Telstra and Akamai are proud to work with Australian and international games and esports companies on many exciting projects. In this special session, Nelson Rodriguez from Akamai Technologies in the USA will unpack the old and the new of esports, and explore where genuine innovation may come from in the future. Many of the existing monetization models of esports follow tried and true formats from traditional sports, but some companies are experimenting with new approaches to engaging with audiences and driving revenue. Nelson’s talk will be followed by an interactive discussion on business and technology innovation in esports, with Nelson, Channa Seneviratne from Telstra and Frank Li from the Chiefs Esports Club, moderated by Anna Lockwood. Frank and the Chiefs Esports CSGO team recently participated along with Channa in the first esports gaming experiences over 5G, at Telstra’s 5G Innovation Lab on Queensland’s Gold Coast.