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Connect-World Europe II 2007     Magazine introduction When speaking of networks, conventional wisdom and traditional business models no longer work as they did. The lines are blurring in the fixed, mobile markets and even broadcasting markets. Wired networks now handle traffic once thought suitable only for wireless and wireless is substituting wired in a broad range of applications. Seamless handoffs between wired and wireless networks - indeed mergers, partnerships and consolidations bringing together networks and players of all sorts - further confuse the once prettily organised networking landscape. In addition, the very technologies and services that have built the success of the current market - such as those that have expanded the use of wireless and broadband to levels that were inconceivable not so long ago - may now undermine current business models by subsidising a commoditised future. This issue will examine what these changes in technologies and the market mean for the sector. How can the residential and business consumer best be served? How should current strategies evolve to meet the changes? What does the future hold for network operators of all types? The theme for this issue will be The network business - strategies for tomorrow. The distinct niches built-up over the years within the information and communication technology sectors are melting together like an ice cream sundae - telcos compete with broadcasters that compete with cable companies that compete with power utilities that compete with ISPs that compete with everyone. Like sundaes, convergence comes in many flavours and has as many meanings as practitioners. With convergence, forget the ice cream - take your favourite means of communications, mix with your hardware of choice, top with applications software and a liberal dose of content and serve your own converged desert using an equally converged device. Convergence is changing businesses, the players the equipment and the services we have become accustomed to; in their place new companies, technologies, equipment and services are arising. New problems are also arising. New multi-sector, multi-technology regulation will be needed, security issues assume new dimension, privacy may be threatened and the same consumers that will benefit from the changes will also need protection. This issue of Connect-World Europe will examine changes wrought by the many forms of convergence and what they mean to businesses and end-users alike. We will also look at the regulatory situation and the strategic factors that the players, old and new, need take into account.     Theme: The network business - strategies for tomorrow Articles Contributors Feature articles     Article no.: 1 Topic: ICT - the shaping of Bulgariaís future Author: Dr Plamen Vatchov Title: Chairman, State Agency for Information Technology and Communications Organisation: Republic of Bulgaria PDF size: 276KB   About author: Dr Plamen Vatchov is Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria. During his long career, Dr Vatchov has served in a wide variety of highly responsible positions, including as a member of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Technical Cybernetics and Robotics; as the Deputy Director of the Institute for Technical Cybernetics and Robotics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; the General Director of Micro Processing Systems; Managing Director of Bulvar Electronics, Ltd; Director of Information Technology, Overgas Holding; and Deputy Director Operations of Cabletel. Dr Vatchov started his career as an engineer at the Central Computing Institute in Sofia. Dr Vatchov is also an Associate Professor in Technical Sciences at the Higher Commission for Attestation and an Assistant Professor at the Technical University in Moscow. He is specialised in microprocessor devices, management and quality management. Dr Vatchov is currently a member of the Academic Council of the International University, and a member of the Balkan Academy of Sciences, as well as of the Federation of the Scientific and Technical Unions in Bulgaria, and the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria. Dr Vatchov obtained both his M.Sc. in Industrial Electronics and his PhD in Technical Sciences from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute.   Article abstract: Bulgaria has made great strides in both fixed and mobile penetration and bringing broadband Internet connections to the population, but coverage is still uneven. Broadband is available on 97 per cent of the telephone lines in Sofia but, overall, only 11 per cent of Bulgariaís citizens have broadband. Bulgariaís government created a special agency to build and implement a modern telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with EU policies and to integrate the country into the global economy and the information society.   Read the article     Article no.: 2 Topic: A matter of inclusion Author: Paolo Gentiloni Title: Minister for Communications Organisation: Italy PDF size: 228KB   About author: Paolo Gentiloni is Italyís Minister for Communications. He is a Member of Parliament first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2001. During the XV legislature, prior to being named minister, Mr Gentiloni was Chairman of the Parliamentary Broadcasting Services Watchdog Committee, and a member of the Chamber of Deputies Transport and Telecommunication Committee. Mr Gentiloni is a professional journalist and edited the Legambiente monthly La Nuova Ecologia from 1984 to 1993. He was the spokesman for Romeís Mayor Francesco Rutelli and was Jubilee and Tourism Councillor on the Rome City Council. He has coordinated numerous election campaigns and was a founding member of the Margherita Party, where he was Head of Communications for five years. Minister Gentiloni earned his degree in Political Science.   