Speaker Biographies

Speakers

Moderators

H.E Vahan Martirosyan

Minister of Transport, Communication and IT of Armenia, MTCIT

Work Experience
1984 - 2000, Yerevan Electrical Equipment Plant, engineer-constructor,
constructor bureau chief, deputy chief engineer
2000 - 2006, Cornet-AM CJSC Director General
2006, ArmenTel CJSC Commercial Director
2006 - 2010, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cornet-AM CJSC
2008 - 2012, GNC- Alpha CJSC, Chairman of the Board of Directors
2012-2016, GNC- Alpha CJSC, Chairman of the Board of Directors
As of September 20, 2016, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Armenia
As of October 6, 2016, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies

Francois Rancy

Director, ITU Radiocommunication Bureau

Mr François Rancy was elected Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2010 (PP-10) in Guadalajara, Mexico. He took office on 1 January 2011. He was confirmed in a second term by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2014 (PP-14) in Busan, Republic of Korea.
François Rancy is an engineer, a graduate of the École Polytechnique (1977) and the École Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications (Paris, 1979).
From 1979 to 1997, he worked as systems engineer and subsequently Head of Department in France Télécom's research laboratories, where he was in charge of studies on national and international satellite systems and activities relating to the spectrum and the regulation of satellite systems. As from 1992, his responsibilities expanded to cover the entire radiocommunication sphere.
From 1997 to 2004, he was Director of Spectrum Planning and International Affairs at the National Frequency Agency (ANFR).
From 2004 to 2010, he was Director-General of ANFR, responsible for frequency management in France.
In October 2010, he was elected Director, BR by the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.
At the international level, he led the coordination of European delegations (CEPT) at WRC-03 and chaired the European Union group on spectrum management policy (RSPG) in 2007. He chaired the ITU–R Special Committee on Regulatory and Procedural Matters from 1997 to 2003, and the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007.
François Rancy has been awarded the ITU Silver Medal (2007) and the titles of Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (1998) and Ordre national du mérite (1992).

Albert Nalbandian

Chairman, RCC WG on WRC-19

Currently (since 2002) Albert Nalbandian is the Adviser to Minister of Transport, Communications and IT of the Republic of Armenia.
Armenian delegate at ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences (2002, 2006, 2010) and ITU Radiocommunication Conferences (1993 – 2015, at WRC-03 and WRC-07 - as Committee Chairman, WRC-12 – as Vice-Chairman), Chairman of the ITU-R Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-12).
He is actively participating in the RCC work (Council of the Heads of Administrations, Commission on Spectrum management, etc).
From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Nalbandian was a Counsellor of the CCIR and later since 1993 of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau and was responsible for the work of ITU-R Study Group 1 “Spectrum management”, ITU-R Study Group 7 “Science services” and preparation for radiocommunication conferences (CPM) held in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2003. During the 1985 - 2001 Albert assisted 50 ITU-R Chairmen in preparing, organizing and conducting more than 180 meetings.
Albert Nalbandian prepared and published a number of articles and did presentations on different aspects of radiocommunications.
1965 – 1985 - Deputy of the Head of Department on satellite communications and broadcasting of the Moscow Radio Research and Development Institute (NIIR)
1960 - 1965 - Moscow Telecommunication Institute
Engineer on radio communications and broadcasting

Nurudin Mukhitdinov

Director General, Executive committee of the Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications (RCC)

N. Mukhitdinov was born on 18 March 1959 in the city of Kurgan-Tyube, Republic of Tajikistan.
In 1981 he graduated from the Tashkent Electrotechnical Communications Institute, Department of Radiocommunication and Radio Broadcasting and after that worked as an engineer in the Technical Division of the Electrotecnical Communications Administration.

From 1987 to 1995 he occupied different executive positions. In July of 1995 he was appointed Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of the Republic of Tajikistan and he worked at this post for 8 years.

In 2003 he was nominated to the office of the RCC Executive Committee Director General by Communications Administrations of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan and was elected to this post unanimously.
In 2007 he was elected to the post of the RCC Executive Committee Director General for the second time.

N.N. Mukhitdinov working at present as Director General takes active part in solving topical tasks facing the Commonwealth of developing information-communication technologies and communications which promotes strengthening and further development of the integration
processes of the CIS countries on entry into the global information society.

Services of N.N. Mukhitdinov in strengthening and developing the Commonwealth of Independent States were twice awarded with the Certificate of the CIS Heads of Government Council in 2001 and 2006. N.N. Mukhitdinov was awarded Certificate of Merit of the CIS IPA for active participation in activities of the Interparliamentary Assembly and its bodies and for a contribution to the friendship between the peoples of the CIS member states. He renders assistance to development and strengthening of regional organizations’ role in the sphere of mutually beneficial cooperation at the major forums of the International
Telecommunication Union and Universal Postal Union. Candidate of Economic Sciences. Married. Has four children.

Boris Demirkhanyan

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies (Armenia)

Boris Demirkhanyan is the Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of the Republic of Armenia. Mr. Demirkhan worked as GNC-ALFA CJSC as 2012 as Deputy General Director, and in 2011-2012 he was the Commercial Director of GNC-ALFA CJSC. He has graduated from Yerevan State University, Department of Radiophysics, and later lectured at the same University from 1992 to 2004.

