MEF once again brought two days of insightful, thought-provoking content within its Global Forum, bringing together the world’s top industry leaders and visionaries for unparalleled discussions, insights, and networking opportunities. Sunday’s sessions dive into Content & Advertising, Payments & Commerce, Identity & Data, Connectivity & Wholesale, and Omnichannel strategies. On Day 2, the focus shifted to MEF Data, Antifraud, Mobile Evolution, Enterprise Communication, RCS, and Omnichannel Customer Experience.
Day One
Securing the Future of Messaging: Microsoft’s Vision for a Trusted Ecosystem
A fast-paced Introductory Address delivered by Anna Gentry, Senior Corporate Counsel, Telecom Regulatory at Microsoft
- Anna Gentry, Senior Corporate Counsel, Telecom Regulatory – Microsoft
MEF DATA Insights & Consumer trust
This session will explore key findings from across the mobile ecosystem, based on the latest consumer survey results from 17 countries. This session will focus on Consumer Trust, how to enhance privacy and consumer confidence in the mobile space, and what MEF can do to drive action. We will also look at emerging trends in the Enterprise Communications space and what they tell us about the future of business messaging.
- Gavin Patterson, Director of data – MEF
Antifraud: Tackling Emerging Threats and Protecting the Ecosystem
Explore the current challenges and solutions in combating fraud within the mobile ecosystem. This session will delve into the latest antifraud strategies, technologies, and best practices to protect consumers and businesses. We’ll discuss the evolving nature of fraud, including new threats and vulnerabilities, and how industry leaders are addressing these issues. Join us to gain insights into effective antifraud measures and the future of fraud prevention in the mobile industry.
- Nick Rossman, Programme Director – MEF
- Eli Katz, Founder and CEO – XConnect
- Anna Gentry, Senior Corporate Counsel, Regulatory – Microsoft
- Ira Cohen, VP, Business Development and Marketing – MMDSmart
- Claudine Bell, Partner Business Manager – Messaging & Payments (Wholesale) – Virgin Media 02
AI-Powered Learning & Content: The Next Revenue Revolution
In this quick-fire Address Olia Stasiuk; Bestselling Author and CEO of Bonzai AI will provide an insight into blending innovation with practical AI applications, empowering businesses of all sizes to leverage technology for enhanced efficiency, scalability, and success across industries.”
- Olia Stasiuk, Founder and CEO – Bonzai AI
ID & Data – The role of verified attributes in creating a trusted economy
So often we focus on identifying the individual, the consumer. But what happens when I don’t know if the message I’m receiving is legitimate OR if the number on my incoming call is withheld? In this session you will hear from some of the industry’s leading experts in the field of identity attributes. We will explore the role of verified attributes in creating trust. We will look at use cases, the significant parties in communication flows and hear from technology vendors looking to solve this problem.
- Tim Green, Features Editor – MEF
- Glyn Povah, Global Product Development – Telefónica Tech
- Matt Hornsey, Head of Product and Purchasing – TMT Analysis
- Rebekah Johnson, Founder and CEO – Numeracle
- Andrew Bud, CBE FREng FIET, Founder & CEO, iProov
Sports Content Monetisation: Slam Dunk or Dummy?
As the demand for sports content surges, Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) is emerging as a powerful tool for monetizing sports licensing and content products via mobile subscription services. In this panel, moderated by Anzelle Robertson, Program Director at MEF, industry experts will explore the opportunities and challenges facing this growing trend. From the value of exclusive sports rights to consumer engagement strategies and regulatory considerations, this discussion will dive into what it takes to turn sports content into a winning business model—or whether it risks missing the mark.
- Anzelle Robertson, Programme Director – MEF
- Stefan Suripatty, Business Development Director – Smadex
- Gaby Bosch, CEO – Content For Mobile
- Mohamed Benhamadi, Managing Director: Business Development – Telecoming
- Leone Crescenzi, Chief Product Officer – Cookies Digital
Omnichannel & CX in 2025 and its implications for business.
