommunications Services.

Mauro Wajnberg, based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a seasoned telecommunications executive currently serving as General Manager at Telesat Canada. With a strong educational foundation from the Instituto Militar de Engenharia (1984–1988), Mauro has built an extensive career across leading telecommunications companies including Embratel, Star One, Astrolink, and Vicom. His expertise spans telecommunications, product management, marketing strategy, strategic planning, and overall strategy development, driving business growth and innovation in dynamic markets. Known for his strategic vision and leadership, Mauro has successfully led cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects, develop new market opportunities, and enhance operational efficiency. His proactive approach to emerging technologies and customer-centric solutions has positioned him as a key contributor in the satellite and telecom industry. Mauro also maintains active professional networks and communications channels, reflecting his commitment to collaboration and industry engagement.

I'm an engineer with more than 20 years of experience working in the telecommunications sector, with extensive strategic, technical and regulatory expertise in broadband, convergence, mobile technologies, spectrum management and interference, television broadcasting, international telecommunications regulatory frameworks, the Internet of Things (IoT), and over-the-top (OTT) services.

I also actively participate in ITU and regional organization meetings, representing companies at different study groups and committees on issues related to mobile services, spectrum, IoT, OTTs, and ICTs, holding different leadership roles in both organizations.

I am Professor (Chair) of Digital Technologies at Kingston University London, School of Computer Science (CS). There, I am the Director of the Digital Information Research Centre (DIRC), with a staff of about 23 academics, 15 postdoctoral researchers and over 40 PhD students, making it one of the largest in the field in the UK. Upon joining Kingston University in 2007, I co-founded and led a research group on Wireless Multimedia & Networking (WMN). I teach modules on wireless systems, networks and protocols.

Prior to this post, I worked for Ofcom, the UK Regulator and Competition Authority, as a Senior Research Manager. While at the University of Surrey, I was a PostDoc working on virtual distributed testbeds in the Centre for Communication Systems (now the 6G Innovation Centre). This was preceded by placements with Intracom-Telecom SA and Maroussi 2004 SA in Athens, Greece.

I have raised sustained funding from the EU and UK research and technology frameworks under the ICT and Security programmes (FP5/6/7, H2020, EPSRC and Innovate UK). I hold two patents and have published over 200 papers in international journals, conferences, and chapters in eleven books.

In parallel to my academic career, I advise and consult for several governmental and commercial organisations on their research programmes/ agendas and portfolios in the EU, UK, Canada, Greece, Qatar, China, and Malaysia, to mention a few. I hold a PhD and MSc from the University of Surrey, UK, and a BEng from the University of Athens, Greece, all in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I am a senior member of the IEEE and a UK chartered engineer.

Gustavo Correa Lima é engenheiro Eletricista com ênfase em Telecomunicações pela UNIFEI (2001), mestre em Comunicações e Processamento de Sinais pela UFSC (2004) e Especialista em Regulação de Serviços Públicos de Telecomunicações pela ANATEL (2005). Trabalha há mais de 20 anos na área de Telecomunicações e atualmente atua como Gerente de Soluções de Comunicações Sem Fio no CPQD. É membro participante de iniciativas como Projeto 5G Brasil/Conexis, Fórum Brasileiro de Internet das Coisas, grupo de estudos em 5G do Cigre-Brasil, Grupo de Trabalho em Open RAN da Anatel, Grupo de Trabalho em Conectividade da Câmara Agro 4.0 e responsável pelo Community Lab do Telecom Infra Project (TIP) no CPQD.

Dr. Wen Tong is the CTO, Huawei Wireless. He is the head of Huawei wireless research. In 2011, Dr. Tong was appointed the Head of Communications Technologies Labs of Huawei, currently, he is the Huawei 5G chief scientist and leads Huawei’s 10-year-long 5G wireless technologies research and development.

Prior to joining Huawei in 2009, Dr. Tong was the Nortel Fellow and head of the Network Technology Labs at Nortel. He joined the Wireless Technology Labs at Bell Northern Research in 1995 in Canada.

Dr. Tong is the industry recognized leader in invention of advanced wireless technologies, he is the key contributor to 3GPP since its inception. Dr. Tong was elected as a Huawei Fellow and an IEEE Fellow.

He was the recipient of IEEE Communications Society Industry Innovation Award for “the leadership and contributions in development of 3G and 4G wireless systems” in 2014, and IEEE Communications Society Distinguished Industry Leader Award for “pioneering technical contributions and leadership in the mobile communications industry and innovation in 5G mobile communications technology” in 2018. He is also the recipient of R.A. Fessenden Medal. For the past three decades, he had pioneered fundamental technologies from 1G to 6G wireless and Wi-Fi with more than 520 awarded US patents.

Dr. Tong is a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering, and he serves as Board of Director of Wi-Fi Alliance. He is the committee member for “IEEE Fellow Committee” and “The IEEE Corporate Innovation Award”.

Mr. Takehiro Nakamura joined NTT Laboratories in 1990 and is currently the Chief Standardization Officer at NTT DOCOMO, Inc. With extensive experience in R&D and standardization, he has played a pivotal role in advancing radio and network technologies such as W-CDMA, HSPA, LTE/LTE-Advanced, 5G, and 6G, while strengthening inter-industry collaboration.

