I advise C-level and top experts in the digital sector on strategic matters and global risks through the lens of geopolitics. Resilience and security of digital systems, regulation & competition, spectrum policies, cybersecurity policies and innovation are in the focus of my advisory work for my clients.

When working with clients, I am inspired by the famous quote of John Maynard Keynes: “The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones.”

My professional career spans more than 40 years. It began in nuclear physics, after which I turned to industrial research and development in various high-tech industrial areas such as software development, solar energy, aerospace, and telecommunications. After my career in industry, I joined Arthur D. Little, a strategy consulting firm. Then, for over a decade, I headed up the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications in Austria (RTR-GmbH). The highlight of my regulatory career was chairing and vice-chairing BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications). In 2014, I founded my consulting boutique, which focuses on advising the C-suite and assisting with contributions to boardroom discussions on critical challenges: assessing global risks and developing mitigation strategies, artificial intelligence, spectrum policy, and traditional regulatory & competition issues. In parallel, I continue to work with leading consultancies on a project basis in areas of my expertise. 

Illustrative projects – professional experience and qualifications:

My consulting experience in a nutshell

• Resilience and Security of Digital Systems
• Artificial Intelligence regulation
• Digital Platform regulation
• Quantum secure communication
• Cybersecurity policies
• Public policy issues
• Traditional telecom regulation (access to infrastructure, wholesale access, etc.)
• Regulatory challenges in the context of mergers and acquisitions
• Spectrum awarding and spectrum policies
• Advocacy before regulatory authorities and tribunals.

Representative experience in digital security and resilience

• Advising a leading North American telecom company on assessing the global threat landscape and developing bespoke mitigation strategies
• Advising a leading European electricity grid operator and producer on the assessment and management of potential risks from non-European control system vendors
• Attending conferences as an invited speaker in Asia, North America and Europe in the field of digital systems security and resilience
• Participating as external expert in roundtable discussions with academic and government representatives in the field of security and resilience of digital systems with the aim of developing customized risk mitigation strategies
• Publication of a white paper on resilience and security of digital systems (see “My Thinking” and “Download”).

Representative European Experience

• Advised a mobile challenger on preparatory strategies for the 5G auction and provided advocacy before the regulator.
• Contributed to the regional adaptation of terms and conditions for a global provider of communications services.
• Contributed to advisory work for a leading satellite operator on regulatory challenges for the deployment of a new in-flight service across several jurisdictions.
• Contributed to advisory work for a leading satellite operator on spectrum and interference challenges across several jurisdictions.
• Contributed to advisory work for a leading European railway company around in-train connectivity.
• Advised two international telecom operators on merger issues under the EU merger rules and provided advocacy work; analyzed different remedy options and retail price development pre- and post-merger.
• Advised a European system integrator on spectrum issues for smart-grid operations.
• Contributed to advisory work for an industry association on regulatory imbalances between traditional telecom operators and over-the-top players; analyzed possible redress measures and areas of regulatory modernization.
• Advised an international telecom group on a new regulatory strategy.
• Contributed to advisory work for auction design and auction strategies for regulators and operators.
• Contributed to advisory work for an industry association on spectrum policies harmonization across Europe.
• Contributed to the development of a mission statement for an industry association in Europe.
• Providing marketing and sales support for software firms acting in the telecom sector.
• Providing ongoing regulatory and competition analysis for several international clients.
• Advised an international quad-play operator on policy issues across several geographies.

Representative MENA (MIDDLE EAST / N-AFRICA) Experience

• Advised TRA Bahrain on regulatory and policy issues related to the complete separation of Batelco, the original vertically integrated telecommunications operator, and the creation of BNET, the national wholesale-only operator.
• Contributed to the drafting of a new spectrum legislation in a major country of the region.
• Contributed to building a new governance structure for the telecom ministry in a major country of the region.
• Advising a leading Middle East telecom operator for developing and implementing a new broadband strategy.
• Advising a government in a large Middle East country on a new ICT and new regulatory strategy.
• Advising a Middle East telecom operator for developing and implementing a new regulatory strategy.
• Acted as adviser to a North Africa telecom operator on regulatory strategies and provided advocacy work for ongoing proceedings.
• Acted as an advisor in a national telecom act modernization project in the Middle East; provided international benchmarks and best practices.
• Advising a leading Middle East telecom operator for developing and implementing a new wholesale strategy.
• Contributed to a global benchmarking exercise for a leading Middle East telecom operator to identify the impact of different regulatory regimes; delivered the report “Lessons from Europe”.
• Advising a leading Middle East telecom operator on its regulatory strategy; engaged in meetings with ministry and regulator to discuss international lessons learnt.

Representative North American Experience

• Lead a project with internal and external experts for a North American telecom carrier on how impending EU AI regulation could impact the carrier’s businesses and services and derive advocacy and government reach-out from that.
• Analyzing with a team of experts on what contributions the Smart Agriculture Business Unit of a North American telecom operator could make around global food logistics against the backdrop of disrupted global supply chains.
• Contributing to advisory work for a global digital company on regulatory issues in Europe, with special focus on spectrum and a broad range of regulatory issues and the implementation of the new European Electronic Communications Code (EECC).
• Contributing to advisory work for a global cloud-service provider on regulatory issues in Europe.
• Provided advocacy work for a North America telecom operator for 5G spectrum auction; derived a set of recommendations based on international best practice.
• Providing regulatory advice and advocacy work for an international satellite operator in particular on net neutrality and spectrum issues.
• Provided in-depth analysis and advocacy work for a North America telecom operator on a Wi-Fi roaming regulation proceeding.
• Provided in-depth analysis and advocacy work for a North America telecom operator on the wireline wholesale regulation; derived a set of recommendations based on the European experience.

Representative ICT / Digital Sovereignty Experience

• Contributed to advisory work for a leading global ICT solution provider around digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
• Contributed to a pan-European study for a leading platform operator on the transposition of the new telecom regulatory framework in Europe (EECC).
• Advising a global digital company on regulatory issues in Europe, with special focus on spectrum and regulatory issues, Net Neutrality and Zero Rating across different geographies.
• As Chief Consultant for National Broadband Projects for a leading global ICT solution provider, advised governments and regulators on global scale.
• As the former head of a national ICT Think-Tank and ongoing as a consultant, managed expert teams and worked on several broadband strategies, national ICT and fiber rollout strategies.