Executives at the Edge

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Executives at the Edge episodes

April 30Beyond Best Effort: Networking for AI Operations
Cisco VP of Product Management for SD-WAN and SASE, Hugo Vliegen, explains how AI is changing enterprise network requirements around latency, security, sovereignty, and automation. As AI traffic becomes more distributed and operationally critical, how will providers deliver assured experiences instead of basic connectivity?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Hugo Vliegen of Cisco:
Why is AI forcing enterprises to rethink “good enough” internet connectivity?
How are latency, sovereignty, and deterministic performance reshaping WAN requirements?
Why must networking and security converge to support AI workloads and agents?
How can service providers evolve from connectivity suppliers to assured experience providers?
What role will SD-WAN and segment routing play in delivering differentiated AI services?
How will AI-native operations and digital twins reshape telecom infrastructure and service delivery?
Learn More
Explore how Mplify is advancing standardized APIs and automation frameworks for AI-era networking and orchestration.
Discover how Mplify initiatives around LSO APIs, security integration, and service assurance are helping providers operationalize AI-ready networks.
Learn how Network-as-a-Service is designed for the AI-powered digital economy.
About Our Guest
Hugo Vliegen, VP Product Management & Technical Marketing, Enterprise Routing & SD-WAN, Cisco
Hugo Vliegen has global responsibility for product management and technical marketing for Enterprise Routing & SDWAN. Hugo has 25+ years of experience in marketing and technology leadership roles.

Over the years, he has worked with numerous enterprise customers, service providers, and channel partners to define business strategies and product/solution requirements for networking and security infrastructure. Hugo also brings experience from working at cloud and IoT startups, including Aryaka, Nebbiolo and Infogear (acquired by Cisco). He is the cofounder of several new product lines in the networking and security space generating $100M+ in yearly revenues. Hugo started his career in Manufacturing IT and Automation.

