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Connect-World Europe I 2007     Magazine introduction Connect-World series of magazines is the leading magazine in the telecom and ICT industry that brings together the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap between the developed and developing world.     Theme: Thriving or surviving with convergence Articles Contributors Feature articles     Article no.: 1 Topic: Fixed-mobile convergence in Spain: setting the pace for the future Author: Francisco Ros Title: Secretary of State Organisation: Telecommunications and the Information Society PDF size: 352KB   About author: Mr Francisco Ros is Spain’s Secretary of State for Telecommunications and the Information Society. Prior to accepting his current post, Mr Ros was, before joining Qualcom, the co-founder, Chairman of the Board and CEO of BroadBand Optical Access, and had served as the President and CEO of Unisource. At the Telefónica Group, Mr Ros was Managing Director, a member of the Executive Management Board, and responsible for the International Communications area. Among others, he has been a member of the Board of AT&T Micro-electronics, WorldPartners and Infonet in the US, Mannesmann Arcor in Germany, Siris in France and CTC in Chile. Francisco Ros holds two PhDs, one from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) and another from the Technical Engineering University of Madrid (Telecommunications). He also holds an Advanced Management Program degree (PADE) from the IESE Business School in Madrid.   Article abstract: Spain’s government is actively fostering fully converged fixed and mobile services, considered fundamental drivers of economic and social development. It has even allocated spectrum free of charge to groups willing to invest heavily - some 834 million euros - in their networks. As a result, Spain is now the fourth country in the world in terms of mobile phone lines per inhabitant, with mobile service reaching 99 per cent of the population and covering 98 per cent of its territory.   Read the article     Article no.: 2 Topic: Fixed and mobile wireless convergence Author: Ainārs Šlesers Title: Minister Organisation: Transport of the Republic of Latvia PDF size: 416KB   About author: Ainārs Šlesers is the Minister for Transport of the Republic of Latvia. He is the Chairman of the Latvian First Party, and has been an elected member of the Saeima, Latvia’s unicameral parliament, since 1998 where he is the Chairperson of the Budget and Finance (Taxation) Committee. In the past, Mr Šlesers has also served his country as its Deputy Prime Minister and as the Chairperson of the Council of the Unified Strategy and Development of the National Economy and as its Minister for Economics. Mr Šlesers has also worked as the General Director of Varner Hakon Invest Ltd., the General Director of Rimi Baltija Ltd., Chairman of the Board and President of Supermarket ‘Centres’ JSC, General Director of Varner Baltija Ltd., President of Skandi Ltd., and as the President of the Latvian-Norwegian joint venture, the Latvian Information and Commerce Centre (in Norway). Ainārs Šlesers is a graduate of the Riga Industrial Technical College and the Christian folk college in Norway. He also studies at The Latvian Christian Academy.   Article abstract: To reap the benefits of fixed mobile convergence, Latvia is working to establish a stable legal environment that conforms with the objectives set forth by the established strategy of the Latvian Ministry of Transport. Among the government’s highest priorities is the development, using IMS tools, of IP-based converged fixed/mobile business communications systems. Converged systems provide company workers, wherever they may be, with the same internal access to company personnel and systems, which they could previously access only at their offices.   Read the article     Article no.: 3 Topic: Principles of regulation in a converging world Author: Tomas Barakauskas Title: Director Organisation: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Republic of Lithuania PDF size: 520KB   About author: Mr Tomas Barakauskas has been the Director of the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of the Republic of Lithuania since its inception in 2001. Mr Barakauskas participated in, and guided, the drafting of the main items of the national legal system - the Law Amending the Law on Telecommunications of the Republic of Lithuania of 2002, and the Law on Electronic Communications of 2003, among others. Mr Barakauskas has led the CRA during the challenging liberalization period. Since then, he has been working towards the country’s transition to the new regulatory framework and the opening of the Lithuanian ICT market to new players and new technologies. Prior to joining the government, Mr Barakauskas served as the Vice President of Fima, the Director of Lucent Technologies office for the Baltic countries, and as Director General of Precizika. Tomas Barakauskas earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the Vilnius University, Faculty of Mathematics.   Article abstract: Technology, especially Internet Protocol-driven broadband networks, is changing the face of the world’s communications markets and driving new forms of competition. Using IP-based converged networks, traditional service providers - fixed telephony, mobile telephony, broadcasting, cable TV, data transmission, etc. - can now provide almost any other communications service and compete outside their original markets. Regulation of converged networks and the services they provide, whilst protecting the sector and service users alike, presents the world’s regulators with a complex challenge.   