This session will explore how businesses, especially in telecom, can prioritize customer experience as a differentiator while leveraging specific channels like RBM (Rich Business Messaging) to elevate engagement. Discussions will focus on: The critical role of RBM in transforming business communications. AI-driven personalization and its impact on customer satisfaction and retention. Key challenges in delivering seamless experiences across channels. Future outlook what will be the next major evolution.
- Nassia Skoulikariti, Project Director – IoT – MEF
- Liubov Martinova, Director of Business Development and Marketing – Kompaas
- Vova Gerneshii, Growth Product Director, ext. – GMS
- David Fenandez Vinualles, Co-Fouder – DeCh.at
- Divya Wakankar, EVP of Strategy, Corporate Development & Chief Marketing Officer – BICS
Day Two
Analyst Presentation: Mobilesquared
- Nick Lane, Chief Messaging Officer & Messagologist – Mobilesquared
Network API Adoption and Monetisation of: Driving Growth and Innovation
Network as a Service (NaaS) APIs represent a transformative opportunity for MNOs by leveraging existing network resources to simultaneously provide more value to enterprises and subscribers, and increase monetisation opportunities — a win-win scenario that extends to end-users who benefit from a more secure and improved user experience. The transition to tech-co unlocks immense opportunities for the telecom industry, fostering innovation, improving customer experiences, and redefining the role of MNOs in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Doug Makishima, Advisor – MEF
- Divya Wakankar, EVP of Strategy, Corporate Development & Chief Marketing Officer – BICS
- Deshbandhu Bansal, Chief Operating Officer – Comviva
- Eddie DeCurtis, CEO – Shush
- Johan Otterheim, Director of Sales – Aduna/Ericsson
- Alex Pereira, Director of Operator Partnership, LATAM – Infobip
Connecting the Future: How Giga and the Private Sector Are Driving Global Connectivity
Giga Connectivity Solutions Specialist at UNICEF will provide a fast-paced short Keynote exploring opportunities to be involved.
- Soledad Luca De Tena, Giga Connectivity Solutions Specialist – UNICEF
In Conversation with Martin Lien, Co-Founder & CEO at Volt: Turning SMS Compliance Challenges into Strategic Opportunities
Join Tim Green in conversation with Martin Lien, Co-Founder & CEO of Volt, as they discuss the challenges of SMS compliance and how businesses can turn them into strategic opportunities. Learn how navigating compliance effectively can unlock new growth and innovation in the messaging space.
- Tim Green, Features Editor – MEF
- Martin Lien, Co-Founder & CEO – Volt
Future of Sms – What’s Next in 2025?
Join industry leaders for a forward-looking panel, where we explore the evolution of SMS messaging in the digital landscape. Discover how AI is transforming customer interactions, the rise of conversational and rich messaging, and strategies to combat emerging fraud schemes like Artificially Inflated Traffic (AIT).
We’ll also unpack the impact of new regulations, security enhancements, and SMS’s role in omnichannel strategies. With a special focus on opportunities in emerging markets, this session will provide key insights on what’s driving SMS growth and what lies ahead in 2025.
- Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
- Uros Mijatovic, COO – Mitto
- Nima Golchini, Head of Presales Americas – Enea
- Mr. Arvind Bali, Board Advisor – Globe Teleservices
- Vijesh Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO – EZ-Texting
IP as a Service: A Revenue Revolution for Mobile Operators
- Dario Betti, CEO – MEF
- Vincentas Grinius,Co-Founder – IPXO
The Future of “Conversational” Commerce
As the e-commerce market takes advantage of the evolutions unfolding in the messaging ecosystem today, a host of questions, challenges, and opportunities have opened up like never before. Join Bandwidth for an asynchronous conversation with our e-commerce customers as we discuss their evolving use cases, including real-world examples. We’ll examine best practices in creating conversation through transactions as well as the future promise of RCS, and what’s needed from the ecosystem to build both trust and scale. Don’t miss this engaging session packed with forward-looking perspectives!
