Explore every episode of the podcast MEFCast: The Global Telecom Agenda

In this episode, you will hear from Caitlin O’Neill, Director, Messaging Product Development – Canadian Telecommunications Association, John Bruner, CEO – Aegis Mobile, Stefan Heller, Chief Revenue Officer – The Campaign Registry and Stephanie Lashley, VP, Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth.

The discussion discusses the operational, fragmentation, and deliverability challenges affecting the global expansion of business messaging.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2026, you will hear from Nicholas Rossman, Director of Programmes – Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Catalin Bedea, VP, Product Management – netnumber, Nima Golchini, Head of PreSales Americas – ENEA, Omar Mansour, Head of Solution Architect, Canada & EU – Transunion and Tracey Cash, Senior Director of Messaging, North America – Sinch.

The discussion explores how increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics, including brand impersonation, synthetic identities, and generative AI, are challenging traditional fraud prevention protocols such as KYC and KYT.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2026, you will hear from Caitlin O’Neill, Director, Messaging Product Development – Canadian Telecommunications Association, Stacy Rampersad, Strategic Account Executive – IC Group, Antonio Deruvo, Telecom Account Manager Expert – Infobip.

The discussion explores the future of mobile messaging, comparing the reliability of traditional SMS with the richer, more interactive capabilities of RCS.

In this episode of MEF CPaas Evolution Summit 2026, you will hear from Nick Millward, Advisor , MEF and Pinder Takhar, CMO & Co-Founder, Lyberate.

The discussion explores how AI is transforming messaging and customer engagement, from automation and personalised experiences to the growing role of AI agents, and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

In this episode of MEF CPaas Evolution Summit 2026, you will hear from Nick Millward, Advisor – MEF, Brian D’Arcy , Director of Global Telecom Business Development – Infobip, Eugenio Pradas, Senior Vice President Strategic Business Development – BTS, Fabio Garrido, Head GTM & Partnerships – Sinch, and John Waters, Chief Commercial Officer – Phonovation.

The discussion explores how AI, rich messaging, enterprise adoption and new revenue models are shaping the future growth of the CPaaS industry.

In this episode of MEF CPaas Evolution Summit 2026, you will hear from Nick Millward, Advisor of MEF  and Eli Katz, CEO & Founder –of XConnect.

The discussion explores how number intelligence can combat fraud, spoofing, and poor data to improve CPaaS performance and protect trusted communications.

In this episode of MEF CPaas Evolution Summit 2026, you will hear from Matija Razem, Chief Commercial Telecom Officer of Infobip.

The discussion explores CPaaS strategy from Infobip's perspective, examining how leading platforms are navigating growth, evolving communication channels, and changing enterprise demand.

In this episode of MEF CPaas Evolution Summit 2026, you will hear from Emer Lawn, Managing Director of Starcom Ireland.

The session explores how AI is transforming people, workflows and creativity across the communications and advertising industry, drawing on practical lessons from Publicis on preparing for an agentic future.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Nordics 2026, you will hear from Gerrit-Jan Konijnenberg, Director Strategic Development Maritime of Telenor, Johan Gustafsson, EVP Communications & Sustainability of Tele2, Åsa Lenhoff, Head of Responsible Business, Compliance & Sustainability of Telenor, Lena De Geer, Senior Sustainability Development Lead of Telia.

The discussion explores how telecom operators can strengthen digital safety, combat fraud and abuse, build trust across the mobile ecosystem, and translate ESG commitments into practical initiatives that deliver measurable real-world impact.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Nordics 2026, you will hear from John Bruner, CEO, Aegis Mobile and Paul Eccles, VP Business Development, Aegis Mobile.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Nordics 2026, you will hear from Simeon Coney , Strategic Partnerships ofGoogle, Marco Lafrentz, VP Business & Market Development of netnumber and John Bruner, CEO of Aegis Mobile.

