David Soldani | SVP Next Generation Advanced Research (NGAR)
Rakuten Mobile

David Soldani is the Senior Vice President of Next Generation Advanced Research (NGAR) at Rakuten Mobile, leading next-generation research in AI, cloud-native networking, 5G/6G, cybersecurity, and telecom transformation. With over 25 years of experience in telecommunications, ICT innovation, and strategic research, he has held senior executive roles in Rakuten, Nokia, Huawei, and IMDA, driving global technology advancements.

At Rakuten Mobile, he spearheads cutting-edge research in AI-driven automation, Kubernetes (K8s), eBPF, and security solutions to enhance network efficiency, risk mitigation, and digital transformation. His expertise spans cloud-native architectures, AI-native networking, zero-trust security models, and 5G/6G evolution.

Prior to Rakuten, David was CTO & Cybersecurity Officer at Huawei Asia-Pacific, where he led 5G deployments, AI-driven cybersecurity frameworks, and digital transformation initiatives. He also served as Head of 5G Technology, End-to-End at Nokia, where he contributed to 5G standardization, network architecture design, and strategic partnerships.

Beyond his industry leadership, David is an Adjunct Professor at UNSW, fostering collaboration between academia and industry. He holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Communications Engineering & Networking Technology from Aalto University (formerly Helsinki University of Technology) and has received numerous industry accolades, including the Distinguished Talent (DT) Award from the Australian Government.