Kirill Oparin

Head of Regional Office, ITU

Mr. Kirill Oparin was born in the city of Vladimir (Russia) on 20 November 1973.
In 1990, Kirill Oparin graduated from secondary school № 42 of the city of Nikolayev (Ukraine). The same year, he entered Bauman Moscow State Technical University and got a master’s degree in the field of radio electronic systems in 1996 with certification of radio engineer.
Mr. Oparin has over 20 years of experience in the sphere of information and communications technologies, including over 15 years of team leadership experience.
Mr. Oparin started his professional career in Ericsson Corporation in 1996, and over 15 years, he worked his way up from Engineer, Mobile System Support Department to Head, Custom Service Support, Central Asia and Caucasus.
From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Oparin was employed with Nokia Siemens Networks Russia as Director for Transformation and Development, Managed Services Department.
The last few years, Mr. Oparin worked as Deputy Director, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation and was responsible for interaction with ICT-specialized international organizations (ITU, RCC, APEC, ICANN, OECD, CEPT) in the field of satellites, RF, Internet governance, e-commerce, standardization, and regional development.
Since May 2017, Mr. Oparin has been heading the International Telecommunication Union Area Office based in Moscow.
Married with two children.
Speaks Russian, Ukrainian, and English.

Victor Strelets

Member, Radio Regulations Board (RRB)

Victor STRELETS is member of the ITU Radio Regulation Board (RRB). He was elected to the Radio Regulations Board at the 2010 and 2014 ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences (2011 - Vice-Chairman RRB, 2012 - Chairman RRB).
He is today advisor to Director General, at Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Morsviazsputnik” and Consultant to various Russian Satellites Companies.
Victor Strelets has 34 years’ experience of scientific-research and technical and administrative work in the field of spectrum management.
Since 1993, he participated in the ITU-R activities and also in the of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations and Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications.
He has taken part in various sets of negotiations and has headed bilateral and multilateral coordination meetings dealing with frequency planning and coordination issues.
In 2004, Strelets assumed direct responsibility for the Russian Administration’s preparations for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference and 2006 Regional Conference for the planning of digital terrestrial broadcasting, and provided practical leadership for the Russian Administration’s delegations to those events. From 2004 to 2013, he served as Chairman of the State Radio Frequency Committee’s working group handling preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference.
Victor Strelets has played an active role in the development of a spectrum management system in the Russian Federation. From 2004 to 2008, as an administrative head in the State Radio Frequency Committee.

Valery Butenko

Director General, FSUE NIIR, Russia

Currently, the chief editor of “NIIR’s Proceedings” Collection is Mr. V.V. Butenko, NIIR FSUE Director General, Doctor of Technical Sciences.

Laureate of the Russian Government Award, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

From 2003 till present he is at the NIIR. Since 2006 he is Director General, FSUE NIIR.

Dr. V. Butenko is a prominent scientist and highly qualified specialist in the field of information and radio communication technologies, one of the pioneers in the international and legal support for frequency and orbital assignments to complex radio electronic systems.

Dr. V. Butenko conducted a cycle of fundamental studies: scientific and engineering methodology for the international and legal support, computer-aided assessment techniques and interoperability support, solutions for multi-criterion tasks, distribution of limited resources, draft concept of radio spectrum re-farming for the Russian Federation.

Dr. V. Butenko has contributed a lot into development of scientific frameworks for a new class of radio systems – automated radio navigation dispatch control systems for mobile and fixed objects. He administered pioneering development of the unique domestic system of conditional access to television and radio broadcasting networks.

Dr. V. Butenko actively participates in scientific and social activities. He is the President of National Radio Association, Head of Radio and Information Technologies Department in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), and Head of Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio Frequency Management Department in Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI).

Dr. V. Butenko is also greatly contributing to the work of National Communication Administration during Administrative and Plenipotentiary Conferences of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CEPT and ITU Study Groups

Stanislav Kizima

ITU expert, Russian Federation

ITU expert. Doctor of technical Sciences. Awarded with honorary sign "Engineering glory of Russia"
Since 2013 Dr. Stanislav Kizima is Deputy Director General R&D Company “Vector” (tools and measurement systems).
For a long time he was the scientific leader and active participant in R&D on issues of technologies of management of the radiofrequency spectrum, including the technological systems to ensure the use of the radio spectrum at the national level.
He is a member of the working group of the UN International Committee on global navigation satellite systems (ICG).
Author of more than 70 scientific articles, monographs, inventions and reports.

Alexander Kuhn

Chair for WRC-19 preparation, CEPT

After a state exam of law at the University of Osnabrück, Mr Kühn has been working since 1998 in the area of legal internship (e.g. at Regional Court) of the Federal Network Agency Germany; changing to national and international spectrum regulation on different levels in 2005. Nowadays he is the deputy head of section for international affairs and utilization concepts. His responsibilities cover strategic frequency utilization concepts and the transposition of those to the international level of CEPT, EU and ITU. Doing this and having been active in the preparation of three WRC’s, on national and on CEPT CPG level, Mr Kühn participated in a number of international Groups, also as Head of the German Delegation. He has also chaired several groups and subgroups in the ITU and CEPT. Since 2005 he is responsible for the German preparation of the WRC’s and served as CEPT CPG Vice-Chairman from 2010 to 2013. Mr Kühn has been appointed Chairman of CPG in June 2013.