The discussion explores how Sender ID registration in the United States has improved trust, reduced fraud, and shaped messaging best practices, while examining what these lessons could mean for the development of messaging frameworks in the Nordics.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Dario Betti, CEO of MEF and Brad Herrmann, CEO of Text-Em-All. 

The discussion explores what CSPs need to do now to create sustainable growth, differentiate their offerings, and capitalize on emerging opportunities in AI, identity, messaging, and enterprise services.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Matt Ekram, Advisor and Catalin Badea, VP Product Management – Netnumber.

This discussion explores why Number Intelligence is essential to enabling RCS and Network APIs at scale, helping enterprises and CPaaS providers navigate fragmented standards, complex connectivity, and uneven coverage across the global mobile ecosystem.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF, Alicia Murphy, Mobile Product Manager – Cable Bahamas and Ron Willet, VP & GM – ClearSky Technologies.

The discussion explores how Caribbean carriers can reclaim and grow A2P messaging revenues as value increasingly shifts to OTT players, examining the challenges of tightening margins, fragmented traffic control, and strategies for monetizing messaging more effectively.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Brien Jones-Lantzy, Head of Compliance, Spam and Fraud Mitigation – Vonage, Chris Hutson, Senior Sales Director, CPaaS – ENEA, James Lapic, Co-Founder – Zipwhip, Kim McKibben, Director Operator Relations for North America – Sinch, and Stephanie Lashley, VP, Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth.

The discussion explores how operators, platforms, and brands can work together to maintain trust, security, and performance as RCS scales across enterprise use cases in the U.S. It will examine key challenges around identity verification, fraud prevention, ecosystem governance, and shared responsibility — as well as the critical issues that must be addressed to enable secure and sustainable commercial growth for RCS.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF, Brian Stafford, CEO – Native Messaging, Eddie de Curtis, Co-Founder – Shush, Mark Harvey, Chief Identity Officer – XConnect and Sarah Girardi, VP Compliance – Ez Texting.

The discussion explores how U.S. operators are translating investments in RCS, network APIs, AI-driven capabilities and trust frameworks into enterprise adoption, commercial growth and new revenue opportunities, alongside evolving go-to-market strategies and ecosystem partnerships

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Dario Betti, CEO – MEF, Ariel Reid, VP of Customer Experience – GCH, Ayshe Alp, Director of Product – The Campaign Registry, and Melissa Atkinstall , VP of Product – Aegis Mobile.

The discussion explores how the 10DLC and short code registration ecosystem is strengthening consumer protection, preserving brand trust, and ensuring long-term channel integrity, while also addressing the growing need for predictability, consistency, and operational efficiency as enterprises scale A2P messaging.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum USA 2026, you will hear from Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF, Alicia Miller, Head of Growth – Aduna and Marcelo Frizzo, VP North America Sales & Partnerships – Infobip.

The discussion will explore how U.S. telcos can transition from API trials to fully monetized ecosystems, covering commercial deployment models, high-value use cases like fraud and identity, advanced capabilities such as quality-on-demand and device intelligence, as well as developer engagement and revenue-sharing strategies.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum India 2026, you will hear from Pallavi Kudtarkar, Executive Director – Globe Teleservices, Dwarkanath Gopinath, Head of Messaging and VAS – Vodafone Idea, Mark Harvey, Chief Identity Officer – XConnect, Himanshu Brijwasi, Senior Account Manager – Orange and Shikha Gupta, Vice President, Global Business – Airtel.

The discussion will explore how enterprise needs are reshaping MNO network and service strategies, particularly through technologies like 5G, while highlighting the challenge of balancing operational efficiency with continued innovation in enterprise engagement. It will examine co-creation models where operators collaborate with enterprises and partners such as Microsoft and Ericsson to drive digital transformation, and conclude with a forward-looking view on how enterprise-driven approaches will shape next-generation telecom services, business models, and customer experiences.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum India 2026, you will hear from Chris Almeida, Chief Strategy Officer – Globe Teleservices, Zaffar Owais Andrabi, CEO – Almuqeet, Ali Zoomkhawala, AVP & Head Messaging – Reliance Jio, Nayan Paranjape, VP Digital Platform Business – TELIN, Kunal Mittal, GM of Presales & Business Development – Globe Teleservices and Kedar Gupte, Independent industry enthusiast.