Since 1997, Mr. Nakamura has contributed to standardization activities in ARIB, ITU, and 3GPP, serving as vice chair and chair of 3GPP TSG-RAN from 2005 to 2013. He has played a significant role in promoting and accelerating 5G and 6G both in Japan and globally, as one of the leaders in the 5G Mobile Promotion Forum, Beyond 5G Promotion Consortium, and ITS Info-communications Forum in Japan.

Currently, he leads several projects on Local 5G, millimeter wave and 6G in the XG Mobile Promotion Forum (XGMF), and serves as a board member of 5G-ACIA and a sub-leader of Human Augmentation Consortium.

Luciana Camargos is the GSMA’s Head of Spectrum. She directs the GSMA’s range of advocacy issues on public policy relating to spectrum with national governments and multilateral organisations.

Luciana’s career began with Brazilian regulator Anatel where she worked as part of the board advisory team. She joined the GSMA in 2012, where she has continued to be active in shaping the future of mobile services at international fora such as the ITU, CITEL and other multilateral organisations.

She has chaired regulatory groups charged with developing communications regulation at the ITU and in regional organisations. She is an active supporter of the role of women in technology and is a former chair of the ITU’s Network of Women.

Luciana earned an MBA in telecommunications from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, and a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Brasilia.

Mr. Mario Maniewicz began his second term as Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 1 January 2023. He first took office in January 2019, following his election at ITU's 2018 Plenipotentiary Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and was re-elected at the 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest, Romania.

Mr. Maniewicz is an electronics engineer specialized in telecommunications. He has been with ITU for over 30 years, holding various management positions in the Radiocommunication and Development Bureaux as well as in ITU Regional Offices.

From 2014 to 2018, he was the Deputy Director of ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau (BR), where he assisted the Director of the BR, Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academia in the vital function of global management of the radiofrequency spectrum and satellite orbits. He also headed the Informatics, Administration and Publication Department, was the overall organizer of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15) and played a key role in WRC-15 serving as the Secretary of the Conference.

From 2011 to 2014, he was the Chief of the Infrastructure, Enabling Environment and E-Applications Department in ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), where he directed the assistance to developing countries in bridging the digital divide by promoting the use of ICT-based networks, services and applications, while ensuring the use of appropriate technologies to build or extend their information and communication infrastructure, as well as adapt to the rapidly changing telecommunication/ICT environment. He also led activities aimed at providing guidelines and tools for the development of policy and regulatory frameworks, financing policies and development strategies. This included promotion of pervasive broadband deployment, transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, spectrum management and monitoring, as well as other areas of ICT development such as deployment of telecommunication and IP-based networks and use of reliable and cost-effective ICT applications while enhancing cyber-security. In addition, he promoted access and use of telecommunications and ICTs for groups that have been marginalized in their access to current mainstream ICT services, including women, youth, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and people living in remote communities.

From 2007 to 2011, he was the Chief of BDT's Policies and Strategies Department, where he led the development of telecommunications and ICT policies and regulations to assist developing countries in promoting investment and enhancing their networks and services. He was also responsible for the organization of the Global Symposium for Regulators, and he enhanced the event by incorporating the Chief Regulatory Officers and the Regional Regulatory Associations meetings. He directed other activities in the policy and regulatory domain, as well as in the areas of ICT statistical data collection and analysis, Internet and IP networks development, and human capacity building.

From 2000 to 2007, he was the Head of the BDT's Human Capacity Building Division, where he designed strategies and implemented projects on training, human resources management and development, organizational development, and managerial development for telecommunications. He also assisted governments, regulators, and operators of developing countries in the definition of their organizational and managerial strategies and policies, the identification of their Human Resource and Organizational Development needs, including training of top-level managers in modern management and competitive transformation related aspects.

From 1993 to 2000, he was Regional Administrator at ITU's Brazil Regional Office, where he managed projects in various fields such as rural telecommunication development, frequency management and monitoring, transformation of the telecommunication sector, strengthening of regulatory agencies and transformation of telecommunication operators, among others. He also played a key role in the definition of policies and regulatory frameworks for the opening of the telecommunication sector to competition in the Americas Region.

From 1990 to 1993, he was Regional Administrator at ITU's Chile Area Office, where he managed projects for the modernization and reorganization of incumbent telecommunication operators in the Americas Region. He also attended to the sectorial development needs of the countries in the region.

From 1988 to 1990, he was Regional Expert at ITU's Field Office in Peru, where he was responsible for the assistance to operators and regulators in developing and implementing methodologies for production and delivery of modular training in telecommunications. He also assisted countries in the region to prepare their top managers to face the changes in the sector, such as convergence and competition.

From 1987 to 1988, he was the Director of ANTEL (Telecommunications Operator of Uruguay) Training Centre.

From 1985 to 1987, he was Telecommunication Engineer at ANTEL.

From 1979 to 1985, he was Engineering Assistant at ANTEL.

From 1984 to 1986, he was Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Engineering of Uruguay's Universidad de la República, for the chair of Electronics & Circuits, as well as for the chair of Circuits & Electric Measurements.

Mr. Maniewicz is married, and has two children. He speaks Spanish, English, French and Portuguese.