2024 Showcase
Check out highlights of ONUG Spring 2024, with a strong AI in networking theme. Converge! Digest and AvidThink were able to capture some useful insights from speakers and attendees at this two-day event. Thanks to all interviewees for their perspectives on AI in networking, cybersecurity, network-as-a-service (NaaS), and more!
We noticed the NaaS panel at ONUG experienced unprecedented interest. The seating area ran out of headsets and chairs! Coincidentally, we just launched our Campus NaaS report. Campus networking is a $35B market today, and a bunch of NaaS upstarts, funded to the tune of $500M, are looking to upstage incumbents. Learn more about this rising market in our report. What's more, one of our ONUG 2024 interviewees is featured in the report — find out who by downloading the report today.
2024 ONUG Spring + AI Networking Summit
Check out highlights of ONUG Spring 2024, with a strong AI in networking theme. Converge! Digest and AvidThink were able to capture some useful insights from speakers and attendees at this two-day event. Thanks to all interviewees for their perspectives on AI in networking, cybersecurity, network-as-a-service (NaaS), and more!
We noticed the NaaS panel at ONUG experienced unprecedented interest. The seating area ran out of headsets and chairs! Coincidentally, we just launched our Campus NaaS report. Campus networking is a $35B market today, and a bunch of NaaS upstarts, funded to the tune of $500M, are looking to upstage incumbents. Learn more about this rising market in our report. What's more, one of our ONUG 2024 interviewees is featured in the report — find out who by downloading the report today.
Sponsor Spotlight ACG Research
Tracking the AI Networking Buzz
Ray Mota, CEO and Principal Analyst at ACG Research, discusses the importance of AI in managing security and anomaly detection in service providers and enterprises, emphasizing the need for a practical approach to using AI to address specific challenges related to security, storage, and network.
Sponsor Spotlight Alkira
Global Network Infrastructure as-a-Service + $100M Funding
Alkira CEO and CTO, Amir and Atif Khan, announced that the company, known for its on-demand network infrastructure and integrated network services, has raised $100 million in a Series C funding round. The funds will be used to expand their network infrastructure as-a-service offering globally.
Sponsor Spotlight Aviz Networks
RoCE-based AI Fabrics and Network Co-Pilots
Vishal Shukla, CEO of Aviz Networks, highlights the dual role of AI in networking, which includes creating networks for AI workloads and enhancing network efficiency. He also discusses real-world examples of this in action at an Aviz customer, TensorWave.
Sponsor Spotlight Gluware
AI's Emerging Influence on NetOps
Ernest Lefner, Chief Product Officer at Gluware, discusses the emerging influence of AI on network operations and introduces their new co-pilot, designed to simplify network troubleshooting and management.
Sponsor Spotlight Graphiant
Building an AI Data Exchange
Ali Shaikh, Chief Product Officer at Graphiant, highlights the shift towards data sovereignty and the role of networks in facilitating AI growth through data exchanges. Shaikh introduces the concept of carrier Network as a Service (NaaS), predicting that companies will need on-demand networks address connectivity of AI workloads.
Sponsor Spotlight IBM
Networking AI - Omniscient, Omnipotent Genie
Andrew Coward, GM of Software Networking at IBM, discusses the integration of AI into networking, emphasizing its potential in managing networks end-to-end and improving application performance. An effective AI must have access to all network data and the ability to make changes across the network infrastructure.
Sponsor Spotlight IBM
Network Complexity is an Enduring Challenge
David Coffey, Chief Product Officer at IBM NS1, discussed IBM's advancements in networking, including their efforts to help customers manage dynamic networking resources and operate applications more efficiently.
Sponsor Spotlight Meter
IT Teams Really Need NaaS
Anil Varanasi, co-founder and CEO of Meter, discusses the growing demands on networking and the challenges IT teams face in scaling operations. He highlights the benefits of the 'as a service' model in networking, such as enhanced connectivity, increased productivity, cost efficiency, and advanced security features.
Sponsor Spotlight Nokia
Nokia's AI-Driven Enterprise Networking
Houman Modarres, Head of Enterprise Marketing at Nokia, highlights the company's dual approach to AI in networking, focusing on improving network efficiency and supporting data center infrastructure for large learning models.
Sponsor Spotlight ONUG
Networking AI in the Spotlight
Stephen Collins, CTO of ONUG, emphasized the significance of AI networking in the current market at the event, the importance of AI to network and security operations, and the challenges and constraints in working with and adopting AI.
Sponsor Spotlight Quantea
Networking AI is more Artificial than Intelligent
Michael Francisco, CTO and Co-Founder of Quantea, discusses importance of quality data for AI. Francisco further highlights the need for secure AI-run automated processes, and discusses how they serve large enterprises across sectors like logistics, healthcare, insurance, and public institutions.
Latest Research Brief
Download Our Latest Report
Data Center Networking in 2026 — Scaling to New Heights
More about this report →
No personal info needed to download
Download the Latest Report
By downloading this report, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Highlights from industry thought leaders
Video interviews
Tracking the AI Networking Buzz
- ACG Research's Ray Mota stresses AI's role in security and anomaly detection for service providers and enterprises.
- He urges a practical approach to using AI for specific security, storage, and network challenges.
Abstract
Ray Mota, CEO and Principal Analyst at ACG Research, discusses the importance of AI in managing security and anomaly detection in service providers and enterprises, emphasizing the need for a practical approach to using AI to address specific challenges related to security, storage, and network.