This discussion will explore how to scale network APIs from trials to commercial deployment, focusing on standardization, monetization, security, performance, and real-world operator and enterprise use cases.

In this episode of MEF MEF Global Forum 2026, you will hear from Dario Betti, CEO, MEF and Ron Willet, Vice President & GM, ClearSky.

This discussion will explore how RCS is being deployed at scale, covering authentication, monetization models, operational realities, and what it takes to move from pilot programs to sustainable revenue, while highlighting where value is being captured and who needs to act next.

In this episode of MEF MEF Global Forum 2026, you will hear from Dario Betti, CEO, MEF and Nima Golchini, Head of Presales Americas, Enea AB.

The discussion explores how fraud is emerging in RCS, its similarities to SMS fraud, and what steps are needed to ensure RCS remains a secure and trusted messaging channel.

In this episode of MEF MEF Global Forum 2026, you will hear from Stephanie Lashley, VP Messaging Strategic Alliances & Infrastructure – Bandwidth and Chris Humphris, VP EMEA – Quiq.

The discussion explores how the concept of “conversation” is evolving in a multi-channel world where consumers expect fast, personalised, and secure interactions. It highlights how businesses can use AI to bridge channel flexibility with brand consistency, ensuring a seamless and trusted customer experience across messaging, voice, and chat.

In this episode of MEF MEF Global Forum 2026, you will hear from Tim Green, Programme Director - MEF
, Abdelhady Ragab, FinTech and Digital Platforms Senior Manager – WE Telecom Egypt and 
Ahmed Serag – Cloudcom Director – Cloudcom.

The discussion brings a look at how mobile networks are evolving beyond OTPs to enable more secure and seamless identity solutions. It highlights how operators use network intelligence, SIM-based credentials, real-time verification, and APIs to reduce fraud, improve user experience, and support trusted digital interactions.

In this episode of MEF MEF Leadership Forum APAC 2026, you will hear from Guillermo Escofet, Advisor – MEF, Sean Nieuwoudt, Board Member – WASPA (South Africa), Léon Dijksman, Board Member – Dutch Regulator for Mobile Services and Kev Dawson, Director, MCP Insight.

The discussion brings together industry experts to explore how industry-led self-regulation is strengthening trust and sustainability in the Direct Carrier Billing ecosystem, examining lessons from South Africa’s proven model, recent developments in Indonesia, and the governance and compliance approaches helping reduce fraud, protect consumers, and drive long-term growth for merchants and operators.

In this episode of MEF MEF Leadership Forum APAC 2026, you will hear from Matt Ekram, Advisor – MEF and Pavel Okhotnikov, Head of Global Business Development – Lanck Telecom.

The discussion brings together industry experts to explore how the voice and SMS markets are evolving as enterprise demand expands across multiple communication channels, examining the challenges of managing this growing ecosystem, tackling fraud risks, and turning multichannel diversification into sustainable economic value.

In this episode of MEF Enterprise Communications 2025, you will hear from Diego Conforti, Advisor – MEF, Alexis Bartelds, CEO – Sam Media, Sumesh Menon, Founder & CEO – U2opia Mobile and Frederico Rosato, SVP Asia – Digital Virgo.

The discussion brings together C-suite leaders from mobile VAS, payments, and commerce to explore the forces shaping the future of the mobile ecosystem, examining market disruption, collaboration challenges, shifting revenue dynamics, and the strategic decisions that could redefine growth across the digital economy.

