Workshop: Neutral Host Networks

Mobile Neutral Host Networks Workshop



Registration now closed - Please email for Future Dates & Availability!

On July 9th, Dean Bubley will run a group workshop in London with Peter Curnow-Ford of Viatec Associates (link), covering one of the most interesting topics in telecoms technology and mobile business models: Neutral Hosts Networks (NHNs).

NHNs are open-access 4G or 5G mobile networks, using their own infrastructure - and increasingly their own spectrum - as a wholesale platform for national operators, or new niche providers. NHN models are evolving everywhere that coverage siting or economics pose challenges for national MNOs - indoor, rural, metro and road/track-side.

The workshop will cover:

• Technology, including 5G, small cells, network-slicing and cloud-RAN
• Business models, spanning in-building, city-wide & rural markets
• Regulatory and economic aspects such as spectrum, wholesale and planning

Experienced workshop facilitators and industry experts

Dean Bubley has conducted numerous similar workshops in the past, including on 5G/MVNOs (link), Private Cellular (link), Telecoms Blockchain (link), Contextual Communications (link) & Telcos' Internet "OTT" services (link). Peter Curnow-Ford also has huge experience in advising mobile clients on network investment, deployment and regulatory areas.

The full-day workshop will have a maximum of 30 attendees to ensure a high level of discussion and interaction, but with great networking opportunities. It will take place at the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair, central London [link]. Coffee and a nice lunch are included.
 
Expect a diverse mix of delegates, each with a different story and view of opportunities and challenges. It is suitable for C-level executives, strategists, product management, marketing functions, CTO office, analysts and regulatory affairs specialists.

The workshop will run under Chatham House rules (link), to allow candid & confidential discussion, without external attribution of comments to individuals or their employers. Come prepared to think and talk, as well as listen – this is a “lean-forward” day.

Who should attend?

• Established & startup NHN players
• Cellular equipment & software vendors
• Local and central governments & agencies
• In-building wireless solutions suppliers
• Spectrum/wholesale policymakers and regulators
• Design, test & measurement tool companies
• Mobile, fixed and cable telecom operators
• Industry associations & standards bodies
• Venue owners and property developers
• Rural and road/rail network specialists
• Enterprise networking & IoT managers
• Telecom, technology & property investors

What you will learn & share

• Where is the real NHN action? Indoors, metro areas, rural, or road/rail?
• What's real and practical? And what's just NHN-for-PowerPoint?
• Will existing MNOs be willing wholesale customers?
• Who will actually own (& operate) the assets?
• How should property owners, local authorities & others approach NHNs?
• Should NHNs focus on 4G or 5G networks?
• Realistic timelines for deployment of NHNs
• Key solution components needed for building an NHN?
• What spectrum options are optimal for different NHN types?
• How can regulators support (and oversee) the NHN model?
• What is required for NHN backhaul, interconnection, core & operation?
• How will the NHN model overlap with "pure" private cellular networks?
• What's the NHN angle for enterprises?
• How and where will cellular NHN compete with, or integrate with, Wi-Fi?

Format of the day 

The workshop agenda will feature a blend of networking, informative presentations, group interactive exercises and open debate. There will be a maximum of 30 attendees, and ample time for delegates to meet each other for private discussions.

The rough outline of the day is:

• Registration & coffee
• Welcome and scene-setting
• Personal introductions by the group
• Introductory presentations: “What is an NHN, and what use-cases do they address?”
• Open Q&A
• Morning break
• Presentation: "Making the NHN business model a reality: what's the road-map?"
• Group interactive exercise #1
• Networking lunch
• Presentation and discussion: "Addressing the challenges for NHNs" 
• Group interactive exercise #2
• Afternoon break
• Final session: "Scenarios & actions for the future of NHNs"
• Wrap-up and conclusions

There may also be one or two short guest presentations during the day, from among existing NHN practitioners and innovators.



Booking & Payment

There are PayPal Buy Now buttons below, which can accept card payments as well as PayPal transfers. Alternatively, contact information at disruptive-analysis dot com if you want to be invoiced directly, and use purchase-order & bank-transfer. Payment can also be made in EUR or USD.

Pricing for attendance:

• Early bird - Ended
• £699+VAT - Registration closed - please email for future dates or private events
• 10% discount for 2 attendees booked at the same time (max 2 from any one company)
• (UK VAT @20% must be charged to attendees from any country, as the service is delivered in the UK. There are two separate payment options below, as PayPal only automatically adds VAT for UK accounts)