This challenge will be addressed by Moonshot Catalysts for DTW Ignite 2026:
How can CSPs establish a clear path to Level 4 autonomous networks, empowering it to self-optimize, self-heal, and deliver unparalleled efficiency with zero-touch intelligence – driving at least a 30% reduction in operational costs or improvement in operational efficiency through automation (e.g., service delivery time, mean time to repair, number of faults)?
This challenge calls for solutions that move beyond isolated automation toward closed‑loop, zero‑touch autonomy, where networks can self‑optimize, self‑heal, and self‑coordinate in response to dynamic business intents, service objectives, and real‑time operational conditions.
Successful approaches will demonstrate how autonomous capabilities can be safely scaled through governed intent management, conflict detection and resolution, explainable AI decisioning, and resilient operational assurance. Moonshot Catalysts addressing this challenge should showcase how advanced AI techniques, knowledge‑driven reasoning, and cross‑domain orchestration can be applied to high‑value operational scenarios such as fault management, service assurance, and network optimization. Solutions should embed trust, transparency, and accountability into autonomous decision loops, enabling CSPs to confidently delegate critical operational decisions to machines while maintaining control, compliance, and observability.
The outcome is a highly autonomous, ecosystem‑ready network that delivers measurable business impact achieving at least a 30% reduction in operational cost or a 30% improvement in operational efficiency.
An Executive Coach is assigned to each Moonshot Challenge Catalyst to provide tailored mentoring, strategic guidance, and expert feedback. They help refine both business readiness and technical viability, ensuring solutions are robust, credible, and ready to scale.
Lingli Deng
Director Researcher, AI Center
China Mobile Research Institute
Lingli obtained her Doctorate in Computer Application Technology from the Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences and joined China Mobile in 2009. She was a core member of the Novonet project which drives SDN/NFV strategy for China Mobile, and had been working on evaluation and introduction of data plane acceleration technology, running the Novonet Testing Lab for the SDN/NFV trial network for the company. She has been an active contributor and community leaders in various SDOs (ETSI, 3GPP and ITU-T) and open source communities (OPNFV, ONAP and LFN) to boost corresponding industrial collaboration. Currently, she is leading the network intelligent industry operation ecological construction team which drives the autonomous network transformation with AI/ML enabled internal operation and external enrichment , as a director researcher at the artificial intelligence and intelligent operation center of China Mobile Research Institute.
Alexis Koalla
Director Operations Strategy and Autonomous Network Transformation
Orange
Alexis is Director of Operations Strategy and Autonomous Network Transformation at Orange, with 20+ years in software development across IT and network domains. Since 2015, he has led digital and operations transformations across Orange affiliates. Alexis drives the group’s AI- and GenAI-powered Digital Operating Model, focusing on Automation, Cloud Native, DevSecOps, and human skills transformation. Since January 2026, Alexis has been driving the Autonomous Network programme and supporting all Orange subsidiaries on their journey to more autonomy in Network Operations. He manages an intercultural team ensuring operational efficiency and process excellence and serves as Group Senior Expert and Referent of the Future Operations Community, guiding more than 100 experts to design future-proof operations guidelines.
Nilmar Seccomandi David
Director of Infrastructure
Telefónica
Nilmar Seccomandi David is Director of Autonomous Network and Infrastructure in the Global CTIO Unit of Telefónica S.A. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from UMC (São Paulo) and a Master in Digital Telco Management from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. In the leadership of the corporate unit, his responsabilities include Network & IT operation centres, Service operation centres, FTTH deployment, Data Centre, Technical Leases, Energy efficiency and others. He is also leading Telefónica´s transformation towards the Autonomous Network (ANJ). Nilmar Seccomandi David had been working in various executive positions in the Operations area of Telefonica, where he started his working life in 1998
Afnan Ahmed
Director of Infrastructure and Customer Operations
Telenor
Afnan Ahmed leads the Network Strategy and Architecture function at Telenor Group where one of the key strategic initiatives is using AI to create more autonomy in the network. He is also part of the Autonomous Network Leadership Team at TM Forum which is responsible to guide and implement the AN mission across the industry. In addition to Autonomous Networks, he is also a big proponent of Open Network e.g. CRAN which not only enables vendor optionality but also opens up the ecosystem for faster innovation. He has more than 25 years experience in the industry across Asia, Middle East and Europe and has been CTO of the Infrastructure company of Telenor in Norway.
Moonshot Catalyst - Demonstrate how conflict between autonomous entities can be avoided, detected and resolved.
Moonshot Catalyst - This Catalyst is empowering self-driving networks with graph AI and digital twins for predictive root cause analysis and Level 4 autonomy. Their solution unlocks the "zero-X" experience - zero wait, zero touch, zero trouble.
Moonshot Catalyst - Embedding trust, governance, and confidence into Autonomous Networks Level 4