Istvan Bozsoki

Head of Telecommunication Networks and Spectrum Management Division, ITU

Mr Istvan Bozsoki joined the ITU in 1997 to work at the Space Department of the Radiocommunication Bureau and he was dealing with coordination and notification of satellite systems. In 2007 he moved to the Telecommunication Development Bureau and is responsible for spectrum management and broadcasting issues. Since April 2013 he is Head of Spectrum Management and Broadcasting Division.
After obtaining his degree in telecommunication engineering at the Technical University Budapest in 1980 he spent 17 years at the Hungarian Communication Authority and he was dealing with technical and regulatory aspects of the spectrum management. Among others, he was responsible for the development of a computerized spectrum management system. Later, he was appointed as director of international affairs. He has a master degree in radiocommunications and broadcasting.

Nikolay Vassiliev

Chief, Terrestrial Services Department in the Radiocummunication Bureau, ITU

Mr. Nikolai Vassiliev is the Chief, Terrestrial Services Department in the Radiocummunication Bureau, ITU.
He obtained his Master’s degree in radiocommunications in 1985 and MBA in management in 19992. From 1985 to 1996 he worked at different positions in the National Frequency Centre of Russia and in 1996 joined the Radiocommunication Bureau of ITU. His current responsibilities cover spectrum management for terrestrial radiocommunication services, application of the regulatory and operational procedures of the Radio Regulations and regional agreements, providing technical assistance to ITU administrations.
At the international level, he participated in 11 world and regional radiocommunication conferences (since 1992) and numerous spectrum management meetings of APT, ATU, CEPT, CITEL and RCC countries.

Samer Mourad

Principal, Analysys Mason

Samer Mourad is a Principal, Consulting, at Analysys Mason. He has over 15 years' experience in the telecoms industry and has managed a range of consulting projects, covering strategic, technical, financial, regulatory and operational issues. His clients include operators, vendors, governments, regulators and financial institutions in more than 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe.

Samer has detailed knowledge of the mobile, fixed broadband and satellite sectors. He is highly skilled in spectrum valuation and auction strategy, business planning and business modelling, technology assessment, market and commercial due diligence, service costing and litigation support.

Timur Kadyrov

Engineer in the Space Services Department (SSD) at the Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU

Timur Kadyrov is Radiocommunication Engineer in the Space Services Department (SSD) at the Radiocommunication Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in Geneva (Switzerland). Before joining ITU in 2010, he has been involved in issues related international regulation of orbit‐spectrum use for more than 10 years. He received Doctorate Degree in Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics in 2005 with research focused on complex assessment of electromagnetic compatibility between non‐geostationary satellites systems.

Karen Badalov

Regional Director, Eutelsat

Karen Badalov is responsible for Eutelsat’s activities within the Baltic States, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as for the development of telecom and data services within the Russian Federation and managing the company’s relations with government institutions and CIS regulatory authorities.

He previously worked as Area Manager for Central Asian countries and Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Mongolia. Within Eutelsat’s Fleet Management’s direction he led and participated in elaborating satellite deployment plans and fleet optimization. Prior to that he worked as new projects development manager and In-Orbit tests engineer.

He holds a Ph.D. from the Moscow telecommunications Institute and an executive MBA diploma

Andrey Lashkevich

Head of Laboratory, Radio Research and Development Institute (FSUE NIIR)

Head of frequency planning laboratory and VHF FM broadcasting. Graduated from the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics. He has been working at EMC Analysis Center of Radio Research and Development Institute (NIIR) since 1998. He engaged in terrestrial services frequency planning, international activity and spectrum engineering. Andrey Lashkevich participates in the work of the ITU study groups and Working Parties; he is vice-chairman of ITU-R Study Group 6.

Igor Zheltonogov

Deputy Director General, Geyser Telecom

EDUCATION, AWARDS
• Doctor of Philosophy
• awarded with a sign “Eminent Radio Engineer of the Russian Federation”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
At present-Deputy General Director of “Geyser-Telecom” Ltd.
• Since 1990 has been working in telecommunications;
• participated in designing and providing of electromagnetic compatibility of radioelectronic equipment of many satellite communication systems and navigation and also various radiolocation systems;
• Since 2000 participated in all Regional and World Radiocommunication Conferences. While developing GE06 Frequency plan for digital broadcasting was responsible for sharing issues with other (not broadcasting) services;
• one of the initiators of the ITU-R Resolution 609 Consultation Meeting, Vice chairman of this meeting till 2009;
• from 2012 to 2015 - Vice chairman of ITU-R Special Committee and from 2015 vice-chairman of ITU-R Study Group 7 (Science services);
• Participated actively in the International and Regional meetings and workshops on spectrum management and new technology development issues.
• Author of many science publications, articles and reports.