In this episode of MEF Enterprise Communications 2025, you will hear from Peter Morgan, Founder & CEO – Deep Learning Partnership.

The discussion discovers how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of mobile, exploring emerging innovations, ethical implications, and new opportunities transforming connectivity, user experience, and enterprise strategy across the global mobile ecosystem.

In this episode of MEF Enterprise Communications 2025, you will hear from Isabelle Paradis, Programme Lead, Connectivity & Wholesale – MEF, Michael Fereday, Product Marketing Manager – Commify, Sophie Bruce, Founder & CEO – MOLO and Mike Mills, Managing Director – Gamma Service Provider.

The discussion examines the evolving role of voice communication in a digital-first world. Explore how brands, carriers, and technology providers are redefining voice for customer engagement, authentication, and trust — and why, despite new channels and AI advances, voice remains a powerful and relevant tool for meaningful human connection.

In this episode of MEF Enterprise Communications 2025, you will hear from Nick Lane, Chief Messaging Officer – Mobilesquared.

The discussion discovers whether brands truly engage consumers in the ways consumers expect. It examines how closely brand and consumer intentions align, how often meaningful engagement actually occurs, and where new opportunities may emerge over the next 12–24 months — drawing on the latest enterprise insights, consumer trends, and market research

In this episode of MEF Enterprise Communications 2025, you will hear from Nassia Skoulikariti, Founder / CEO, Apiro Data Ltd and Ramy Riad, Director, AI GTM & Messaging Strategy, MEF Member Board of Directors – Cisco.

The discussion discovers how AI is redefining customer experience across contact centres and enterprise communication. Hear from Cisco and industry leaders on the new frontier of intelligent engagement—where automation, data, and human insight combine to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver more personalised, seamless interactions between businesses and their customers.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Valentina Ferrari (MEF), Vijay Vichhi (Digital Virgo), Renaud Ganascia (Digital Virgo), and Mounia Terhzaz (Digital Virgo) to unpack the realities of building successful Super Apps.

The discussion explores how payments, content, and communication can be integrated into a seamless user experience, and outlines the strategic pillars required—from user journeys and marketing to monetisation and technical integration. Drawing on Digital Virgo’s extensive work with Telcos across Africa and beyond, the session highlights practical lessons, key success factors, and what it truly takes to make a Super App strategy deliver real impact.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Valentina Ferrari (MEF), David Hudson (CFM Africa), Jon Hoehler (MTN), and Hussein Taki (Mobile Arts).

This session delves into the rapidly evolving dynamics of Africa’s mobile-first landscape, examining the trends and growth opportunities reshaping how content is created, distributed, and monetised. The panel will unpack innovative engagement models, emerging consumer behaviours, and the technologies driving next-generation mobile experiences—offering actionable insights for stakeholders looking to compete and scale in one of the world’s fastest-moving digital markets.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Matt Ekram (MEF), Alexander Vavilov (LANCK Telecom), Anastasia Ivanets (LANCK Telecom), and Zipporah Kiarie (LANCK Telecom).

In this session, the discussion explores how telcos can convert current challenges into profitable opportunities. By leveraging Africa’s expanding digital economy, innovating through new service models, and targeting underserved customer segments, operators can unlock sustainable growth. Through real-world case studies and data-driven insights, the session highlights practical strategies for telcos—ranging from adaptable business models and optimized service delivery to bundled offerings and advanced anti-fraud measures—designed to manage risk, protect revenue, and capitalize on the key trends shaping the future of Africa’s telecom sector.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Executive Chairperson of iTouch and Global Board Director of MEF, and Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor of Cape Town.

The episode features a special fireside chat in which the Deputy Mayor shares insights from his remarkable career — beginning with his time representing South Africa as a Springbok rugby player and continuing to his leadership role in one of Africa’s most dynamic cities. The discussion highlights Cape Town’s strategic vision for business growth and explores how innovation and long-term thinking can drive meaningful transformation across the African continent.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Anzelle Robertson (WASPA), Casper de Villiers (Clickatell), Sizo Nkosi (Infobip), Monwabisi Mabude (Telkom), and Sabelo Nxele (Vodacom).