Hugo earned a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Twente and graduated with Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the Eindhoven University of Technology in The Netherlands.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post Beyond Best Effort: Networking for AI Operations appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
25 min
April 16The Network as Nervous System: Connecting the AI Edge
MaiaEdge CEO and Co-founder Abilash Menon challenges a foundational assumption: existing network infrastructure can carry the weight of distributed AI workloads. He explains why agentic AI demands a federated, programmable fabric across carriers, operators, and data centers, not just faster pipes. What does sovereignty look like when agents run the network?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Abilash Menon of MaiaEdge:
Why does distributed AI inference expose a “first mile” connectivity problem that centralized architectures were never built to solve?
How do training and inference workloads place fundamentally different demands on network fabric and latency?
What does federation actually require from operators, and where do automation and sovereignty fit in?
As agentic AI multiplies inter-service calls across decentralized infrastructure, what breaks first in today’s network model?
Why does the “middle” of the network, between fiber operators, carriers, and data centers, remain a programmability and visibility black box?
How will data sovereignty policies shape the way federated AI networks are built and governed across regions?
Learn More
Learn how Mplify’s Lifecycle Service Orchestration APIs enable automated, multi-domain service orchestration across the ecosystem.
Discover how NaaS supports AI-ready, programmable connectivity for distributed workloads
Explore how Mplify Certification validates performance and consistency across providers.
About Our Guest
Abilash Menon, CEO and Co-founder, MaiaEdge
Abilash brings over 20 years in networking and more than 40 patents, blending deep technical expertise with visionary leadership. He led MPLS architecture teams at Cisco, drove SD-WAN breakthroughs at pioneering startup 128 Technology, and designed large-scale network solutions at Juniper Networks. A graduate of the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive MBA program, he combines business acumen with engineering depth.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post The Network as Nervous System: Connecting the AI Edge appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
26 min
April 02Power Play: AI Is Rewriting Network Demand
This special “Power Play” episode examines how AI is reshaping network demand and forcing a shift toward Network-as-a-Service. Analysts from TeleGeography, Analysys Mason, and CCSquared break down the growth, the pressure on infrastructure, and why automation is becoming essential to keep up.
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes brings together analyst perspectives on AI-driven network demand and the evolution of Network-as-a-Service:
Greg Bryan, Senior Manager of Enterprise Research at TeleGeography, breaks down what’s behind the surge in global WAN demand, from cloud expansion to emerging AI-driven traffic patterns. Listen to the full episode: AI and Cloud: The Bandwidth Boom Reshaping Networks.
Gorkem Yigit, Research Director at Analysys Mason, explains how Network-as-a-Service is evolving to support multi-cloud environments, data center interconnect, and the growing demands of AI-driven connectivity. Listen to the full episode: The Programmable Network Era: Where NaaS Meets Sovereignty.
Caroline Chappell, Founder at CCSquared, explores how automation and agentic AI are transforming network operations, and what it means for operators still navigating legacy infrastructure. Listen to the full episode: Autonomous Everything: Dawn of the Agent-Driven Network.
Learn More
Learn how Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is enabling more flexible, automated, and on-demand connectivity across the ecosystem.
See how Mplify certification programs validate performance, interoperability, and readiness for AI-driven services.
Explore how Mplify brings together service providers, technology providers, and enterprises to drive innovation in AI, automation, and connectivity.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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Interested in sharing your industry perspective as a podcast guest? Contact Us!
The post Power Play: AI Is Rewriting Network Demand appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
20 min
March 19Cloud 2.0 Networking: Scaling Bandwidth, Automation, and Intelligence
Lumen Technologies Vice President of Product Management, Ethan Blodgett, shares how AI is transforming how networks are designed, scaled, and automated. As bandwidth demands surge and architectures evolve, service providers must rethink infrastructure, operations, and economics. How can next-generation networks support AI workloads while delivering performance, automation, and new revenue opportunities?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Ethan Blodgett of Lumen Technologies:
What is “Cloud 2.0,” and how does it change how networks are built and operated?
How is AI transforming network architecture and infrastructure requirements?
Why do AI workloads demand massive bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and near-zero packet loss?
How will automation and AI-driven network operations reshape how service providers manage their networks?
What new opportunities does AI create for service providers to deliver next-generation connectivity services?
Learn More
Watch Ethan’s presentation at GNE 2025 Cloud 2.0 – The Network for the AI Economy
Get Mplify’s Market Brief, NaaS for Agentic AI.
Explore how NaaS is shaping AI-ready, automated networks through on-demand connectivity and assurance.
About Our Guest
Ethan Blodgett, VP, Product Management, Lumen Technologies
Ethan Blodgett is Vice President of Product Management for Managed and Professional Services at Lumen Technologies. In this role, Ethan oversees the strategy and development of scalable service offerings that empower customers to transform their network and IT infrastructures. He is also the driving force behind Lumen Validated Designs, a portfolio of partner-tested, outcome-driven architectures that streamline the adoption of advanced networking and cloud solutions—reducing risk and complexity for enterprise customers.

