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Global Architecture Forum (GAF): Engineering level 4 at scale

November 17, 2026
09:00-09:55
Impact stage
Autonomous Networks
Autonomous operations

Session overview: As autonomous networks move into commercial deployment, the conversation is shifting from whether Level 4 autonomy is achievable to how operators can engineer it at scale. The Global Architecture Forum brings together senior architects and technical leaders to examine the architectural principles underpinning AI-native operations, digital twins, interoperable OSS and collaborative autonomous systems. Through practical implementation experiences and peer discussion, join us as we explore the design decisions, integration challenges and technology choices shaping the next generation of autonomous network architectures.

TM Forum welcome and introduction 
Reflecting on the maturity of TM Forum's Autonomous Networks program and the priorities that will define the next phase of industry collaboration 
George Glass, CTO, TM Forum 

Technical deep-dives
Senior architects from two leading APAC operators share the technical foundations of their Autonomous Networks programs, including: 

  • Designing scalable architectures capable of supporting autonomous decision-making across multiple operational domains while maintaining resilience, governance and operational control 
  • Modernizing existing OSS environments through modular architectures, open standards and AI-native capabilities without disrupting critical operational processes  
  • Embedding digital twins, shared data models and intelligent agents into day-to-day network operations to improve assurance, optimization and service delivery 
  • Lessons learned from moving beyond successful pilots to production-scale deployment, including the organizational, technical and architectural decisions that accelerated progress 
Panel: Architecting for collaborative autonomy: What comes next?
  • Which architectural principles have proven most effective when expanding autonomous capabilities across multiple domains, vendors and operational teams?  
  • How are operators balancing innovation with the realities of legacy infrastructure, technical debt and existing operational investments?  
  • What role will digital twins, shared knowledge models and multi-agent architectures play in supporting the next generation of autonomous networks?  
  • Which technical capabilities and business outcomes best demonstrate that an architecture is genuinely ready for Level 4 operations?  
  • What architectural decisions made today will provide the strongest foundation for Phase 2 autonomous networks and AI-native telecom operations? 
Please note: All topics and timings are provisional and may be subject to change. 
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