Hosted by WASPA, this discussion brings together leading messaging aggregators, operators, and enterprise partners to unpack how messaging is evolving in the region. Panelists will debate the commercial outlook, challenges around quality and compliance, and the integration of messaging within broader digital customer-journey strategies.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Africa, you will hear from Anzelle Robertson (WASPA), Ant Brooks (Future Foundation), Jacqui Jones (Worldplay), James McNab (WASPA), and Kev Dawson (MCP Insight).

From the era of premium SMS to today’s data-driven content and payments ecosystem, WASPA has shaped South Africa’s mobile landscape through standards, dispute resolution, and consumer protection. This session explores its evolution, the realities of self-regulation, and what the next 21 years of digital service governance could look like.

In this episode of MEF Future of Mobile USA 2025, you will hear from Matt Ekram (MEF), David Fernandez (Messaging Advisory), and Cheryl Sanders (Listrak).

As mobile messaging becomes a powerful new “digital billboard” for brands, unlocking its potential comes with very real challenges. In this 20-minute discussion, David Fernandez and Cheryl Sanders share first-hand lessons from helping brands adopt rich messaging channels—from educating consumers and avoiding the “spammy” perception to proving ROI and managing uneven experiences across Android and iOS.

Discover what it really takes to make a brand’s first campaign a success—and why that initial win is often the catalyst for long-term engagement and sustained channel growth.

In this episode of MEF Future of Mobile USA 2025, you will hear from Paul Ruppert (MEF), Ayshe Alp (TCR), John Bruner (Aegis Mobile), Brien Jones Lantzy (Vonage), and Alex Duncan (Openmind Networks).

As communication channels continue to expand—from RCS and branded messaging to OTT platforms and APIs—trust, compliance, and accountability are no longer back-office checkboxes. They have become front-line growth drivers, key competitive differentiators, and essential pillars of confidence for customers, partners, and regulators alike.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Jakarta 2025, you’ll hear from Matt Ekram (MEF), Pavel Okhotnikov (LANCK Telecom), and Mohamed Darweesh (ENEA).

As cyber threats become more adaptive and AI-driven, governments, telcos, and enterprises must rethink resilience. This session examines how Southeast Asia is strengthening its defense posture—from critical infrastructure protection and cross-border threat intelligence to policy frameworks anticipating autonomous, agent-led attacks.

Security leaders share actionable strategies to safeguard digital backbones in a future shaped by Agentic AI and hyper-connected ecosystems.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Jakarta 2025, you’ll hear from Matt Ekram (MEF), John Tolton (Telin), Dewi Wahdiniasih (XL. Axiata), and Sonny Sudaryana (Komdigi).

This panel explores how operators and enterprises are transforming decision-making through data — discovering how analytics drives competitive advantage, unlocks new revenue channels, and helps Indonesia’s leaders reshape their digital strategies.

It also marks the launch of the inaugural MEF Country Spotlight Report – Indonesia.

In this episode of MEF Leadership Forum Jakarta 2025, you will hear from Nicholas Soo (Telin) and Matt Ekram (MEF) as they discuss the future of digital leadership in the region. Redefining Digital Leadership in Southeast Asia: Indonesia is boldly charting a course to achieve a $130 billion GDP by 2030.

In this keynote fireside, the discussion explores Telin’s pivotal role in the nation’s transformation—from building regional connectivity to safeguarding enterprises on their digital journeys.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you’ll hear from Dario Betti (MEF) and Virginie Debris (Sinch). As the Forum comes to a close, we turn to the horizon with an insight-rich chat on the evolving state of RCS—the industry’s most promising yet complex opportunity.In this capstone session, Virginie Debris of Sinch shares an on-the-ground perspective on RCS adoption, offering a candid look at the challenges and lessons from Sinch’s frontline messaging teams. What does it take to transition enterprise customers from traditional SMS to RCS? What’s resonating with clients—and what’s still missing from the equation?”