Article abstract: The Internet - the global economy and the information society - is transforming the world. It is also widening the gap between large portions of society, even within developed nations, increasingly prejudicing those who because of economic status or because they live in remote areas, have little or no access to this technology. International organisations and the worldís nations, including Italy, are working together to insure the widespread dissemination of this technology and the promotion of universal digital inclusion.   Read the article     Article no.: 3 Topic: Re-thinking regulation in the age of convergence Author: Corrado Calabrò Title: President Organisation: AGCOM - the Communications Regulatory Authority, Italy PDF size: 244KB   About author: Corrado Calabrò is the President of AGCOM, Italyís regulatory authority. He served previously as the President of the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio Region, where he also chaired the section that oversees the Competition Authority, Consob (Stock market Control Authority) and the National Bank of Italy. At the Council of State he was assigned to jurisdictional and consultative sections and to the Council of Administrative Justice of Sicily Region. Mr Calabrò has served in a great number of significant posts, including: Head of Cabinet to a number of ministers (Budget, South, Health, Industry, Agriculture, Commercial Navy, Post & Telecommunications, Public Education and University, EU Policies, Institutional Reforms); President of the 3rd Section; President of the Section for regulatory acts; Chairman of the Permanent Advisory Committee on intellectual property; President of the Association of Judges of the Council of State; Head of the technical-legal Secretariat of the President of the Council of Ministers, Aldo Moro. Mr Calabrò was first ranked in a national competition for the Council of State, of which he later became President. He is the author of a number of works on labour and administrative law. He is a poet and a writer. Mr Calabrò graduated, magna cum laude, in law from Messina University. Both Mechnikov University of Odessa, in 1997, and Vest Din University of Timisoara, in 2000, awarded him honorary degrees honoris causa ad gradum.   Article abstract: The rapid technological evolution of the telecom sector, the expansion of the global information-based economy, and the need to ensure equitable, universal access to society as a whole has focused attention upon the need for independent regulators. The regulator must balance the needs of society and regulate the use of telecommunications for the common good. Fostering the affordable availability of broadband access, and the services it carries, is essential to the growth of Italyís economy and the well-being of its population.   Read the article     Article no.: 4 Topic: Competing for our future Author: Andy Green Title: CEO Organisation: BT Global Services PDF size: 224KB   About author: Andy Green is CEO of BT Global Services - the part of BTís business that serves corporate and government clients worldwide. He was appointed to the board of BT Group plc in November 2001. Mr Green began his career with Shell and later joined Deloitte Haskins & Sells. He took on his present role after spending periods as chief executive of BTopenworld - BTís mass market Internet services company ñ and as BTís group director of strategy. Andy Green holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Leeds University.   Article abstract: The needs of the global society are dramatic. Technology gives us the means to meet many of these needs and reinvent the global economy. Companies need to re-shape themselves to pursue ëheroic goalsí. Society needs this, and customers demand it. The pursuit calls for working with the trend of work processes, digitalisation, taking advantage of the globalisation of the workforce, using the power of IP networks to automate the delivery of products and services, and outsourcing tasks to achieve maximum efficiency.   Read the article     Article no.: 5 Topic: Digital technology - changing the world of media Author: Jacques Dunogué Title: Senior Executive Vice President, and Head of Systems Division Organisation: Thomson PDF size: 240KB   About author: Jacques Dunogué is the Senior Executive Vice President of Thomson. He heads one of the Groupís three operational divisions, the Systems Division, which provides video solutions, systems and products for cable, satellite, terrestrial broadcasters, telecommunications operators and the content industry. Previously, Mr Dunogué served as Executive Vice President of Alcatel and President Europe and South, in charge of sales and local operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India and Latin America. At Alcatel, Mr Dunogué served as CEO of Alcatel Data Networks and President of the Business Systems Division. As Alcatelís Secretary General, he helped structure the Alcatel Shanghai Bell joint venture in China. He contributed to the founding of the EICTA, the European Information and Communications Technology Industry Association, and served as its President for two years. Before Alcatel, Mr Dunogué worked in various positions within the telecom industry, including R&D at the CNET, France Telecomís research centre, and in Latin America and the United States for a start-up operator (Argo). Jacques Dunogué is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique and SupíTelecom, both in Paris.   