CCA’s Annual Convention opens this month in Phoenix with a keynote panel featuring carrier executives, an educational program focused on business, technology, and policy issues and an exhibit floor showcasing the latest products and services for the mobile ecosystem. CCA’s Annual Convention will take place at the Phoenix Convention Center, September 20-22. Keynotes and sessions will be live streamed and safety measures are in place.
CCA 2021 kicks-off on Monday, September 20 with an FCC-lead “Rip and Replace” workshop focused on the $1.9 Billion Secure and Trusted Network Act Reimbursement Program, followed by expert analytical presentations and roundtable discussions from OEMs like Ericsson, Mavenir, Nokia, Parallel Wireless, Rakuten, and more. Day one concludes with a Welcome Reception for all attendees, sponsored by Nokia.
The exhibit hall opens on Tuesday, September 21 and will include a wide variety of companies displaying their latest goods and services. New and returning exhibitors will be on-hand to meet with attendees, discuss their solutions, and set up future meetings. Lunches and receptions also will take place in the exhibit hall, providing ample time for attendees to sit down together over a meal. CCA events attract some of the most innovative companies in the wireless industry, and the exhibit hall provides the perfect networking platform to connect.
The keynote program kicks off with, A Discussion with Carrier CEOs, featuring Jonathan Foxman, president & CEO, Cellular One; Maureen Moore, chief customer experience officer, GCI; Mark Nazé, CEO, Nsight – Cellcom; and Eric Woody, chief technical & operations officer, Union Wireless. Steven K. Berry, president & CEO of CCA will moderate. Executives will address business and policy changes facing competitive carriers, examine best practices to meet increased consumer demand, and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. These carrier executives, and many more, attend CCA events to share best practices, network with industry peers, and meet with vendors to help address their business needs.
The keynote program also will feature leading executives from the competitive carrier ecosystem. T-Mobile’s Dow Draper, EVP of emerging products group, will take the stage the afternoon of September 21 to discuss fixed wireless. His remarks will be followed by Charles Marsh, SVP of US Majors Accounts at Nokia discussing “Broadband without Boundaries,” and then a fireside chat on robocalls and updates on STIR/SHAKEN between Mike Keegan, CEO of TNS, and CCA’s President & CEO Steven K. Berry.
The following morning, Wednesday, September 22, will include remarks by Anand Akundi, interim head of customer unit regional carriers at Ericsson North America called “5G for Rural Operators: Show Me the Money!” Steve Zitnik, EVP and CTO, Interop Technologies and Chris Wright, VP of Product Management, Syniverse, will discuss the changes surrounding mobile messaging, including important updates on the global RCS ecosystem. Rounding out the keynote program is GS Sickand, VP of North American sales – technical solutions & architecture at Mavenir, discussing changing the economics for rural network deployments by leveraging cloud native ORAN deployment architecture.
The educational program will be offered across four tracks: Business Development, Technical, Marketing/Customer Experience, and Policy. Sessions will explore business strategies, policy initiatives, current and future funding opportunities for network development, 5G deployments and monetization, cybersecurity, diversity, social justice programs, legacy networks, and digital customer engagement. Policy sessions also will focus on new funding programs recently approved by Congress. Billions of federal dollars will be spent on broadband deployment and consumer support programs, and attendees will learn about the new funding opportunities for the industry.
Speaking in the Convention’s educational program are executives from Award Solutions, BEC Technologies, Carolina West Wireless, Ericsson North America, iQmetrix, JDR Telecom Solutions, Nex-Tech Wireless, Nokia, Ookla, Parallel Wireless, Rakuten, REDCOM, Samsung, Syniverse, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Viaero Wireless, among others.
Show attendees can enjoy several networking events, including breakfasts, lunches, and two evening receptions in the exhibit hall. The comradery shared during meals and cocktail hours provide ample opportunities for all registered attendees to catch up with old friends and make new industry contacts. CCA’s 2021 Annual Convention is a must-attend industry event for carriers, vendors, and industry stakeholders. Register here to secure your spot.
Reader Interactions