Join us for a fascinating exploration of the collision between politics and technology across two centuries. Former CW Board Chairman Steve Unger will reveal how governments have responded to revolutionary communications networks, from the first visual telegraphs of the 18th century to today's digital infrastructure, and why these historical patterns remain strikingly relevant in our current age of AI and connectivity.
Drawing from his recently published book 'From Beacon Fires to Fibre Broadband: A History of Innovation, Enterprise and Regulation', Steve will trace how different nations chose radically different paths: France's state monopoly, Britain's failed experiment with network competition, and America's early digital sovereignty concerns when they forced Marconi to relinquish his US operations. As Mark Twain observed, "History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme." And these echoes offer crucial insights for navigating today's technology policy debates.
This event is hosted by The Bradfield Centre, Cambridge and organised by the CW Wireless Heritage Special Interest Group.
About our Speaker: Stephen Unger, Former Chairman of the CW Board of Directors
Stephen brings a unique combination of technical expertise, regulatory experience, and entrepreneurial insight to this topic. His career has spanned wireless technologies from radio telescopes for astronomical research to commercial innovation with Ionica, the Cambridge company that built the world's first fixed wireless network. At Ofcom, the UK regulator for digital communications, Stephen served as an executive Board member, Chief Technology Officer, and Acting Chief Executive, leading teams responsible for UK digital communications strategy and international representation. He now holds a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles in the technology sector, with a consistent focus on how innovators, entrepreneurs, and government can collaborate to generate economic growth and social value.
Why attend:
- Gain unique historical perspective on current technology policy debates around network regulation, digital sovereignty, and platform governance
- Learn from a rare combination of expertise: regulatory leadership, technical innovation, and entrepreneurial experience in wireless communications
- Understand how past government interventions in communications networks succeeded or failed, and what this means for AI, 5G, and future technologies
- Network with heritage enthusiasts and industry leaders at the CW member spring networking reception immediately following
Who should attend:
Technology policy professionals, telecommunications executives, regulatory affairs specialists, network infrastructure leaders, government relations specialists, historians of technology, and anyone interested in understanding how political decisions have shaped, and continue to shape, the communications networks that connect our world.
Are you a Cambridge Wireless Member?
After this lecture we are running our annual spring members-only networking event from 17:30 to 20:00 in the same location. Come for the lecture, stay for the networking!
These in-person member networking events provide the perfect opportunity to expand your connections with like-minded individuals and businesses. Exclusively for members of Cambridge Wireless you will need to register seperately for this popular session as space is limited. To register for our member networking please click here.
Wireless Heritage SIG Champions
Stirling Essex
Stirling Essex has over 25 years of product development, product management, strategic marketing and business development experience in many areas of wireless technology, and has been intimately involved in the development of test systems for GSM, CDMA (IS-95), 3G (W-CDMA) and LTE. He founded Espansivo, a technology consultancy specialising in helping organisations with their technology, product and business decisions, in 2005. Stirling was previously a co-champion of the CW Future Wide Area Wireless Special Interest Group and and was a member of the CW Board from 2004 to 2015.
Professor Andy Sutton MBE
Andy Sutton is a BT Fellow and Principal Network Architect for Wireless Access. The wireless access domain includes 4G/5G RAN architecture and mobile backhaul/xhaul, along with microwave and millimetre wave radio systems, and satellite communications. Andy holds an MSc in Mobile Communications from the University of Salford and has over 35 years of experience within the telecommunications industry. Andy’s current research interests include advanced RAN coordination techniques, including C-RAN and OpenRAN, optical fibre and radio based backhaul/xhaul, along with LEO satellite communications and High-altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), all in the context of building resilient heterogeneous networks. Andy holds the post of Visiting Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Liverpool and the University of Salford, he is a Chartered Engineer and holds Fellowships from the IET, ITP and BCS. Andy sits on the editorial board of the ITP Journal and is a CW SIG Champion for eMBB and Wireless Heritage.
- Twitter:
- @sutton960
Geoff Varrall
Geoff Varrall joined RTT in 1985 as an executive director and shareholder to develop RTT's international business as a provider of technology and business services to the wireless industry. He co-developed RTT's original series of design and facilitation workshops including 'RF Technology', 'Data Over Radio', 'Introduction to Mobile Radio', and 'Private Mobile Radio Systems and developed 'The Oxford programme', a five day strategic technology and market programme presented annually between 1991 and 2005. Geoff has been running in depth technology and market workshops for the industry for over 33 years, spanning five generations of mobile cellular technology. A co-author of the Mobile Radio Servicing Handbook (Heinemann Butterworth, UK), Data Over Radio, (Quantum Publishing, Mendocino, USA and 3G Handset and Network Design (John Wiley, New York). Geoff's fourth book, Making Telecoms Work – from technical innovation to commercial success (John Wiley) was published in early 2012 followed by 5G Spectrum and Standards published by Artech House in July 2016. His latest book 5G and Satellite Spectrum Standards and Scale is now available from Artech House and can be ordered from http://uk.artechhouse.com/5G-and-Satellite-Spectrum-Standards-and-Scale-P1935.aspx. As a past Director of Cambridge Wireless, Geoff is actively involved in a number of wireless heritage initiatives that aim to capture and record past technology and engineering experience and is a patron of the Science Museum In his spare time he plays Jazz trumpet semi-professionally and is a marathon and ultra-runner.
Nigel Wall
Nigel has been involved with connected vehicle research since 1992 when he led BT’s mobile data research team – initially using modems on first generation analogue TACS mobile phones! Since 2001 he has provided consultancy complex-systems, with a primary specialism in connected vehicles. He acted as the Monitoring Officer for twelve of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle research projects supported by Innovate UK and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. Climate Associates provides consultancy on delivering pragmatic sustainable systems and services, based on life cycle assessments where wholesale replacement of current systems with lower footprint solutions may not be the most sustainable option.