Read the article     Article no.: 4 Topic: Convergence and regulation in Portugal Author: José Manuel Amado da Silva Title: Chairman Organisation: Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal PDF size: 248KB   About author: José Manuel Amado da Silva is the Chairman of ANACOM – the National Communications Authority of Portugal. He is also a full Professor at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, and a Visiting Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico. Mr da Silva was a Professor at the Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa, of the Instituto de Novas Profissões of the Faculty of Economics of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon and Porto. He has been the Vice Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business and was the Director of the Centre for Applied Studies at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. He is also a former consultant for the Ministry of Planning and for the Ministry of Industry and Energy. Mr da Silva holds a Doctorate in Economics from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, and graduated from the Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon as a Chemical-Industrial Engineer.   Article abstract: Convergence raises important challenges for regulators around the world. What concerns regulators is the impact that platform, network, service and device convergence has upon competition and the needs of their country’s citizens. The previously distinct voice, video and data markets are converging as operators adopt platforms that combine these services on a single network. This has led to operators bundling distinct and separately regulated services, and forces regulators to re-examine their policy of unbundling of services to foster competition.   Read the article     Article no.: 5 Topic: Regulating wireless convergence for Romania’s future Author: Dan Cristian Georgescu Title: President Organisation: National Regulatory Authority for Communications, ANRC, Romania PDF size: 328KB   About author: Dan Cristian Georgescu is the President of Romania’s National Regulatory Authority for Communications, ANRC. Mr Georgescu served previously as the President of a telecommunications operators’ association. During his earlier service with the government, Mr Georgescu was responsible for fixed and mobile radio-communications services in government networks and supervised the implementation and maintenance of national radio-communications networks within the Special Telecommunications Service. Mr Georgescu was a Member of the Board, President of the Board and sole administrator of the National Radio Communications Company, the privatisation of which he coordinated. Mr Georgescu has served as Counsellor to five Romanian Ministers of Communications. He contributed to the elaboration of legislation, the process of privatisation and the issuing of licences for major national operators. Mr Georgescu was also a Member of the Board of the Romanian National Post Company. Mr Georgescu is a graduate of National College ‘Sf. Sava’, Bucharest, of the Polytechnic Institute of Bucharest, Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, and the National Defence College of Romania.   Article abstract: In Romania fixed - mobile convergence, driven by IP-based network convergence, is growing in parallel with 3G mobile telephony. The proliferation of WLANs, wireless local area networks via WiFi hotspots and such - and the increasing availability of mobile handsets with unlicensed mobile access, UMA, will give users new options at lower cost than with mobile telephony. Romania is identifying the frequency bands for implementing UMA technologies. This will call for the harmonisation of Romanian legislation with that adopted by the European Union.   Read the article     Article no.: 6 Topic: Convergence and regulation Author: Reinaldo Rodriguez Illera Title: President Organisation: Comision del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT), Spain PDF size: 352KB   About author: Reinaldo Rodriguez Illera is the President of Spain’s Comision del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT), Spain’s telecommunications regulatory agency. Prior to his appointment, Mr Rodriguez Illera was the Area Chief of the National Telecomunications Plan. He has also served as the Executive Adviser for Telecommunications Area in the Ministry Cabinet, as the General Director of Telecommunications and the Government Delegate in Telefónica de España. For most of his career, Mr Rodriguez Illera worked in the government’s Broadcasting and Television Engineering Corps and Information Technologies Engineering Corps. Mr Rodriguez Illera has served on the boards of INTA, Hispasat, Retevision, the General Post Office, Telefónica Internacional and as a Member of the Board of the Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones. Reinaldo Rodriguez Illera earned his degree as a Telecommunications Engineer from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.   Article abstract: Convergence can bring a wide range of benefits to consumers and service providers alike. Convergence can facilitate competition and benefit consumers or be used to dominate the market and hold back progress. Regulation is needed to protect the interests of the consumer and foster healthy competition among service providers. The EU has developed a regulatory framework that gives regulators the tools they need to give alternative providers, new competitors, the access they need to scarce radio spectrum and network resources.   Read the article     Article no.: 7 Topic: European regulatory environment for fixed/wireless mobile convergence Author: Kevin Power Title: Chairman, ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association); Chairman, OneAccess; Director, Viatel Organisation: OneAccess/Viatel/ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association) PDF size: 388KB   About author: Kevin Power is the Chairman of ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association), the Chairman of OneAccess and a Director of Viatel. Mr Power has more than 20 years’ experience in telecommunications and currently advises start-up and growth stage technology companies on market and M&A strategies. He was formerly a member of the Board of Universal Access. Mr Power worked previously with the Global Telesystems Group and was Managing Director of GTS Monaco Access, a joint venture with the Principality of Monaco, before becoming President of GTS Wholesale Services. Prior to that, Mr Power was with Orion Network Systems, where he held a variety of positions from the start-up phase to the launch of the first satellite. Mr Power also served in a senior management position with INTELSAT. Mr Power holds an M.A. degree in Economics and a B.Sc. degree in Business Economics, both from the State University of New York.   