Hugo has almost 14 years' progressive experience leading fixed and mobile network and IT service delivery (design and development) and network operations. Hugo spent six years on the supplier side, and the last eight years with operators. A career highlight has been contributing to the the successful launch and management of Telkom’s multimillion-dollar business program for Mobile services, involving vendor management beyond deployment into Managed Services Operations.

Hugo leads and manages a high-performance and multi-cultural team that work cross-functionally to achieve ongoing aggressive business goals. With one foot in the Network and the other in IT he has a unique understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both areas of work.

Hugo is married and raising three sons, currently living in Johannesburg, South Africa.

5G in Africa: The business case for 5G is a challenging one world-wide, and thus potentially even more challenging in Africa. Is 5G a leapfrog opportunity, or a migratory approach? Hugo van Zyl from Openserve will share the viewpoints from African operators, and provide a potential approach that is more Core focused than RAN focused.