N. K. Shankaranarayanan

N. K. Shankaranarayanan (Shankar) is a Senior Principal Architect with Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL) where he is responsible for architecture and strategy for ONAP/O-RAN product solutions. Prior to that he worked for 29+ years with AT&T Labs Research creating and delivering research innovations in wireless systems & networks, and providing leadership in wireless standards. His work has spanned diverse areas including: 5G/4G/3G/VoLTE, cloud-based radio network automation, ONAP-based RAN automation solutions, Near-RT RIC development, service and network quality management, radio propagation, full-duplex wireless, fixed wireless systems, and fiber/cable systems.

During 2018-2021, he led the development and production deployment of the first ONAP-based 5G SON solution in AT&T. Since 2018, he has served as the 5G SON Use Case Lead in the ONAP open-source forum, leading the development of ONAP-based SON solutions and PoC demonstrations. During 2006-2008, he served on the WiMAX Forum (WMF) Board of Directors, and also as Chair of the WMF Service Provider Working Group and Chair of the WMF X.509 Task Force. He was part of the core team that deployed the first two-way broadband fixed wireless Internet field trial in 1997.