Before joining Lumen, Ethan spent 15 years at Masergy Communications, where he pioneered customer experience initiatives that led to a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 71, churn rates below 1%, and 100% uptime on the company’s global core network. Earlier, Ethan held executive roles at Xcelocloud, Genesis Networks, SBC, and PageNet, building and leading high-performing global Network Operations Center (NOC) and infrastructure teams. Throughout his career, Ethan has consistently incorporated the customer perspective into operations and service design, earning a reputation for delivering outstanding results and organizational excellence.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post Cloud 2.0 Networking: Scaling Bandwidth, Automation, and Intelligence appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
24 min
March 05APIs, Agents, and Monetization: Enter the B2B2Agent Era
Live from the GNE Mainstage: GSMA’s Henry Calvert explores how standardized network APIs, quality on demand, and fixed-mobile orchestration are turning connectivity into a monetizable platform. As AI scales, application-led connectivity and cross-industry collaboration become essential to delivering real enterprise value.
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In this Executives at the Edge episode from the GNE Mainstage, Henry Calvert of GSMA explores these topics and more:
Is B2B2Agent the next evolution of B2B2C?
How can network APIs evolve from transactional tools to real monetization engines?
How do Quality on Demand and communications APIs improve real-world outcomes like payments, vehicles, and drones?
Why must mobile and fixed networks be orchestrated together to deliver end-to-end SLAs?
How can collaboration across GSMA, CAMARA, and Mplify unlock scalable enterprise connectivity?
Learn More
Watch Henry’s presentation at GNE 2025 Unlocking Revenue: Network API Use Cases for Wireline & Wireless Providers
See how Mplify, GSMA Open Gateway, Colt, Orange, and Google Cloud demonstrated agentic AI and standardized APIs at MWC26 Barcelona.
Learn how Mplify LSO APIs enable end-to-end service orchestration across fixed and mobile networks.
About Our Guest
Henry Calvert, Head of Network, GSMA
Henry joined the GSMA in 2013 and plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobile connectivity. As the leader of the GSMA’s Future Networks programme, he drives industry-wide initiatives to scale IP Communications and 5G, while tackling the economic challenges of a rapidly evolving network landscape. 

With over two decades of telecoms experience spanning network engineering, IT, and large-scale deployments, Henry has left his mark on mobile networks across more than 10 countries. During his time at SingTel Group, he spearheaded the design and rollout of Optus’ 3G and LTE all-IP mobile network, led major product development transformations, and co-founded a landmark network-sharing joint venture between SingTel Optus and Vodafone Australia. 

Henry has also served as Chair and Board Member of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) and was previously part of the GSMA Executive Management Committee, cementing his reputation as a leader driving innovation and collaboration across the industry.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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Interested in sharing your industry perspective as a podcast guest? Contact Us!
The post APIs, Agents, and Monetization: Enter the B2B2Agent Era appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
21 min
February 19Network-as-a-Service: From Bandwidth to Business Outcomes
Bell Canada’s Director of Enterprise Customer Product Management, Salma Bezrati, shares how Network-as-a-Service is transforming connectivity into an on-demand, AI-enabled, cloud-like experience that’s elastic, usage-based, and outcome-driven. But delivering true NaaS demands new technology, new operating models, and cultural change. Are service providers ready to reinvent themselves for this shift?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Salma Bezrati of Bell Canada:
What does true Network-as-a-Service actually mean beyond marketing language?
How do you move from selling bandwidth and boxes to delivering real business outcomes?
What’s harder to transform, the technology stack or the operating model?
Why are observability and AI-driven recommendations critical to the NaaS experience?
Is a greenfield build the only viable path to delivering fully automated, API-driven connectivity?
Learn More
Learn how Mplify’s Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs automate connectivity and enable interoperable, end-to-end service orchestration.
Discover how Network-as-a-Service is architected to deliver elastic, usage-based connectivity for the AI-powered digital economy.
Explore Mplify’s Certification programs and see how validated, standards-based services accelerate trust and adoption across the ecosystem.
About Our Guest
Salma Bezrati, Director, Product Management - Network Practice for Enterprise Customers, Bell Canada
Salma Bezrati is Director of Product Management – Network Practice at Bell Canada, where she leads the evolution of Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) for enterprise customers. With over a decade of experience in IT and a background in software engineering, she drives the transformation toward programmable, automated, and on-demand network services. Salma plays a key role in defining Bell’s NaaS strategy and execution, enabling agile service delivery and digital innovation for business customers across Canada.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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Interested in sharing your industry perspective as a podcast guest? Contact Us!
The post Network-as-a-Service: From Bandwidth to Business Outcomes appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
22 min
February 05AI Network Inflection Point: From Internet to Intelligent Fabric
Comcast’s Senior VP of Connectivity and Digital Customer Solutions, Christian Nascimento, discusses how AI is transforming networks from passive infrastructure into intelligent, programmable platforms built for autonomous agents, real-time performance, and new revenue. As networks become the foundation of AI at scale, are we ready for a purpose-built network for AI?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Christian Nascimento of Comcast:
Why are traditional internet and enterprise connectivity models no longer sufficient for emerging digital workloads?
What distinguishes infrastructure built for optimization from platforms designed to enable new services and revenue?
How do autonomous systems change expectations for performance, reliability, and availability across distributed environments?
What role does automation play in transforming connectivity into a dynamic, on-demand service?
What new partnership and monetization opportunities emerge as infrastructure evolves into an intelligent, programmable fabric?
Learn More
Learn how Mplify’s Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO) APIs automate connectivity and service orchestration.
Discover how Network-as-a-Service is architected for the AI-powered digital economy.
Read the Edge VIEW Blog post, NaaS for AI: The Roadmap that Will Redefine Global Connectivity.
About Our Guest
Christian Nascimento, Senior Vice President, Connectivity & Digital Customer Solutions, Comcast Business
Christian Nascimento is Senior Vice President of Connectivity & Digital Solutions for Comcast Business, a key driver of growth for Comcast, providing connectivity, secure networking and cybersecurity and managed services to businesses of all sizes.

