Ian Corden

Visiting Professor, Faculty of Engineering & Physical Science at University of Surrey

Ian brings over 30 years of experience in industry and consulting within telecoms and technology, including extensive telecoms strategy work, CTO, NGN delivery director, and transformation and procurement director roles. Formerly with PwC TMT Strategy London, Nokia, Oracle, and Bell Labs, his experience and focus includes commercial and technology strategy, programme delivery, and policy and regulation.

His work has been used by operators, enterprises, vendors, investors, and law firms in regulatory, commercial, and technology strategy development and solutions delivery, and by governments and regulators to inform on policy development and regulation implementation.

Solutions delivered for clients have included 5G strategy and programme delivery for a major enterprise in Asia, comprehensive review of telecoms estate for an Asian government, numerous advisory engagements for private equity firms on telecoms deals, 5G spectrum review influencing national government policy for a leading UK industry body, quality review of a wholesale local access regulatory price control model for a major European regulator, c. £10m capex saving on a major IP network implementation programme for a European telco, spectrum auction valuation advice for a European mobile operator, and valuation advice to the board of a European telco on disposal of a key business arm.

During the early part of his career, he worked in defence systems and digital mobile radio and was awarded the Bell Labs President’s Prize for R&D and product development at Bell Labs NJ USA. Ian holds PhD and BSc (1st Class Hons, IET Prize) degrees in Telecommunications and Electronic Engineering, plus PgD in Management and Finance, UK Chartered Engineer, Fellow IET, and is Vice-Chair of the techUK Communications Infrastructure Council.

Ian is a Visiting Professor at The University of Surrey / 5GIC (Telecoms, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science).