Nikolay Varlamov

Vice Chairman, RCC WG WRC-19/AR-19

Nikolay Varlamov has worked more than 17 years in the field of spectrum management at the national and international levels. He was nominated as ITU-R CPM Chapter Reporter on satellite issues in 2015. He participated at WRC-03, -07, -12, -15 and was responsible for satellite and terrestrial issues. Mr. Varlamov actively participates in RCC preparation to WRCs and spectrum management issues and he is a Vice Chairman of RCC WG WRC-19/AR-19.

Vincenzo Lobianco

Chief Technology and Innovation Officer , Agcom

Vincenzo Lobianco is in AGCOM, the Italian NRA, from year 2000. Currently he is Chief Technology and
Innovation Officer. In his role, he reports directly to the AGCOM Board, carrying out studies and
investigations and providing advices on technical and regulatory issues related to electronic communication
networks and infrastructures and radio spectrum.
Before holding the post of Chief Technology and Information Officer, Vincenzo Lobianco has been, from
2006 to 2014, Director of the Electronic Communication Network and Services Directorate of AGCOM
charged, inter alia, for regulating wholesale telecommunications markets, NGA networks, for the approval
of Telecom Italia Reference Interconnection Offers (RIO), the preparation of frequency and numbering
assignment plans, for the monitoring and the enforcement of AGCOM decisions, in wholesale
telecommunication markets, for the evaluation of regulatory accounting systems of notified operators and
for dispute resolutions between telecom operators.
Vincenzo Lobianco represented Italy in the Radio Spectrum Policy Group of EU and in several international
frequency coordination meetings and events.
Vincenzo Lobianco holds an MS in Electronic Engineering. Before joining AGCOM, he worked for the Ministry
of Communication from 1985 to 1999 and for the European Commission (1995-1998). He also served as
member of the ETSI Board from 1999 to 2002.

Ulrich Rehfuess

Head of Spectrum Policy , Nokia

Ulrich Rehfuess holds a diploma degree in Electrical Engineering of Technical University of Munich, Germany and one in Industrial Engineering of Fernuniversität Hagen, Germany. Of his more than 20 years of professional experience in Siemens, Nokia Siemens Networks and lately Nokia Networks, he spent more than 15 years in R&D, business strategy, system architecture and product management of mobile radio network systems covering GSM, EDGE, UMTS with HSPA, Flash OFDM, WiMAX, LTE and LTE Advanced. Starting June 2011, he assumed responsibility for spectrum policy and regulation within Nokia Networks' industry environment team. Ulrich Rehfuess is vice chair of the BITKOM Spectrum working group in Germany and chairs the DIGITALEUROPE spectrum working group in Brussels.

Lidia Varukina

Lead Coordinator CIS region, GSA

Lidia Varukina, Head of Technology, Nokia East Europe, is a member of GSA Spectrum Group coordinating GSA activities within RCC. Lidia possesses Ph.D. degree in the field of telecommunications, she is with telecom industry for nearly 30 years and gained broad expertise in various areas, including digital signal processing, HW and SW development, radio network planning. In the field of regulation, she participated in ITU-R activities on behalf of the Communication Administration of the Russian Federation for 2000-2006.”

Sergey Pastukh

Chairman of ITU-R SG 1, FSUE NIIR, Russia

• More than 25 year experience in spectrum management, EMC analysis, simulation of interference environment for space and terrestrial systems, radio monitoring, automation of frequency coordination and notification process, frequency planning for mobile and fixed services, development of automated spectrum management systems;
• More than 15-year experience in CEPT and ITU activity. Participation in ECC, WG FM, CPG including various PTs, ITU-R SG1 and its Working Parties and Task Groups, ITU-R SG4;
• In ITU was elected as a Chairman of ITU-R Study Group 1 “Spectrum management & Radiomonitoring” (2012-up-to-now) and Chairman of ITU-R Working party 1B “Spectrum management including economic aspects” (2008-2012);
• In CEPT was elected as Chairman of CEPT/WGFM “Frequency management” (2008-2014) and Vice - Chairman of Electronic communications committee (2014-up to now);
• More than 160 papers on spectrum management, EMC analysis, radio network planning, etc. published in Russian scientific and technical journals.

Scott McKenzie

Director, Coleago

Scott McKenzie is an experienced consultant with over twenty years background in the telecoms and high technology industries. His areas of expertise span: general management, strategic planning, operations, finance and M&A.

Early in his career, he held a variety of engineering and marketing positions with Telstra and Ericsson. After business school, he worked as a management consultant with Arthur D. Little before spending six years as an equity analyst in the City of London with the investment banking divisions of SEB and Société Générale. Upon leaving the City he became Chief Strategy Officer for the international mobile division of the Dutch telecom operator Royal KPN, where he was also CEO of the mobile wholesale business unit. He joined Coleago Consulting in 2009.
Scott spent many of his formative years in Australia and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Melbourne University. He also holds an MBA degree from the Saïd Business School at Oxford University

Richard Womersley

Director of Spectrum Services, LS Telcom

Richard is Director of Spectrum Services for LS telcom. He has 20 over years consulting and business experience working in the radio spectrum management, public telecommunications, digital broadcasting and satellite industries. He has worked for regulators, network operators, financiers, governments and end-users on issues covering national and international policy; regulation and its impact; pricing, auctions and licensing; cost modelling and tariff setting; planning and consultation; network specification and procurement; and digital switch-over. His work has been international in nature having taken him to every continent except Antarctica. Richard is also an experienced trainer having been running courses on spectrum management and policy for over 15 years.