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you’ll hear from Stephanie Lashley (Bandwidth), Caitlin Long (Bandwidth), Stacy Rampersad (IC Mobile), Britt Buchan (Twilio), and Noelle Meyers (Infobip) as they discuss Optimizing Messaging Channel Strategy in the Age of Advanced Messaging.As organizations navigate the evolving messaging landscape, understanding the unique use cases for each channel is vital, and this panel explores how to optimize messaging channel strategies within the context of advanced messaging in Canada, the U.S., and around the world.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you’ll hear from Tina Donaldson (netnumber), Catalin Badea (netnumber), Pooja Paturi (Canadian Bankers Association), Nima Golchini (ENEA), and Melissa Blassingame (Twilio) where as fraudsters thrive in security gaps, and as their tactics grow more coordinated across industries, siloed defenses become their greatest advantage. This session reveals why breaking down organizational barriers is critical, showcasing the power of shared fraud intelligence between telecom, financial institutions, and other sectors to boost early detection, protect customers, and strengthen response capabilities.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you will hear from Stuart Jones (Proofpoint), Diksha Goyal (TELUS), Caitlin O’Neill (CTA), Lawrence Byrd (Vonage), Christen Emery (Sinch) as they discuss about Rich Business Messaging (RBM) represents the next wave of business communications, but adoption in Canada has been slower than expected. What’s holding businesses back, and how can we accelerate progress? This session will explore the technical, regulatory, and market barriers to RBM adoption, as well as highlight successful use cases. Discover strategies to engage brands, streamline onboarding, and drive consumer adoption in Canada’s RBM ecosystem.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you will hear from Paul Ruppert (MEF), Caitlin O’Neill (Canada Telecommunications Association), Jonathan Vimont (Sinch), Alison Billings (Twilio), and John Bruner (Aegis Mobile), where they will discuss how telecom providers, aggregators, enterprises, and regulators are working together to drive innovation, combat fraud, and grow the market. Learn how partnerships are shaping best practices, fostering ecosystem trust, and unlocking new opportunities for businesses to connect with consumers. Gain insights from industry leaders on what’s working—and what’s next—for Canada’s A2P future.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you will hear from Dario Betti (MEF), Anne Locke (TELUS), Ryan Tollofson (TELUS), and Hemant Agrawal (TELUS) as they explore how Canada’s telecom transformation is being redefined by TELUS—from RCS messaging adoption to sovereign AI factories powering the next wave of digital services. MEF CEO Dario Betti speaks with TELUS leaders about leveraging wholesale strategy, data governance, and AI investments to shape the future of global telecommunications. Discover how TELUS is advancing trusted communications, intelligent automation, and resilient digital ecosystems—setting a benchmark not only for Canada but for telcos worldwide.

In this episode from MEF Leadership Forum Canada 2025, you will hear from Lawrence Zhang Head of Policy – Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation as he discusses how, in a world where trade policy is increasingly weaponized, telecoms stand at the intersection of infrastructure, innovation, and sovereignty. He explores how Canada can respond strategically to U.S. tariff actions. Rather than serving as passive collateral in trade wars, Canadian telecoms can position themselves as essential strategic assets by leveraging policy, cross-border partnerships, and innovative leadership to strengthen national competitiveness and build resilience in a fragmented global economy.

In this episode from MEF Future of Mobile, you will hear from Martin Langelo Lien (Volt) and Dario Betti (MEF) as they'll explore how identifying and solving your customers’ biggest SMS pain points can become a strategic advantage. Join them to discover the data-driven insights, market-tested best practices, and innovative strategies that will enable you to handle compliance complexity on behalf of your customers.