Global Network Infrastructure as-a-Service + $100M Funding
- Alkira raised $100 million in a Series C funding round, announced by CEO and CTO Amir and Atif Khan.
- The funds will expand Alkira's on-demand network infrastructure as-a-service offering globally.
Abstract
Alkira CEO and CTO, Amir and Atif Khan, announced that the company, known for its on-demand network infrastructure and integrated network services, has raised $100 million in a Series C funding round. The funds will be used to expand their network infrastructure as-a-service offering globally.
RoCE-based AI Fabrics and Network Co-Pilots
- Aviz Networks CEO Vishal Shukla describes AI's dual role: building networks for AI workloads and improving network efficiency.
- He cites a real-world example at Aviz customer TensorWave.
Abstract
Vishal Shukla, CEO of Aviz Networks, highlights the dual role of AI in networking, which includes creating networks for AI workloads and enhancing network efficiency. He also discusses real-world examples of this in action at an Aviz customer, TensorWave.
AI's Emerging Influence on NetOps
- Gluware's Ernest Lefner discusses AI's emerging influence on network operations.
- Gluware introduced a new co-pilot designed to simplify network troubleshooting and management.
Abstract
Ernest Lefner, Chief Product Officer at Gluware, discusses the emerging influence of AI on network operations and introduces their new co-pilot, designed to simplify network troubleshooting and management.
Building an AI Data Exchange
- Graphiant's Ali Shaikh highlights data sovereignty and networks facilitating AI growth through data exchanges.
- He predicts carrier Network as a Service will address on-demand connectivity for AI workloads.
Abstract
Ali Shaikh, Chief Product Officer at Graphiant, highlights the shift towards data sovereignty and the role of networks in facilitating AI growth through data exchanges. Shaikh introduces the concept of carrier Network as a Service (NaaS), predicting that companies will need on-demand networks address connectivity of AI workloads.
Networking AI - Omniscient, Omnipotent Genie
- IBM's Andrew Coward sees AI managing networks end-to-end and improving application performance.
- Effective AI needs access to all network data and the ability to make changes across the infrastructure.
Abstract
Andrew Coward, GM of Software Networking at IBM, discusses the integration of AI into networking, emphasizing its potential in managing networks end-to-end and improving application performance. An effective AI must have access to all network data and the ability to make changes across the network infrastructure.
Network Complexity is an Enduring Challenge
- IBM NS1's David Coffey discusses IBM's advancements in networking.
- The work helps customers manage dynamic networking resources and operate applications more efficiently.
Abstract
David Coffey, Chief Product Officer at IBM NS1, discussed IBM's advancements in networking, including their efforts to help customers manage dynamic networking resources and operate applications more efficiently.
IT Teams Really Need NaaS
- Meter co-founder and CEO Anil Varanasi discusses growing networking demands and IT teams' scaling challenges.
- The as-a-service model delivers enhanced connectivity, productivity, cost efficiency, and advanced security.
Abstract
Anil Varanasi, co-founder and CEO of Meter, discusses the growing demands on networking and the challenges IT teams face in scaling operations. He highlights the benefits of the 'as a service' model in networking, such as enhanced connectivity, increased productivity, cost efficiency, and advanced security features.
Nokia's AI-Driven Enterprise Networking
- Nokia's Houman Modarres describes a dual approach to AI: improving network efficiency and supporting data center infrastructure.
- The data center focus targets large learning models.
Abstract
Houman Modarres, Head of Enterprise Marketing at Nokia, highlights the company's dual approach to AI in networking, focusing on improving network efficiency and supporting data center infrastructure for large learning models.
Networking AI in the Spotlight
- ONUG CTO Stephen Collins emphasizes AI networking's significance to network and security operations.
- He addresses the challenges and constraints in working with and adopting AI.
Abstract
Stephen Collins, CTO of ONUG, emphasized the significance of AI networking in the current market at the event, the importance of AI to network and security operations, and the challenges and constraints in working with and adopting AI.
Networking AI is more Artificial than Intelligent
- Quantea CTO Michael Francisco stresses the importance of quality data and secure AI-run automated processes.
- Quantea serves large enterprises across logistics, healthcare, insurance, and public institutions.
Abstract
Michael Francisco, CTO and Co-Founder of Quantea, discusses importance of quality data for AI. Francisco further highlights the need for secure AI-run automated processes, and discusses how they serve large enterprises across sectors like logistics, healthcare, insurance, and public institutions.
Reader feedback on our Campus NaaS Report: "Best report on NaaS I've read to date", "Well organized and researched", "Comprehensive and thoughtful". Download 2024 Campus Naas report now and send us your feedback!
Download 2024 Campus NaaS Report
By downloading this report, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Continue exploring
More executive showcases across next-gen infrastructure.
2026
2026 Next-Gen Enterprise Connectivity
Thought leaders discuss networking and security convergence, multi-domain management, SASE, SD-WAN, ZTNA, NaaS
2025
2025 AI Infra Summit
Thought leaders discuss using AI, ML, deep learning, and generative AI (GenAI) to manage, automate, scale, and optimize network infrastructure
2025
2025 AI in Networking
Thought leaders discuss using predictive, generative, and agentic AI to manage, automate, scale, and optimize network infrastructure