- Caitlin Long, Sr. Director, Product Management & Strategy – Bandwidth
- Stephanie Lashley, VP Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth
Unveiling RCS Security Challenges: Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Encryption and Sender Verification
RCS is on the verge of becoming the default messaging service for smartphones, with added security layers like verification and encryption. However, spammers have already started exploiting the transition to rich media messaging.
We invite you to join us as we share security insights from 8 years of protecting rich media channels. We’ll be discussing how spammers are misusing RCS and RBM, what to expect next, and what MNOs, CPaaS, and others in the messaging ecosystem, including you, need to do to protect your subscribers and services.
- Simeon Coney, VP Business Development – Enea
Enterprise Communication – Navigating Trends and Transformations
This panel will explore the critical trends redefining enterprise communications, from the convergence of messaging channels and the integration of CPaaS solutions to the rise of AI-powered automation and conversational chatbots. Industry experts will tackle pressing issues such as A2P SMS smishing, revenue assurance, and the evolving role of OTT messaging. Additionally, we’ll examine the impact of regulatory changes, M&A activity, and sustainability initiatives on shaping the future of enterprise communications.
- Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
- Gaurav Sharma, Sr. Director, Solutions Consulting – TransUnion
- John Tolton, SVP Group Sales Strategy & Enabler – Telin
- Waheed Adam, CEO – iTouch
- Divya Wakankar, EVP of Strategy, Corporate Development & Chief Marketing Officer – BICS
RCS: Revolutionizing Mobile Messaging
We’ll discuss how RCS is poised to revolutionize business communications by enabling brands to deliver more personalized and interactive messages directly to consumers. The session will cover the integration of RCS with AI and chatbots, the impact on customer engagement and satisfaction, and strategies for businesses to leverage RCS for marketing and customer service.
Join industry experts as they share insights on the current state of RCS adoption, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and the future outlook for this powerful communication tool. Whether you’re a telecom operator, a marketer, or a technology enthusiast, this session will provide valuable knowledge on how RCS is shaping the future of mobile messaging.
- Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF
- Tim Atkinson, Business Development – Google
- Inderpal Singh Mumick, CEO – Dotgo
- Viktorija Radman, Telecom Business Director – Infobip
- Simeon Coney, VP Business Development – ENEA
- Kerstin Trikalitis, Co-founder and CEO – Out there Media
Revolutionizing Wholesale Internet of Things – From Chaos to Cooperation
The wholesale Internet of Things market is brimming with potential, but fragmentation, inconsistent practices, and a lack of transparency are holding it back. This panel will tackle these challenges head-on, exploring how collaboration, governance, and best practices can transform IoT wholesale into a streamlined and trustworthy ecosystem.
Industry leaders will share actionable solutions to drive innovation and build a solid foundation for global Wholesale Internet of Things connectivity. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and help shape the future of Wholesale Internet of Things.
Join industry experts as they share insights on the current state of RCS adoption, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and the future outlook for this powerful communication tool. Whether you’re a telecom operator, a marketer, or a technology enthusiast, this session will provide valuable knowledge on how RCS is shaping the future of mobile messaging.
- Isabelle Paradis, Advisor – MEF
- Cedric Mauvielle, VP Sales Gobal Wireless Connectovoty and IoT Solution – Console Connect
- Charles Berard, Head of Innovation – Cellusys
- Yannick Decaux, SVP, Mobile Wholesale and Interconnection – Orange
- Nassia Skoulikariti, CEO – Apiro Data
What’s HOT and What’s NOT Connectivity & Wholesale
Discuss the trends which are hotting up or cooling down. With panelists from carriers to vendors, operators and consultants.
- Isabelle Paradis, Advisor – MEF
- Eugene Pradas, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Development – BTS
- James Williams, CEO – Mr Connectivity
- Mike Mills, Business Director – Gamma Service Providers
- Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy & Insights – Kaleido Intelligence
- Matthew Bisoffi, Head of Business Management, Operations, and Insights – Hutchison