In addition to providing consultancy advice and training, Richard’s career has embraced roles in a military communications company, as a transmission manager for BBC World Service and business manager for the UK’s largest broadcast infrastructure provider ntl: (now Arqiva) giving him a broad perspective on telecommunications and broadcast technologies and industries, their commercialisation and their regulation.

Peter MacAvock

Head of Delivery, Platform and Services, Technology and Development, European Broadcasting Union

Peter MacAvock is Head of Delivery and Services, EBU Technology and Development. He heads the team responsible for projects relating to delivery technologies, spectrum management and software platforms. Amongst other things, he is responsible for spectrum matters and high level projects related to Hybrid Radio and Television including HbbTV, DVB, RadioDNS and others.

He is an Irish national living and working in Switzerland. Formerly Executive Director of the DVB Project, he was responsible for the team charged with the day-to-day running of the DVB Project. With EBU TECHNICAL, Peter MacAvock retains an active role in standardisation bodies such as DVB, DRM, ETSI, WorldDMB amongst others.

Dmytro Protsenko

Chairman, BlackSea Digital Dividend Implementation Forum

Dmytro Protsenko graduated from the National Technical University of Ukraine (Kyiv) in Radio Engineering in 1998 and since that time he has worked at the Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies, the radio spectrum management body in the framework of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatization of Ukraine.

Last 19 years he has actively participated in the work of the ITU, including all three ITU-R, ITU-D and ITU-T Sectors, involved in work of 4 WRCs, RRC04/06 and other high-level conferences of the ITU (PP, WTDC, WTSA), ITU-R and ITU-T Study Groups and numerous ITU seminars/workshops. Throughout that period, on regional level, he has been deeply involved in the CEPT, ETSI and RCC activities related to different issues of the spectrum management and radio regulation.

In October 2017 he was elected as a Chairman of the Black Sea Digital Dividend Implementation Forum (BSDDIF).

Dzmitry Korzun

Head of Spectrum , Ministry of Communications and Information of the Republic of Belarus

Work experience:
1990-2006 Service in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
Official duties and responsibilities: RF planning and provision of the electromagnetic compatibility of radio electronic devices.
2006-2011 Secretary of the State Radio Frequency Commission under the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus.
since 2011 The Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulation Department.
Official duties and responsibilities: development and implementation of policy for planning, allocation and effective use of the radio spectrum by radio-electronic devices and services, development of normative legal acts, participation in the maintenance of activity of the State Radio Frequency Commission under the Security Council of the Republic of Belarus, preparation proposals for the international frequency coordination of land and satellite systems, development draft position of the Administration of the Republic of Belarus for WRC of ITU and other international meetings, relationship with BR of ITU.

Karimova Elnura

Chief Specialist , State Communications Agency of Information Technologies and Communications of Kyrgyz Republic

Karimova Elnura Arstanovna, was educated at Kyrgyz State Technical University. I Razzakov (KSTU) in engineering and technology with a speciality in ’Telecommunications. She graduated in 2013. Following this Karimova completed a masters degree in ‘Info communication technologies in the communication system.’

Alongside her studies Karimova worked for the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications (IET) a a training master and specialist for the department of Radiocelectronics.

In February 2015, she was recruited to the Department for Accounting for Radioelectronic Facilities of the Permission Documents Department (OURES URD) of the State Agency of Communications under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (GAS under the RCC) as a specialist. In April 2016, she was transferred to the position of a leading specialist of the URES URD. In February 2017, she was appointed chief specialist of the same department.

Georgy Muratov

‎Senior Solutions Architect, Ericsson

Bio to appear here shortly.

Almira Gataulina

Secretary of the Republican Council for Radiofrequencies, Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Mrs. Almira Gataulina was born in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan on 7th of February, 1959.
In 1981, she graduated the Tashkent Electrotechnical Institute of Communication with the specialty of telecommunication engineer.
Mrs. Almira Gataulina has over 25 years of experience in the sphere of information and communication technologies.
From 1981 to 2002 she worked in such positions of teacher at the Tashkent Electrotechnical Institute of Communication, engineer-constructor of thermal physics department at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, senior engineer of «Uzbeksvyasstroy» manufacturing association, head of department on regulatory documents of the «Toshkent shaxar telefon tarmogi» company.
Starting from 2002 by the middle of 2008, she worked for Communications and Information Agency of Uzbekistan in position of Head of the Licensing, Certification and Standardization department.
Further, Mrs. Almira Gataulina continued her professional activities in the sphere of regulation of radiofrequency spectrum use in the Republic of Uzbekistan. From 2008 to 2013, she worked as Deputy Head of State Committee for Radiofrequencies of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Starting from 2013, she is working as the Head of Department for the Regulation of Radiofrequency Spectrum Use at the Ministry for Development of Information Technologies and Communications of the Republic of Uzbekistan, at the same time she is the Secretary of the Republican Council for Radiofrequencies.
Mrs. Almira Gataulina is top professional in the field of radiofrequency spectrum use, development of corresponding legislative documents, standards and technical regulations. She also serves for strengthening the international cooperation of Uzbekistan in the sphere of radiofrequency use, taking part in activities at International Telecommunication Union, Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications and other international organizations on behalf of administration of communication of the Republic of Uzbekistan. She acted as the head of Uzbekistan official delegation at the World Radiocommunication Conferences of 2012 and 2015. Now, she also acts as the Head of working group of RCC for regulation radiofrequency spectrum use and holding the work on preparing the Republic of Uzbekistan to the World Radiocommunication Conferences and Radiocommunication Assemblies.

