Cambridge Wireless unveils 2026 conference on AI & security

Cambridge Wireless has unveiled the agenda for its International Conference 2026 in Cambridge, centred on the intersection of connectivity, artificial intelligence and network security.

Now in its 17th year, the annual conference is expected to bring together 37 speakers and more than 500 delegates from telecoms, defence, quantum computing, manufacturing and the public sector.

The programme is built around three themes: Connectivity & AI; the wider convergence of technologies beyond AI; and the security, skills and trust issues linked to infrastructure. It reflects a market in which telecoms operators, government agencies and research bodies are reassessing the role of communications networks as AI systems, automation and cyber threats become more closely intertwined.

One keynote session will be delivered by Peter Haigh, Deputy CTO at the National Cyber Security Centre. He is due to address resilience, security and the implications of AI for national infrastructure, putting cyber risk and public network protection high on the agenda.

Other sessions will examine whether operators can move beyond their traditional role as connectivity providers as AI becomes more embedded in digital systems. Speakers from the National Physical Labouratory, Telekom Srbija Group and BT will discuss whether telecoms groups can claim a larger role in the AI economy or risk becoming less central as value shifts elsewhere in the technology stack.

Security focus

Defence and security issues will also feature prominently. Experts from the Defence Science and Technology Labouratory and the Ministry of Defence will take part in a session on how AI-enabled connectivity is changing operational activity while introducing new weaknesses in contested environments.

The focus reflects a broader concern across government and industry: as communications networks become more software-driven, more autonomous and more critical to essential systems, pressure is increasing to protect them against disruption and misuse.

The programme also looks beyond telecoms infrastructure to industrial applications. Professor Mike Wilson, Chief Automation Officer at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, is scheduled to discuss autonomous production and so-called dark factories, where highly connected, automated manufacturing systems run with limited human intervention.

These themes reflect a wider trend in advanced industry, where digital communications, robotics and AI are becoming more tightly integrated into factory operations. For manufacturers, the promise is greater efficiency and round-the-clock output, but the shift also raises questions about resilience, workforce skills and operational control.

Start-up role

Innovation from smaller companies will have a dedicated place in the programme. Simon Fabri, Director of Product and Engineering at His Majesty’s Government Communications Centre, will chair a session on innovation and entrepreneurship focused on founders and technical leaders working on emerging communications technologies.

The conference will also include a Start-Up Zone featuring 12 early-stage companies. The dedicated space positions young businesses alongside established telecoms groups, research organisations and public sector bodies in discussions about the sector’s direction.

Quantum networking is another area set for scrutiny. Representatives from IBM and IQM Quantum Computers are due to discuss the practical implications of the quantum internet, including its significance for security, infrastructure and international competition.

The subject has drawn increasing attention from governments and technology groups because of its potential implications for secure communications and long-term computing strategy. At the same time, debate continues over how quickly quantum networking can move from research to widespread use, and whether expectations are outpacing commercial reality.

The closing part of the conference will turn to what organisers describe as systemic autonomy. In a fireside chat, Daniel Doll-Steinberg, co-founder of Edenbase, is expected to consider the frameworks needed for increasingly intelligent networks and automated systems.

The speaker line-up and session topics point to an effort to bring policy, research and commercial questions together in one forum. Rather than focusing on a single branch of the communications market, the event ranges from cyber security and military use cases to industrial automation, entrepreneurship and quantum computing.

Michaela Eschbach, CEO of 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 on 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 provide strategic clarity and practical insight into what comes next.”