In this role, he is responsible for product management and strategy for Comcast’s portfolio of commercial connectivity and cybersecurity products and services, as well as the organization’s digital self-service ecosystem. He is currently driving Digital and AI transformation throughout Comcast Business.

Christian graduated from Widener University, holds an MBA from Villanova University and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in AI at Drexel University. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Widener and previously served on the Board of Directors of Savi Solutions, and on the Transition Committee of PA Attorney General Dave Sunday, chairing the Technology Subcommittee.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post AI Network Inflection Point: From Internet to Intelligent Fabric appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
21 min
January 22Agentic AI Agents: Telecom’s New Operating System
ServiceNow’s Head of Product, Telecom and Media, Romit Ghose, details how AI agents are moving beyond automation to operate autonomously across telecom workflows through reasoning, collaborating, and delivering real business outcomes. With governance, standards, and human oversight built in, agentic AI is already transforming operations today. How ready is your organization for an agent-driven future?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Romit Ghose of ServiceNow:
What makes agentic AI fundamentally different from traditional automation?
How do autonomous AI agents actually work together in real operations?
What problems are AI agents solving right now in telecom environments?
How do you govern, secure, and trust AI agents at scale?
Where does human oversight still matter in an agent-driven world?
Learn More
Explore how Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is evolving to support AI-driven applications, on-demand connectivity, and automated operations.
Discover how Mplify’s Lifecycle Service Orchestration APIs enable agent-driven automation, interoperability, and service orchestration.
See how Mplify certification validates AI-ready, automated network services through independent testing and industry-defined standards.
About Our Guest
Romit Ghose, Head of Product, Telecom & Media, ServiceNow
Romit Ghose is the Head of Product, Telecom & Media, at ServiceNow. Romit leads the product and strategy organization for ServiceNow’s products for the Telecom & Media industries. ServiceNow serves as the central operational platform of choice for thousands of customers globally. Romit’s product organization delivers products that serve end-to-end functions of customer service, CRM, CPQ, order management & service delivery, field service, network operations, network inventory, network discovery and assurance—all on a single cloud-native AI platform.

