The Cambridge Wireless International Conference 2026 (CWIC) has unveiled a high-impact agenda featuring leading voices from across telecoms, defence, quantum, manufacturing and public sector innovation – cementing its position as a key date in the global connectivity calendar.
The conference – which takes place on 30 April 2026 (09:00 – 18:30) at the Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge – will bring together 37 expert speakers and 500+ delegates for a day of strategic insight, technical depth and industry-shaping discussion.
Now in its 17th year, CWIC 2026 continues to convene the telecommunications and Advanced Communication Technologies (ACT) ecosystem at a critical moment of transformation.
This year’s conference brings together a carefully curated mix of industry, government and research leaders, and is structured around three defining themes:
- Connectivity & AI: A Two-Way Revolution
- Beyond AI: The Converging Technology Landscape
- Securing Our Future: Infrastructure, Talent & Trust
Opening keynote is Peter Haigh, Deputy CTO at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK’s National Technical Authority for Cyber Security, who responsible for ensuring the organisation is technically prepared for the future. He will set the strategic context around resilience, security and the implications of AI for national infrastructure.
The programme will then move quickly into the industry’s most pressing questions – with senior voices from the National Physical Laboratory, Telekom Srbija [corr] Group and BT coming together to examine whether telecoms operators can move beyond connectivity to power the AI economy, or risk being relegated to the sidelines.
Security and defence take centre stage in a session led by experts from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Ministry of Defence – which will explore how AI-enabled connectivity is reshaping operational capability and exposing new vulnerabilities in contested environments.
In a separate standout session on industry transformation, Professor Mike Wilson, Chief Automation Officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, will discuss the rise of autonomous production and ‘dark factories’ – a fascinating glimpse into a future where manufacturing is continuous, intelligent and fully connected.
Simon Fabri, Director of Product and Engineering at His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre (HMGCC), the engineering specialists at the heart of the UK’s national security, will chair a session on innovation and entrepreneurship. Featuring founders and technical leaders developing next-generation breakthrough technologies, this will highlight the role of start-up creativity and technical ambition in turning emerging ideas into impactful technologies and deployable, real-world solutions for the connected world.
The programme will also be unpacking the reality of the quantum internet – with representatives from IBM and IQM Quantum Computers cutting through the hype to examine its true implications for security, infrastructure and global competition: Is the quantum internet a genuine revolution or simply overhyped research chasing funding?
As CWIC 2026 draws to a close, the conversation shifts from the ‘how’ of network convergence to the ‘so what’ of systemic autonomy. In a closing fireside chat, Daniel Doll-Steinberg, co-founder of Edenbase, will explore what this transition really means, and examine the frameworks needed to keep this new era of intelligent networks a tool for progress, rather than a source of systemic fragility.
Alongside the main programme, CWIC 2026 will also feature a dedicated Start-Up Zone showcasing 12 early-stage companies across a range of technologies – and offer over four hours of networking, culminating in an evening drinks reception.
Michaela Eschbach, CEO, Cambridge Wireless, said: “CWIC 2026 arrives at a moment when the role of connectivity is being fundamentally redefined: Connectivity is no longer just infrastructure, it is the foundation of intelligence upon which AI, automation and next-generation technologies depend.
“This year’s conference brings together leaders who understand that the future lies not in isolated technologies, but in their convergence – and they will be providing strategic clarity and practical insight into what comes next.”
CWIC 2026 is sponsored by National Physical Laboratory, Telecom Srbija Group, Business Finland, The Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), HMGCC, Federated Telecoms Hub, the Joint Open Infrastructure for Networks Research (JOINER) and Frazier & Deeter (FD).
For further information and to book: https://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/event-calendar/conferences/cwic/agenda.html
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About Cambridge Wireless International Conference (CWIC)
The CW International Conference (CWIC) is a flagship annual event bringing together global experts to shape the future of connectivity and resilience. It is a must-attend event for policymakers, global technology leaders and the Telecommunications and Advanced Communication Technologies (ACT) supply chain to shape the dialogue on today’s most transformative themes.
About Cambridge Wireless (CW)
Cambridge Wireless is a leading global community for organisations at the forefront of advanced connectivity and digital technology, from start-ups to multi-national organisations. Through its expert Special Interest Groups, flagship conferences, and membership network, CW connects industry leaders, innovators, and emerging voices to foster collaboration and shape the future of the sector.
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