MUMBAI:The broadband show for new generation networks, the 12th Convergence India 2004 is all set to make convergence happen. Touted as the largest telecom event in India, and scheduled to be held from 18-20 March at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, the show will focus on the tools, technologies and policy perspectives of the emerging convergence scenario in India, showcasing innovative products and services.
Over 22 countries are participating in this event, including France, China, Korea, Israel and the US. Organised by Exhibitions India, an ISO 9001:2000 certified company, the international exhibition and conference is held in an area spread over 100,000 sq ft.
The exhibition will emphasise on innovative technology in real-life business environment - targeting improved productivity, new revenue streams, and market implementation of business models and technologies. The focus of the exhibition is to highlight India as an investment destination in the convergence sector.
The participants include the carriers and telcos, players from the broadcast and cable, the multimedia and Internet, the networks and computing, the IT hardware and software, the smart card technologies, the satellite and space technologies and telecommunication equipment industries, says a company release.
Says Exhibitions India, MD Prem Behl, "In countries like India, the ICT future depends on providing low cost solutions for development of communications in rural areas. Convergence India 2004 will provide the right platform for focused networking between the government and the industry and an insight on the impact of convergent communications on overall development."
Besides offering a platform to the Indian sector, the high profile international attendees at the conference will also debate on critical industry issues ranging from broadband and mobility, to new business models and new sources of revenue. With the theme for this year's conference being New Generation Convergent Communications, the two parallel tracks will run simultaneously with sessions highlighting Access Technologies, Satellite Communications, Broadcast Technologies, Billing and CRM and VoIP.
The international conference will address recent market challenges and provide a platform for all participants to deliberate upon the symbiotic relationship between the government and industry to bridge the digital divide and keep pace with the rapidly advanced technologies and generate new sources of growth, says the release.
According to the release, the aim of this year's conference will be to help to formulate policy frameworks to confront the new realities facing the telecommunications industry and highlight the critical issues, technologies and standards that are shaping the nature and direction of global telecommunications.
While the principal sponsor of the event is BSNL, diamond sponsor is ZTE, ruby sponsor is Korea Telecom, gold sponsor is Qualcomm, silver sponsor is Huawei Technologies, and workshop sponsor is Hewlett Packard. Other sponsors include orning, Europe Star, Harmonic, Veraz Networks, VocalTec, Speedera and Lucent Technologies. The bandwidth partner is Spectranet and the official Internet service provider is STPI.
Co-sponsored by DOT Department of Telecommunication, the event is co-organized by Association of Basic Telecom Operators; Consumer Electronics and TV Manufacturers Association; Cellular Electronics and TV Manufacturers Association, Department of Information Technology; Global VSAT Forum; Indo-American Chambers of Commerce; Internet Service Providers Association of India; Manufacturers Association of Information Technology; Telecom Equipment Manufactures Association of India and VSAT Services Association of India.
The event is supported by All India Aavishkar Dish Antenna Sangh; Cable Operators Federation of India; Electronic Component Industries Association; International Broadcasting Convention; Institution of Electronics & telecommunications Engineers; National Association of Broadcasters; Swiss Multimedia Association and Telecom Users Group, adds the release.
The leading national and international participants at the event are Alvarion, Isreal; Andrew Telecommunications India Pvt Ltd, India/USA; AudioCodes Ltd, Isreal; Bharti Infotel Limited, India; Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), India; Cirpack, France; Communications and Power Industries/ Satcom Division, USA; Da-San Networks, Korea; Ditech Communications Corporation, USA; Europe*Star Limited, UK; Eurostar Network Private Limited, India; Eutelsat S.A., France; Fracarro Radioindustrie S.p.A., Italy; Fujitsu Microelectronics Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore; Hewlett Packard Company (HP Bazaar), Finland; Horizon Satellite Services, Saudi Arabia; Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., China; ICX Global, USA; Inmarsat, UK; Intelsat, USA; ITI Limited, India; Jaewoo Coporation, Korea; ke-Kommunikations Elektronik, Germany; Korea Telecom, Korea; Loral Skynet, USA; Lucent Technologies, USA; MCI, USA; Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., India; New Skies Satellites, The Netherlands; Newtec Cy, Belgium; Nortel Networks, France; Qualcomm Incorporated, USA; RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., India; SAF Tehnika A/S, Lativia; Sagem, France; Tekelec, USA; Transition Networks , USA; Tripoint Global, USA; UTStarcom, Inc., USA; Veraz Networks, Ltd, USA and Israel; VocalTec Communications Ltd., USA & Israel; Zamana Consultants Ltd., India; and ZTE Corporation, China.