Mikhail Kaigorodov

Global Spectrum & Policy Regulator, ESOA

CEO of Russian Inmarsat subsidiary “ISAT Global Xpress” LLC with an office in Moscow.
Mikhail has obtained his engineering degree in telecommunications in the Military Institute of Government Communications and his postgraduate diploma in the Academy of the Federal Agency of Government Communications and Information under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation.
Before joining Inmarsat in June 2017 Mikhail was leading Saratov’s subsidiary of Tele2 (Volga region) that he has joint after his work in the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation as the deputy head of the infrastructure department. He has an extensive experience in the mobile telecommunication market in Russia, obtained during his employment in Vimpelcom, MTS and Nokia.

Igor Furdik

Service Delivery Manager, Open Nettest

Igor joined Specure, the company behind Open Nettest, in 2013. Since then, he has been working with regulatory authorities in the areas of internet quality monitoring and spectrum auctions. This includes advising key stakeholders, gathering their requirements and ensuring that these are met during the actual delivery process. Igor has also substantially contributed to the current product strategy of Specure in the telecom regulatory sector, including the Open Nettest platform.

Prior to his engagement with Specure, Igor was involved in multiple management roles in the IT industry. His responsibilities included advising C-level executives and shaping the IT strategy and processes of major companies.

Igor holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia

Pavel Mamchenkov

Director of the Department of Radio Frequencies and Licenses, Megafon

More than 25 years of professional career are dedicated to regulation, development, operation and researches of the latest advances in telecommunication with the emphasis on radiocommunications. The primary area of expertise is spectrum management in government and private sector including socio-economic trends in telecommunications on global, regional and national basis. The comprehensive experience in spectrum management gained through direct participation in development of strategies, implementation of economic aspects in regulation, researches of spectrum re-allocation and re-farming, spectrum sharing as well as spectrum pricing and other related topics.
Experience and Competencies
26 years of professional engagement in telecommunications, radiocommunications and spectrum management, of which twelve years of research and analysis practice with R&D centres, seven years of regulatory practice with the Telecommunication Administration, and seven years of operational spectrum planning with mobile operator company.
More than 18 years of participation in ITU activities resulting in the strong knowledge of spectrum regulatory procedures, allocation methods, legal instruments, software tools and issues at the international level. The qualified ITU’s expert. Six missions on Spectrum Management and ICT Development in developing countries to carry out surveys of national spectrum regulatory institutions, development of spectrum management master-plans.

Zahid Zaheer

Global Spectrum & Policy Regulator, ESOA

Zahid Zaheer is the Senior Director of GMPCS (Global Mobile Personal Communications Services) Affairs at Thuraya. Zahid has been with the company for 16 years and is responsible for market access and licensing, regulatory affairs, spectrum management and coordination. Prior to joining Thuraya, Zahid worked with PAKSAT satellite, Pakistan Telecom Authority. Zahid is an engineer by training, who holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California and a MBA in Finance & Accounting

Dmitriy Konarev

Chief Mobile Broadband Scientist , Huawei

Dmitry holds a Master degree in Radio electronic Engineering.
Before joining Huawei in 2005, Dmitry has worked for 8 years in the Telecommunication Industry. He occupied various positions from Radio engineer in mobile operator to Technical Director in company system integrator.
At Huawei, Dmitry leads the Wireless Marketing activities within the main Russian telecom operators.
In November 2013 Dmitry have been appointed by Russia Rep. Office AT to be the solution sales chief expert in MBB field.

Vladislav Sorokin

General Radio Frequency Centre

Graduated in 1998 from Moscow University of Telecommunication and Informatics with the master degree of engineer in radio communication, radio broadcasting, and television.

Since 1999 he worked in the Ministry of telecommunications and informatization of the Russian Federation as a principal engineer in Department of State Commission for Telecommunication dealing with the technical expertise of system projects of civil cellular mobile and satellite communication networks on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Since 2003 till now Vladislav works in General Radio frequency Centre (http://www.grfc.ru/grfc/eng/main ) as a chief expert on international matters (since 2014). Main areas of his work are dealing with the expertise of international experience and studies related to the use of frequencies for current and future civil radio communication networks. That work includes a preparation for World Radiocommunication Conferences organized by International Telecommunication Union (ITU), preparation of contributions and reports, analysis of radio communication standards and cooperation with neighboring countries on the coordination of the use of radio frequencies. The main interest is public mobile communication systems. Particularly Vladislav actively participates in the work of ITU-R Working party 5D “IMT matters” and RCC working groups on WRC preparation and spectrum management. He has 15 years’ experience in the ITU (including of WRC-07, -12,-15), CEPT and RCC, representing the Russian Federation at numerous meetings and conferences.

