This challenge is for Moonshot Catalysts showcasing at DTW Ignite 2026:
Reinvent the CSP as an AI native platform that orchestrates ecosystems and monetizes intelligence, not just connectivity: How can communications service providers reinvent IT to become truly AI‑first, enabling agentic customer experiences and better customer outcomes (AI4CX), unlocking new ecosystem‑driven revenue streams, and achieving operational excellence (AI4IT), all while building the leadership, engineering, governance, and risk foundations required to scale with confidence – driving a 30% increase in AI-driven Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)?
The challenge calls for communications service providers to reinvent their IT foundations into AI‑native, composable digital platforms that enable agentic customer experiences, real‑time service innovation, and ecosystem orchestration beyond traditional connectivity. Solutions should support AI‑first operations and engagement (AI4CX and AI4IT) while integrating with existing OSS/BSS and network assets.
Successful approaches will demonstrate how modular, API‑driven platforms can expose intelligence as reusable services, enabling partners and enterprises to co‑create new digital offerings, immersive experiences, and value‑driven marketplaces. Strong solutions will show how AI‑native capabilities can drive proactive customer engagement, automate value creation across complex ecosystems, and operate with the governance and risk controls required to scale with confidence.
The outcome is an AI‑first, ecosystem‑ready CSP platform that unlocks new revenue streams, improves customer outcomes, and delivers operational excellence - increasing AI‑driven Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) by at least 30%.
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.
Sanjay Mewada
Chief Research Officer
Recon Analytics
Sanjay Mewada is Chief Research Officer at Recon Analytics, focusing on IT, network, and AI impacts in telecommunications and high-tech industries. He brings over 30 years of experience, including roles in building two telecom software and mobile infrastructure unicorns. At Recon, he drives growth across telecom and technology verticals, helping clients navigate AI, cloud, and digital transformation while translating market insights into actionable intelligence. Previously, he led Azure for Operators at Microsoft, supporting large-scale cloud migration across private networks, multi-service edge, and autonomous operations. He also served as Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Affirmed Networks, accelerating global 5G adoption, and spent 14 years at NetCracker scaling it into a leading BSS/OSS provider. Most recently at iOPEX, he focused on AI-led operations transformation. Sanjay is a recognised thought leader, TM Forum contributor, and board participant.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mitta
Executive Vice President & Chief Architect
Jio Platforms Ltd
Dr. Sudhir Kumar Mittal is a seasoned professional with over 33 years of experience in the telecom industry, currently serving as Executive Vice President & Director Architecture at Jio Platforms Limited. He has deep expertise in scalable and flexible rugged IT architectures, integrating contemporary technologies like AI and ML, and has actively contributed to several standardization efforts with TMForum and other SDOs. Dr. Mittal has been pivotal in driving Jio’s rapid growth, leveraging cutting-edge architectural patterns. Earlier, he also held the position of Chief Architect at Airtel. Dr. Mittal holds a PhD and MBA from IIT Delhi, and a BE from Delhi College of Engineering.
David Perez
Chief Architect Digital
BT
David Perez is an experienced Chief Architect currently at BT Group since December 2025, focusing on modernising and transforming Technology across Digital to power BT's growth. Prior to this role, David served as Director of Technology at IG Group, where responsibilities included leading technology transformation across IG Group and launching new products for the UK division. David's expertise spans financial services, FinTech, and digital transformation, with a significant background in cloud technologies, API, and microservices. Previous positions include Chief Enterprise Architect at John Lewis Partnership, Head of Architecture at Thomas Cook, and various roles at Marks and Spencer, where efforts centred on omni-channel strategies and technology execution.
Chathurangi Wickramasinghe
SVP Magenta API Exposure
Deutsche Telekom
Chathurangi began her career at T-Systems in 2010 in Germany & UK. She later transitioned into technology and then to wholesale and B2B to gain extensive experience in wholesale and business customer sectors. With deep expertise in telecommunications infrastructure, she led technical product development for Transport Networks and collaborated with regulatory authorities. Most recently, she managed commercial and product responsibilities for B2B segments at Telekom Deutschland. Since March 1st, she has taken on the role of SVP Magenta API Exposure within the T&I Group Technology division.
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