Article abstract: Although there have been many technical and marketing challenges, fixed and mobile services are increasingly converging. Home broadband IP gateways for triple- and quadruple-play services, IPTV, VoIP, Internet and mobile TV now play an increasing part in the market. Hosted business telephony services give users a single phone number and voicemail box for both their cellular and broadband IP phones so, through convergence, mobile phones can perform such PBX functions as short dialling, call transfer and call conferencing.   Read the article     Article no.: 6 Topic: Convergence ‘à la carte’ for enterprise-wide IP communications Author: John Irvine Title: Vice President, International Marketing Organisation: Verizon Business PDF size: 236KB   About author: John Irvine is the Vice President of International Marketing for Verizon Business responsible for all marketing activities for Verizon Business in Asia-Pacific, Emerging Markets, Europe and Latin America. Prior to joining Verizon Business as Vice President for Marketing in Europe, Mr Irvine held senior positions in a European Voice over IP, VoIP, start-up business and at Level 3 Communications in Europe, having spent more years than he cares to remember at BT and IBM. Mr Irvine has a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from the University of Ulster and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, North Carolina.   Article abstract: Businesses are becoming increasingly global; their markets, units and workers are spread throughout the world. They need instantaneous, cost-effective connectivity between distant units and workers to function - and IP-based solutions are seen as the way to achieve this. Voice over IP, typically, is the first step. Since voice traffic is carried over the same networks as data, significant savings can be realised and advanced data-dependent services can be integrated with voice to provide operational efficiencies, greater productivity and improved service delivery.   Read the article     Article no.: 7 Topic: Enterprise convergence - communications on the move Author: Lars-Michaël Paqvalén Title: CEO and Co-founder Organisation: Telepo PDF size: 212KB   About author: Lars-Michaël Paqvalén is the CEO and Co-founder of Telepo a software company developing convergence solutions for large and medium-sized enterprises and service providers. Mr Paqvalén was previously the CFO, and a member of the Board of Directors, of Hotsip, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2006. He has also held the position of CFO at Gambro Operations, a global medical technology company, and CEO and Co-founder of Hansa Business Solutions Inc, an enterprise software company. Lars-Michaël Paqvalén has a Masters degree from Helsinki School of Economics, Finland.   Article abstract: Supporting an increasingly mobile workforce in the field with all of the tools and information of the office is a top priority for many companies. How to bring this about is a matter of great strategic and economic importance. Few companies working with legacy PBX systems have any effective control over their mobile communications costs which, today, can far exceed their costs for fixed telephony. New software-based solutions, rather than network replacement, can provide a viable solution for fixed/mobile convergence.   Read the article     Article no.: 8 Topic: Blurring the lines Author: Roy Bedlow Title: Vice President Organisation: Palm EMEA PDF size: 3248KB   About author: Roy Bedlow is the Vice President of Palm EMEA. Mr Bedlow was previously Director of Palm EMEAís Wireless Business Unit, with responsibility for the Treo family of smartphones and alliances with operators in Europe. In this role he successfully built the foundation of Palm EMEAís wireless business around the Treo product family. Prior to joining Palm, Mr Bedlow was EMEA marketing director at Handspring, before it merged with Palm in 2003. Earlier roles included European Business Unit director for Iomega International in Geneva, and a variety of sales and marketing positions at Apple Computer over a period of six years, based in London and Munich.   Article abstract: Many technologies - computers, for example - were first developed for the high-end, professional users. The devices are expensive and they can be difficult to use. With time, the designs are refined, prices drop and usability improves. Today, devices such as the smartphone and PDA, originally aimed at the business user, are increasingly finding their way into the home. This is not surprising, since the business user, once accustomed to the convenience that technologies bring, wants to use them at home as well.   Read the article     Article no.: 9 Topic: Keep on moving: the evolution of 3G Author: Mikael Bäck Title: Vice President, Product and Portfolio Management, Business Unit Networks Organisation: Ericsson AB PDF size: 464KB   About author: Mikael Bäck is the Vice President of Product and Portfolio Management of Ericssonís Business Unit Networks. Prior to this position Mr Bäck was Vice President and Head of the Product Area for WCDMA Radio Networks. Prior to joining the WCDMA group, he was responsible for Japanese standards within the PDC Business Unit. Mikael Bäck holds a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.   Article abstract: It has only been a decade or so since most user connections to the Internet were via a fixed analogue modem operating at 28.8kbit/s. The first data connections via GSM, Global System for Mobile Communications, phones were a patience-stretching 9.6kbit/s. Today, the latest commercial releases of 3G WCDMA radio networks support download speeds of up to 14.4Mbit/s - more than a match for most fixed broadband connections - and they are set to get faster still as WCDMA radio networks evolve to meet growing demand for mobile broadband.   