Haim Mazar

Radio Spectrum Management ITU Expert, ATDI RF spectrum and Licensing

• Since 2015, RF Spectrum Management and Engineering ATDI Software Solutions;
• Lecturer at Sami Shamoon College of Engineering, Electronic Engineering teaching 4th year EE students ‘advanced wireless communications’;
• Academic Course Engineering 2015;
• Academic Course Services 2015;
• Academic Course Regulation EMC HumanHazards

• 2001-2014: Ministry of Communications Israel (MoC), deputy RF Spectrum Manager: broadband; spectrum engineering; economic and legal RF ruling; human hazards;
• 1993-2000, responsible for RF Spectrum and Licensing at Tadiran Ltd. Originated the Spectrum Management System “Iris”;
• 1990-1992 Head RF Spectrum and Licensing Department at MoC;
• 1989-1990 Avionics and RFI Engineer at Israel Aerospace Industries;
• 1985-1989 RF Spectrum Manager of our Largest RF Operator

Samvel Harutyunyan

Head of Radio Regulation Department, Ministry Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Armenia

Alexandre Vassiliev

Scientific Consultant on Management of Radio-Frequency Spectrum and Satellite Orbit, FSUE, NIIR

• More than 40 year experience in electromagnetic compatibility analyses, equipment modelling, radio-frequency spectrum management/satellite management and radio regulations, modification and application of the Radio Regulations;
• 22 years work (1989-2010) in the ITU IFRB secretariat/Radiocommunication Bureau (an engineer, councellor of Study Groups 3, 4, 7 and Working Party 5B, the ITU-R Focal Point on the use of radiocommunications for prevention of further climate change and in emergency situations);
• 20 years work (1970-1989) in the Leningrad Branch of the Radio Research and Development Institute – LONIIR (an engineer, a head of sector, the deputy director);
• more than 100 scientific publications on radio equipment modelling, electromagnetic compatibility analysis, radio-frequency and satellite orbit management, application of the ITU Radio Regulations, in international and national journals, conference/seminar proceedings, etc.
• an active participant in all World radiocommunication conferences and Radiocommunication assemblies since 1992, a member of delegations of the Russian Federation at WCIT-2012, WTDC-14/17, WTSA-16, PP-14, etc.

Karsten Buckwitz

CPG Secretary , CEPT

After receiving an engineer’s degree in Telecommunications, Mr Buckwitz has been working since 2004 for the section responsible for studying coexistence and compatibility between radiocommunication services in the Federal Network Agency, Germany; changing to the section for international affairs and utilization concepts in 2007. His responsibilities cover strategic frequency utilization concepts and the transposition of those to the international level of CEPT, EU and ITU. Doing this and having been active in the preparation of three WRC’s, national and on CEPT CPG level, Mr Buckwitz participated in a number of international groups, also as Head of the German Delegation. He also chaired several subgroups in the ITU. From 2007 he was supporting the ECC chairman as technical secretary and is serving as CPG Secretary since 2010.

Sergey Pastukh

Chairman of ITU-R SG 1, FSUE NIIR, Russia

• More than 25 year experience in spectrum management, EMC analysis, simulation of interference environment for space and terrestrial systems, radio monitoring, automation of frequency coordination and notification process, frequency planning for mobile and fixed services, development of automated spectrum management systems;
• More than 15-year experience in CEPT and ITU activity. Participation in ECC, WG FM, CPG including various PTs, ITU-R SG1 and its Working Parties and Task Groups, ITU-R SG4;
• In ITU was elected as a Chairman of ITU-R Study Group 1 “Spectrum management & Radiomonitoring” (2012-up-to-now) and Chairman of ITU-R Working party 1B “Spectrum management including economic aspects” (2008-2012);
• In CEPT was elected as Chairman of CEPT/WGFM “Frequency management” (2008-2014) and Vice - Chairman of Electronic communications committee (2014-up to now);
• More than 160 papers on spectrum management, EMC analysis, radio network planning, etc. published in Russian scientific and technical journals.

Nikolay Vassiliev

BR, ITU

Mr. Nikolai Vassiliev is the Chief, Terrestrial Services Department in the Radiocummunication Bureau, ITU.
He obtained his Master’s degree in radiocommunications in 1985 and MBA in management in 19992. From 1985 to 1996 he worked at different positions in the National Frequency Centre of Russia and in 1996 joined the Radiocommunication Bureau of ITU. His current responsibilities cover spectrum management for terrestrial radiocommunication services, application of the regulatory and operational procedures of the Radio Regulations and regional agreements, providing technical assistance to ITU administrations.
At the international level, he participated in 11 world and regional radiocommunication conferences (since 1992) and numerous spectrum management meetings of APT, ATU, CEPT, CITEL and RCC countries.

