Unlike other events, TowerXchange Meetups offer a unique balance of keynote debates and carefully curated roundtable discussion groups, enabling participants to tailor the agenda to their own needs and interact in an intimate setting with industry expert. Click here to view a list of the full list of 2020 speakers and roundtable hosts.
Download TowerXchange Meetup MENA 2020 prospectus
Day one | 28 January 2020
- 08:00
Welcome coffee & registration
- 08:50
Opening address: The evolving Middle East & North Africa landscape and changes in the ecosystem presented by TowerXchange
Kieron Osmotherly, Founder & CEO, TowerXchange
Aninder Khera, Head of Research, MENA, TowerXchange- 09:30
Keynote panel discussion: A vision of the MENA tower industry for the 5G era
- Geodiversity: common and distinct challenges and opportunities for the professionalisation of infrastructure sharing in MENA
- The criticality of infrastructure sharing and site upgrades in the 5G era
- Evolving regulatory frameworks and business models to promote infrastructure sharing in MENA
- Visions beyond towers: an holistic and integrated view of 5G communications infrastructure spanning indoor and outdoor sites, fibre, core networks and data centresModerator: Rohan Dhamija, Regional Managing Partner, Analysys Mason
Majid bin Amer al Kharousi, CEO, Oman Tower Company
Suresh Sidhu, CEO, edotco Group
Kash Pandya, CEO, Helios Towers
Steve Howden, Senior VP & Deputy CFO, IHS Towers- 10:15
Panel discussion: Identifying towerco opportunities and redefining the value proposition for MENA
- Adapting the towerco business model to fit the Middle Eastern market and attract local capital
- Identifying the value drivers for tower investors and meeting investor expectations
- What are the monetisation options?
- Exploring the outlook for long-term growth and securing cash flows for Middle Eastern towersModerator: Gulfraz Qayyum, Managing Director, Citi
Abu Chowdhury, CFO, ASMA Capital
Iyad Mazhar, Founder, TASC Towers
Akshay Grover, Chief Investment Officer, iSON Tower
Eric Crabtree, Chief Investment Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)- 11:00
Networking refreshment break
- 11:30
Regulatory panel discussion: The role of governments and regulators as drivers of change and infrastructure sharing
- Examining how regulatory bodies can assist in shaping and designing the MENA tower market
- The key role of Governments in unlocking tower market potential
- Limitations of regulation, the challenges of over regulation
- Achieving transparency in deal structuring and regulatory approval
- Lessons learned to date from transactions in the MENA regionModerator: Chuck Green, CEO, IDIA
Rob Middlehurst, VP Regulatory Affairs, Etisalat- 12:15
Panel discussion: Increasing network efficiencies and driving site level profitability
- To what degree are improvements in site level efficiency driving group level profitability?
- Best practices in operational efficiencies – O&M, energy and site design
- Identifying how capex is being deployed to reduce energy consumption and improve reliabilityModerator: Enda Hardiman, CEO, Hardiman Telecommunications
Gordon Porter, VP, Operations, IHS Towers
Samuel Tanon, Operations Director, Oman Tower Company- 13:00
Lunch
- 14:30
Roundtables I, buyer briefings and working groups
Click here to see roundtables, working groups and buyer briefings.
- 15:30
Networking refreshment break
- 16:00
Roundtables II, buyer briefings and working groups
Click here to see roundtables, working groups and buyer briefings.
- 17:00
Panel discussion: Defining the business case to accelerate 5G rollout
- Accelerating 5G network rollout, what are the priorities of the MNOs?
- Monetisation of 5G; who’s paying for what? Achieving returns on ROI
- Infrastructure sharing amongst MNOs to maximise evolution from 4G to 5G
- How are MNOs dealing with structural and power upgrades for 5G?
- Indoor connectivity of existing and new build of 5GModerator: Sam Evans, Partner, Delta Partners
Rajiv Jaitly, CEO, iSON Tower
Salah Medawar, Chief Commercial Officer, i-eng Group
Wiktor Barcicki, Group Senior Director, Technology Economics, Etisalat
Dimitris Lioulias, General Manager Strategy, Saudi Telecom Company
Gayan Koralage, Director Group Strategy, edotco- 17:45
Chair’s closing remarks
- 18:00
Networking reception hosted by TowerXchange
- 19:00
Networking dinner hosted by TowerXchange
Day two | 29 January 2020
- 08:30
Welcome coffee
- 09:15
Chair’s opening remarks
- 09:30
Keynote panel discussion: Growth potential and investibility of North African market
- Developing the business case for expansion into North African territories
- Evaluating North African MNO landscape: Data and subscriber growth, competition and M&A
- Where are the emerging energy opportunities in North African towers?
- Penetrating new areas with 4G connectivityAlex Leigh, Chief Commercial Officer, Helios Towers
Keith Boyd, SVP & CCO, Africa, American Tower
Steve Howden, Senior VP & Deputy CFO, IHS Towers- 10:15
Panel discussion: Exploring the viability and attractiveness of the ESCO model across MENA
- How big an opportunity is the MENA region for ESCOs?
- What are the demands of MNO’s and towercos for innovative energy solutions?
- How can ESCOs ensure grid reliability and service requirements?
- Examining the role of renewables in powering MENA telecoms market
- What role will ESCOs play in the future of MENA? Learning from AfricaModerator: Kieron Osmotherly, Founder & CEO, TowerXchange
Nabil Hadad, CEO, IPT PowerTech Group
Kadri Hakim, Co-CEO, i-eng Group- 11:00
Networking refreshment break
- 11:30
Roundtables III, buyer briefings and working groups
Click here to see roundtables, working groups and buyer briefings.
- 12:30
Lunch
- 14:00
Panel discussion: The role of towercos and MNOs in driving smart city programmes
- Revaluating the business model in driving efficiencies through advanced technologies
- The role of governments in smart city rollouts
- Infracos and infrastructure sharing models for smart cities
- Small cells implementation and the role of Edge in progressing smart cities
- Developing effective partnerships to assist in advancing smart city rolloutMohammad Abdulla Al Awadhi, Senior Director Business Development (Smart City),
du
Liam Farrell, Expert Urban Planner, Abu Dhabi Airports
Fadi Shanaah, Senior Director - 5G, IoT, Smart Cities and Digital Transformation, Etisalat
Ahmad Al-Montshri, General Manager, Ministry of Municipality & Rural Affairs, KSA
Satyan Abraham, Director - ICT, DXB entertainments- 14:45
Panel discussion: Enhancing the economics of rural connectivity
- How infrastructure sharing enables MNOs to reach rural areas
- Options to solve the problem of rural backhaul
- Achieving low cost low opex
- Optimising renewable energy for reliable grids in rural areasAkbar Shaukat, CEO & Executive Director, AWAL Telecom
Hussein Abdulkader, COO, Asia Consultancy Group
Akbar Ladak, CEO, Smart East Africa- 15:30
Chair’s closing remarks & close of meetup
Roundtables and Buyer Briefings
Click here to see roundtables, working groups and buyer briefings.