The Cloud is Not in the Sky, it’s in the ocean

Daniele Silva is a Global Subsea Telecom Product Manager at Prysmian. With experience in optical transmission systems, subsea networks and SLTE, he has worked in both technical and business development roles across the global submarine telecommunications industry.

Ed has recently retired after forty-five years in international business. His global experience includes many executive positions, directorships and advisory roles. He spent most of his career in the submarine network industry, serving as Chief Operating Officer and a Director of FLAG Telecom Limited as well as General Manager of Submarine Systems at Ciena. He has also held Non-Executive Director roles at Aqua Comms and Global Crossing (UK) Limited. In addition, he has advised several stakeholders in the submarine networks industry on business valuation, investment opportunities and acquisition strategies.

Francesco Corapi is Subsea Product Line Manager at Nokia, leading the development of submarine network solutions. He has over 10 years' experience in optical communications, including as an Optical Engineer at Cisco, with deep expertise in EDFA and Raman amplifiers, ROADM architectures and Submarine Line Terminal Equipment (SLTE). In 2019, he was selected for the first Submarine Optical Fiber Communications School by Google and SubOptic. Francesco holds a Master's in Telecommunication Engineering from Politecnico di Milano and discovered his passion for subsea during an exchange semester at NTNU, Norway.

Based in Amsterdam, Peter Zwinkels leads Nokia's subsea sales team and has helped win some of the largest subsea upgrades. He joined Nokia via its 2025 acquisition of Infinera, where he grew the subsea business from 2017. Previously, he was Chief Commercial Officer at Aqua Comms and an original member of Ciena's submarine sales team, which broke into the upgrade market. Earlier roles include Nortel and Siemens. Peter has 25+ years in telecoms sales and business development and holds an MSc in Industrial Engineering & Management from Twente University.

Ten years in the industry, from fiber network planning to submarine cable landings; now Infrastructure Development Program Manager at Retelit, Milan, working with OTT, Media and Telco players. Stefano identifies, develops and validates strategic investments in wholesale infrastructure: fiber, data centers, submarine cables. Day to day, that means building the business case for major CAPEX, finding the money to fund it, EU grants included, and carrying projects from first call to signature. In short: engineers tell him what can be built; he assesses whether it is worth the investment.

Giuseppe Valentino is Head of Backbone & Infrastructure Solutions Product Management at Sparkle, driving the evolution of its global network platforms. Since joining Sparkle in 2003, he has held senior roles across sales, product management and innovation. Previously, he worked in Belgium and Italy for GTS/Ebone, an early pioneer of IP networking and cross-border fibre backbones. He began his career at Italtel, later joining Bell Labs in Denver to coordinate a joint programme with AT&T. He lectures on submarine cables and critical infrastructure protection at Sapienza University of Rome, and holds a Master's in Management and Production Engineering from Politecnico di Milano.

Rebecca advises on critical infrastructure resilience, defence and security, and government strategy. She led UK government policy work, culminating as Head of Policy for Subsea Fibre Optic Communications. As Director of Bright Subsea Consulting, she works with The Crown Estate on subsea resilience to 2050, with the National Oceanography Centre on small island states' connectivity resilience, and advises the European Commission on funding resilient subsea connectivity. She is Education Director of the Global Subsea Skills Academy, a Trustee of the SubOptic UK Foundation, and holds three degrees in war, security and defence from King's College London.

Stefano Bolis is a Telecommunications Engineer and the founder of Stebolis tlc, a vertical media project focused on telecom networks, digital infrastructure and market trends. After seven years in technology and strategy consulting, he now works full-time on content creation and editorial projects in the telecommunications industry. Through YouTube, LinkedIn, Substack, events and collaborations with companies and universities, he turns complex technical topics into clear and accessible stories for both industry professionals and wider audiences.

Heather Wells is a Brand and Marketing Manager with 7+ years of experience shaping brand strategy and multi-channel marketing for purpose-driven international organisations. Specialising in turning high-level strategy into practical, real-world execution, Heather currently supports SubOptic and the SubOptic Foundation, overseeing global brand development, campaigns, digital platforms, and international events across the subsea telecom ecosystem.