Romit has a long career in product management, consulting and engineering at some of the largest enterprise SaaS companies and industry leaders in the world where he built and launched successful product portfolios that help achieve large scale business transformation.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post Agentic AI Agents: Telecom’s New Operating System appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
31 min
January 08A 2026 Vision: The Network Becomes the AI Platform
Live from the GNE MainStage, Mplify CTO, Pascal Menezes outlines his vision for 2026 where AI reshapes networks into a secure, automated, and programmable foundation of the digital economy. He explores what AI readiness means for networks, from connectivity as the glue for AI to agent-driven automation, AI-ready cybersecurity, and how sovereign AI will redefine infrastructure and new revenue models. Listen in for a clear-eyed view of what’s next for NaaS and AI.
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more:
Why is network connectivity becoming the foundational layer for AI at scale?
How are AI agents changing the way networks must be automated and programmed?
What role do standardized payloads and AI-friendly interfaces play in enabling AI-driven services?
How must cybersecurity and zero-trust models evolve to protect AI workloads and agents?
Why is post-quantum security becoming critical for future networks?
Learn More
Get Mplify’s market brief, NaaS for Agentic AI.
Watch Pascal’s GNE CTO Keynote, NaaS State of the Industry.
Explore how NaaS is shaping AI-ready, automated networks through on-demand connectivity and assurance.
About Our Guest
Pascal Menezes, Chief Technology Officer, Mplify
At Mplify, Pascal leads the company’s strategic vision across cutting-edge domains including Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), Lifecycle Service Orchestration (LSO), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), SD-WAN, service assurance, and API-driven interoperability. His work is central to advancing industry alignment around standards, automation, and certification—powering the next wave of digital transformation for cloud, edge, and carrier-scale networks.

Prior to Mplify, Pascal served as a Principal at Microsoft, where he spent nearly a decade focused on real-time media, intelligent networks, and cloud communications. His career includes leadership roles across five startups, multiple successful exits, and over 30 issued and pending patents.

Pascal is the recipient of more than five global industry awards for innovation, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to networking, communications, and service orchestration. He has also co-authored major standards at the IETF, Broadband Forum, and Mplify.

A frequent keynote speaker and respected thought leader, Pascal hosts the influential Executives at the Edge podcast where he interviews top minds shaping the future of cloud and network services.

Pascal brings a rare combination of technical depth, entrepreneurial insight, and visionary leadership—making him a powerful voice at the intersection of innovation, execution, and industry transformation.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
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The post A 2026 Vision: The Network Becomes the AI Platform appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
23 min
December 11, 2025The Programmable Network Era: Where NaaS Meets Sovereignty
Analysys Mason’s Research Director, Gorkem Yigit, details how the shift to programmable, automated connectivity is converging with sovereign AI, distributed workloads, and next-gen infrastructure. Automation maturity—not just technology—will determine who leads in the NaaS era. How prepared are today’s networks for agent-driven operations?
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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Gorkem Yigit of Analysys Mason:
How is distributed inference reshaping network performance requirements?
Why is programmable, on-demand connectivity becoming foundational for AI workloads?
How are GPU-as-a-service platforms reshaping national infrastructure strategies?
Why are commercial models shifting from multi-year contracts to consumption-based services?
What foundational automation and API capabilities are required before agent-driven networks become possible?
Learn More
Read the Edge VIEW Blog, Analyst Insights: How Can NaaS Support Telecom Operators’ GPUaaS and AI Connectivity Ambitions?
Catch up on highlights from Mplify’s recent Global NaaS Event, GNE 2025.
Explore Mplify’s latest Market Brief, NaaS for Agentic AI.
About Our Guest
Gorkem Yigit, Research Director, Analysys Mason
Gorkem is a Research Director within the Networks and Cloud research practice at Analysys Mason. He is the lead analyst for the “Cloud and AI Infrastructure” and “NaaS Platforms and Infrastructure” research programs. His research focuses on the building blocks, architecture and adoption of the cloud and AI native, disaggregated and open networks that underpin the delivery of 5G, multi-cloud and NaaS services and enable operational automation.

He also works on a range of consulting engagements with telecoms and IT vendors, operators and financial institutions including strategy assessment and advisory, TCO/business case analysis and marketing support through thought leadership collateral.
Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.
More Episodes
Interested in sharing your industry perspective as a podcast guest? Contact Us!
The post The Programmable Network Era: Where NaaS Meets Sovereignty appeared first on Mplify Alliance.
25 min

About Executives at the Edge

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Join Mplify Alliance CTO Pascal Menezes as he explores thought-provoking perspectives from the leaders and changemakers propelling AI-powered digital transformation. Each episode delves into…

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Executives at the Edge

Executives at the Edge episodes

About Executives at the Edge