Victor Strelets

Member, Radio Regulations Board (RRB)

Victor STRELETS is member of the ITU Radio Regulation Board (RRB). He was elected to the Radio Regulations Board at the 2010 and 2014 ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences (2011 - Vice-Chairman RRB, 2012 - Chairman RRB).
He is today advisor to Director General, at Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Morsviazsputnik” and Consultant to various Russian Satellites Companies.
Victor Strelets has 34 years’ experience of scientific-research and technical and administrative work in the field of spectrum management.
Since 1993, he participated in the ITU-R activities and also in the of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations and Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications.
He has taken part in various sets of negotiations and has headed bilateral and multilateral coordination meetings dealing with frequency planning and coordination issues.
In 2004, Strelets assumed direct responsibility for the Russian Administration’s preparations for the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference and 2006 Regional Conference for the planning of digital terrestrial broadcasting, and provided practical leadership for the Russian Administration’s delegations to those events. From 2004 to 2013, he served as Chairman of the State Radio Frequency Committee’s working group handling preparations for the World Radiocommunication Conference.
Victor Strelets has played an active role in the development of a spectrum management system in the Russian Federation. From 2004 to 2008, as an administrative head in the State Radio Frequency Committee.

Albert Nalbandian

Chairman, RCC WG on WRC-19

Currently (since 2002) Albert Nalbandian is the Adviser to Minister of Transport, Communications and IT of the Republic of Armenia.
Armenian delegate at ITU Plenipotentiary Conferences (2002, 2006, 2010) and ITU Radiocommunication Conferences (1993 – 2015, at WRC-03 and WRC-07 - as Committee Chairman, WRC-12 – as Vice-Chairman), Chairman of the ITU-R Conference Preparatory Meeting for WRC-12).
He is actively participating in the RCC work (Council of the Heads of Administrations, Commission on Spectrum management, etc).
From 1985 to 2002, Mr. Nalbandian was a Counsellor of the CCIR and later since 1993 of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau and was responsible for the work of ITU-R Study Group 1 “Spectrum management”, ITU-R Study Group 7 “Science services” and preparation for radiocommunication conferences (CPM) held in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2003. During the 1985 - 2001 Albert assisted 50 ITU-R Chairmen in preparing, organizing and conducting more than 180 meetings.
Albert Nalbandian prepared and published a number of articles and did presentations on different aspects of radiocommunications.
1965 – 1985 - Deputy of the Head of Department on satellite communications and broadcasting of the Moscow Radio Research and Development Institute (NIIR)
1960 - 1965 - Moscow Telecommunication Institute
Engineer on radio communications and broadcasting

Scott McKenzie

Director, Coleago

Scott McKenzie is an experienced consultant with over twenty years background in the telecoms and high technology industries. His areas of expertise span: general management, strategic planning, operations, finance and M&A.

Early in his career, he held a variety of engineering and marketing positions with Telstra and Ericsson. After business school, he worked as a management consultant with Arthur D. Little before spending six years as an equity analyst in the City of London with the investment banking divisions of SEB and Société Générale. Upon leaving the City he became Chief Strategy Officer for the international mobile division of the Dutch telecom operator Royal KPN, where he was also CEO of the mobile wholesale business unit. He joined Coleago Consulting in 2009.
Scott spent many of his formative years in Australia and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Melbourne University. He also holds an MBA degree from the Saïd Business School at Oxford University.

Amit Nagpal

Partner, aetha Consulting

Amit has over 15 years of experience advising fixed and mobile operators, regulators/government bodies, financial institutions and equipment manufacturers on commercial, technical and regulatory issues. He has supported several multi-billion dollar M&A and debt financing transactions and has led numerous high-profile studies in the area of radio spectrum policy. Amit brings a global perspective to his work having undertaken projects for clients in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Ulrich Rehfuess

Chair of Spectrum Working Group, Digital Europe

Ulrich Rehfuess holds a diploma degree in Electrical Engineering of Technical University of Munich, Germany and one in Industrial Engineering of Fernuniversität Hagen, Germany. Of his more than 20 years of professional experience in Siemens, Nokia Siemens Networks and lately Nokia Networks, he spent more than 15 years in R&D, business strategy, system architecture and product management of mobile radio network systems covering GSM, EDGE, UMTS with HSPA, Flash OFDM, WiMAX, LTE and LTE Advanced. Starting June 2011, he assumed responsibility for spectrum policy and regulation within Nokia Networks' industry environment team. Ulrich Rehfuess is vice chair of the BITKOM Spectrum working group in Germany and chairs the DIGITALEUROPE spectrum working group in Brussels.

Farid Nakhli

Programme Officer, ITU Regional Office for CIS

Matthew Fried

Senior Manager, aetha Consulting

Matthew has over been working in telecoms since 2006, and whilst at Aetha has focussed mainly on the area of spectrum management. He has supported over 30 operators and governments across the Americas, Europe and Asia on issues such as spectrum valuation, spectrum strategy and business planning. In addition, he has advised operators on several multi-billion dollar M&A and debt financing transactions. Matthew has Bachelor degrees in both Engineering and Business from the University of Sydney, and a Masters in Technology Policy from Cambridge University.