Read the article     Article no.: 10 Topic: Fixed-mobile convergence - who owns the customer? Author: Stuart Madeley Title: Chairman Organisation: Global Billing Association PDF size: 244KB   About author: Stuart Madeley is Chairman of the GBA (Global Billing Association). The GBA is at the forefront of the theoretical discussions about bill for content when operating within a converged world. Mr Madeley is also the Head of Billing and Credit for Virgin Mobile in the UK. He previously held positions in Europe and the USA with NCR and Lucent Technologies. Mr Madeley has a Bachelors degree in Industrial Economics. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.   Article abstract: Fixed-mobile convergence brings subscribers a variety of advantages. Operators take advantage of the variety of services to offer discount-priced service bundles that appeal to users. Operators understand that with each new service they provide they earn more, learn more about the customer and make themselves increasingly indispensable in their usersí lives. On the other hand, the traditional business model for fixed telephony and that for mobile do not easily mix, and put mobile revenues - and customer control - under pressure.   Read the article     Article no.: 11 Topic: The ISPís changing universe Author: Barry Shrier Title: Founder and Chief Executive Organisation: Liberty Europe Network PDF size: 320KB   About author: Barry Shrier is the Founder and Chief Executive of The Liberty Europe Network, a group of businesses focusing on wireless Internet expansion throughout the EU. Previously, Mr Shrier worked with Deutsche Bank to launch Paybox, the worldís first international mobile payment system. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr Shrier worked for several strategic marketing consultancies managing a variety of international projects for Unilever, Guinness, Procter & Gamble, Mars and NestlÈ. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, I.O.D, and a Board Member of the WiFi Group, Europeís leading business organisation promoting future wireless technologies. Barry Shrier has an MSc in Philosophy from the London School of Economics, and a BA in Politics from Middlebury College, Vermont, USA.   Article abstract: Until recently, you got an Internet connection from an Internet service provider, ISP. New technology, new networks and new business models, combined in many parts of the world with more permissive regulations, have changed all that. Today, just about every network operator is getting into the market. Many networks have much excess capacity that anyone, handset retailers, for example, can buy and resell becoming operators of their own virtual networks. The rapidly increasing competition is threatening traditional ISP business models.   Read the article     Article no.: 12 Topic: SIP network strategies Author: Olle Westerberg Title: CEO Organisation: Ingate Systems PDF size: 288KB   About author: Olle Westerberg is the CEO, of Ingate Systems. He has had more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector in a wide range of roles, from hands-on software development to company leadership. Mr Westerberg held senior management positions with Ericsson, DSC Communications and Alcatel with a focus on international sales and marketing activities, serving as Vice President, Private Operators at Ericsson Switzerland and Vice President, Sales, EMEA at DSC. Mr Westerberg gained first-hand experience with small business needs as the CEO of Swedenís first dedicated e-service company, Buybridge. Mr Westerberg holds an MSc in Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm) and a Master of Business Administration degree from the London Business School.   Article abstract: The movement towards all-IP communications, as a way to provide seamless connectivity between networks, is almost unstoppable. Within a few years, we are likely to see just about every communication device and every network using IP. SIP, the Session Initiation Protocol, is a simple tool that creates the communications ësessionsí that make VoIP, multimedia distribution, presence sensing, instant messaging and a host of other services possible. This is transforming the way businesses communicate internally, with clients and with customers.   Read the article     Article no.: 13 Topic: Triple play first, what next? Author: Michael Engström Title: VP Global Business Development Organisation: PacketFront Sweden AB PDF size: 232KB   About author: Michael Engström is PacketFront Swedenís VP of Global Business Development. Previously, during his years at PacketFront, he has been responsible for marketing and sales to carriers. Mr Engström co-founded two management consulting companies prior to joining PacketFront - Anzur Norway and 42Networks Sweden. At Cisco Systems EMEA, he served as a strategic advisor to EMEA and in-country management. Mr Engström has 20 years in the data communications industry, and has built wide, deep expertise ranging from deep technical design to senior management consulting.   Article abstract: Internet service providers generally do not share in the revenues generated through its services, so they have little financial incentive to upgrade the networks for next-generation needs. Open access providers build and run networks for anyone who needs broadband to do business. Open access providers who offer better quality than the public Internetís best-effort service, provide hosting and operations for servers, quality of service for content providers and an operational solution for home-based devices might become the next killer application.   