The 5G Core is Vital to Deliver the Promise of 5G

Alex Quach

Vice President, Data Platforms Group, General Manager, Wireline and Core Network Division, Intel Corporation

Alexander (Alex) D. Quach is a vice president of the Network Platforms Group and general manager of the Wireline and Core Network Division at Intel Corporation. He is responsible for network transformation for all wireline access networks as well as wireless core. As part of the Intel Network Platforms Group, he oversees driving overall 5G strategy and execution framework that encompasses industry and ecosystem engagement, customer commitments, product planning, internal and external communications, public relations, and marketing strategy.

Quach was a marketing manager for test and measurement products at Tektronix Inc. before joining Intel in 1997 as a product marketing engineer for desktop products. He was responsible for promoting the growth of Intel's wireless connectivity business in multiple market segments, including machine-to-machine communication, the automotive sector, low-power wide-area (LPWA) networking and client connectivity. Prior to that, Quach led Intel's wireless connectivity solutions business within the Client Computing Group, where he focused on mobile client platforms based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless gigabit (WiGig) and cellular technologies. Earlier in his Intel career, as director of wireless marketing for the company's mobile wireless business unit, he led marketing for Intel's WiMAX product portfolio. Quach also spent several years as a customer marketing manager in the service provider group.

Quach has dual bachelor’s degrees in physics and psychology and an MBA from University of Washington.

Miguel Carames

Director Network and Technology planning, Verizon

Miguel Carames is currently a Director of Network and Technology planning at Verizon. Leading a team of engineers responsible for planning, engineering and design of the Verizon wireless core network including the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), 5G Core (5GC) as well as a number of critical services including the wireless enterprise portfolio, public safety core, messaging, and OSS/BSS evolution. Miguel has 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and has worked in R&D in 3G (UMTS), 4G (WiMAX and LTE) and now 5G. Prior to Verizon, Miguel worked at Motorola for nine years.

Miguel holds a master’s in telecommunications by the Polytechnical University of Valencia (Spain) and is currently pursuing his MBA with the Jack Welch Management Institute. Miguel has been an active participant in multiple industry forums including multiple GSMA working groups. Miguel has been awarded 20 patents and has filed 20 more.

Akhil Gokul

Chief Technology Officer - Core & IT, Ericsson

Akhil Gokul is a Business & Technology Transformation leader. As CTO - Core & IT, he is part of the Ericsson customer unit leadership team, driving the CTO & business development office towards E2E network transformation for 5G, IOT & Cloud.

Mr. Gokul has a sound understanding of the ICT industry stemming from more than a decade of experience working with operators and ecosystem partners across Strategy, Network and IT organizations in various roles, including software engineering, solution & product development, corporate and GTM strategy, business development and consultative sales.

Mr. Gokul has held positions at CenturyLink, India (formerly Qwest Communications) and EchoStar Corporation. He holds a Master of Engineering Management from Dartmouth College, and a Bachelor of Engineering from R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore.

Guy Daniels

Director of Content, TelecomTV