Read the article     Article no.: 14 Topic: The IPTV edge Author: Reto Brader Title: General Manager Organisation: Pixelmetrix Corporation PDF size: 680KB   About author: Reto Brader is the General Manager for Pixelmetrix Corporation, a Singapore-based company that specialises in the design and production of management and telemetry systems for digital broadcasters, satellite, cable and IPTV operators worldwide. Mr Brader has more than 12 years of digital data, video distribution and monitoring experience. Prior to joining Pixelmetrix, he was Product Marketing Manager at Hewlett-Packardís High-speed Telecom and Digital Video Test Division in Canada. Mr Brader currently represents Pixelmetrix in the DVB Forum. Mr Brader holds a bachelors degree in Electronic Engineering and a masters degree in Business and Administration (MBA).   Article abstract: IPTV, using the Internet protocol to deliver TV, is the best hope fixed-line telcos have to complete the triple-play - voice, data and video - package they need to compete with ISPs and cable companies. Moving to IPTV is not simple; there are many challenges, from programming to technology, that they must master. Only constant monitoring of everything from the content delivery to the technical parameters - a demanding task - will guarantee the sort of experience and end-to-end quality users demand.   Read the article     Article no.: 15 Topic: Intellectual property in the new network environment Author: Robert Lind Title: Partner Organisation: Marks & Clerk, Patent and Trademark Attorney PDF size: 292KB   About author: Robert Lind is a Partner in Marks & Clerk, Patent and Trademark Attorney; he is a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney specialising in the patenting of inventions related to telecommunications and computing, with particular emphasis on Internet-related technologies. Dr Lind joined Marks & Clerk after training with a firm of patent attorneys in London. He later worked as an in-house attorney for Nokia Mobile Phones in Finland before returning to the firm. He is a contributor to the European Patents Handbook. Dr Lind graduated from Glasgow University with an honours degree in Electronic Engineering and subsequently obtained a PhD in Bioelectronics from the same university.   Article abstract: Convergence raises many serious intellectual property rights, IRP, questions. How can we deal with content IRP when networks throughout the world are involved? The IRP issues involving technologies and equipment used in a converged environment, given the differing laws around the world, are truly complex and perplexing even when standards and international standards organisations are involved. The growth of convergence would be greatly facilitated by international agreement based upon genuinely common standards and obligatory licensing on fair and reasonable terms.   Read the article     Article no.: 16 Topic: The network business - strategies for tomorrow Author: Konstantin Nikashov Title: VP, External Economic Activities, MERA Systems and member of the Executive Board Organisation: MERA Group PDF size: 268KB   About author: As Vice President for External Economic Activities for MERA Systems and a member of the Executive Board of the MERA Group, Konstantin Nikashov is responsible for developing and managing new business partnerships. Dr Nikashov joined MERA as the Vice President for Business Development and led the companyís efforts to establish international business relations. Prior to joining MERA, Dr Nikashov was Technical Director for KIS, the first regional ISP in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia and supervised the companyís technological initiatives. Konstantin Nikashov earned his MSEE and his PhD from the State University of Technology in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.   Article abstract: Voice over IP, VoIP, is revolutionising the telephony market, changing the competitive landscape and forcing operators around the world to re-think their business models and strategies. VoIP offers customers much lower calling rates - especially for long-distance calls; it also offers users a great many advanced features and lets operators add value-added services. Sophisticated softswitches ensure quality of service by monitoring service parameters and dynamically re-routing calls; they also help operators find the least-cost/high-quality routings needed to maximise profitability.   Read the article Confirmed authors (Order by article no.)   Dr Plamen Vatchov Chairman, State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, Republic of Bulgaria   Paolo Gentiloni Minister for Communications, Italy   Corrado Calabrò President, AGCOM - the Communications Regulatory Authority, Italy   Andy Green CEO, BT Global Services   Jacques Dunogué Senior Executive Vice President, and Head of Systems Division, Thomson   John Irvine Vice President, International Marketing, Verizon Business   Lars-Michaël Paqvalén CEO and Co-founder, Telepo   Roy Bedlow Vice President, Palm EMEA   Mikael Bäck Vice President, Product and Portfolio Management, Business Unit Networks, Ericsson AB   Stuart Madeley Chairman, Global Billing Association   Barry Shrier Founder and Chief Executive, Liberty Europe Network   Olle Westerberg CEO, Ingate Systems   Michael Engström VP Global Business Development, PacketFront Sweden AB   Reto Brader General Manager, Pixelmetrix Corporation   Robert Lind Partner, Marks & Clerk, Patent and Trademark Attorney   Konstantin Nikashov VP, External Economic Activities, MERA Systems and member of the Executive Board, MERA Group