Article abstract: Fixed/mobile network convergence is now a reality in markets throughout the world, but regulatory action is needed to guarantee the fully competitive marketplaces needed for its unimpeded spread. Limited radio-spectrum, lack of fixed network access and such, hinder the growth of competition. Fixed services have traditionally been subject to oversight to guarantee competition; whereas mobile services, perceived as inherently competitive, have not. The growth of competition in a converged environment will depend upon more effective regulatory oversight of the mobile sector.   Read the article     Article no.: 8 Topic: Coming out on top - rethinking the wireless business model Author: Andrew Zimmerman Title: Managing Partner Organisation: Accenture PDF size: 312KB   About author: Andrew Zimmerman is Managing Partner - communication industry segment and leads the strategy practice for Accenture’s Communications, High Technology sector, Americas East. Prior to joining Accenture, Mr Zimmerman served as the CEO of Predictive Systems, as the COO of idealab!, as Global Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ E-Business Consulting Practice, a member of PwC Consulting’s executive committee, Global Industry Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Information and Communications practice, and the firm’s Leader for the Information, Communications and Entertainment consulting practices in the Americas. He held similar positions with Coopers & Lybrand prior to the firm’s 1998 merger with Price Waterhouse. Mr Zimmerman was a planning manager for RCA Home Entertainment, and a founder and CFO of a home video venture, which eventually became Sony Video. He co-founded Reach Networks, one of the earliest Internet companies. Mr Zimmerman co-authored the Electronic Access Study, and authored the New York New Media Industry Survey. Mr Zimmerman is a speaker at industry conferences, including the United States Telephone Association, Information Industry Association and Supercomm. He has been interviewed and quoted by CNN, CNBC, BBC, Fortune, Business Week, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times on topics ranging from the Internet to complexity theory to disruptive technologies. Andrew Zimmerman received a B.A. in Literature from Haverford College in three years and was subsequently awarded a Thomas J. Watson post-graduate Fellowship during which he travelled and studied with circuses in Western Europe and the Soviet Union. He received an M.S. in Accounting from New York University under a work/study programme with Coopers and Lybrand, and is a certified public accountant.   Article abstract: The proprietary, end-to-end control, business model for wireless is losing ground. Carriers need a new model to build upon their existing position and not lose momentum in the market. New technologies and products are enhancing the user experience, but the billions of stand-alone networked devices, applications and services don’t talk to one another easily. A unified control interface is needed and wireless carriers, with their existing mobile handset, Web portal, and BSS/OSS assets are well positioned to provide it.   Read the article     Article no.: 9 Topic: Convergence - a fresh look for an old business Author: Caroline Gabriel Title: Co-founder, Research Director and Lead Analyst Organisation: Wireless Technologies at Rethink Research Associates PDF size: 292KB   About author: Caroline Gabriel is the Co-founder, Research Director and Lead Analyst for Wireless Technologies at Rethink Research Associates. Rethink is a London, UK-based market research and consulting company specialising in technologies and business models for service providers and vendors in the broadband wireless, 3G, fixed/mobile convergence and wireline broadband market. Before Rethink, Ms Gabriel spent a large part of her career in various senior positions at VNU Business Publishing Europe, most recently as European Editorial Director. Ms Gabriel obtained an MA in Modern History from Oxford University, UK.   Article abstract: Convergence is driving an epic competitive battle. Fixed operators and cablecos need mobile capabilities, broadcasters need access to converged networks, and wireless carriers need ways to deliver fixed services. Those that don’t adapt will disappear. Incumbent fixed and wireless players face expensive, complex upgrades to fibre and 3G/4G wireless broadband. Newcomers, such as Google and Microsoft, with their push to create citywide wireless networks for people on the move, will reduce dependence upon cellphones and disrupt even the latest converged business models.   Read the article     Article no.: 10 Topic: The dimensions of convergence - simplification, control and innovation Author: Jerome Albert Title: CMO Organisation: Convergence Business Group, Alcatel-Lucent PDF size: 212KB   About author: Jerome Albert is the CMO of the Convergence Business Group at Alcatel-Lucent. Mr Albert previously served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Alcatel's Mobile Communications Group. Before joining Alcatel he worked at the Bull Group where he was marketing and business development manager for the company’s distributed computing architecture solutions. Prior to that, Jérôme Albert served as a marketing consultant, assisting a small group of French high-technology start-ups in product launches, management of distribution channels and international business development activities. Jérôme Albert holds a Masters degree in the marketing of high technology-based products and services.   Article abstract: Converged communications services are gradually replacing existing systems. Connecting different services and devices, they bring the affordable, flexible services users need at home and in the office. At home, convergence brings - and interconnects - phone service, television, gaming and the Internet via fixed and wireless networks. At the office, next-generation converged systems reduce complexity and operating costs, make sophisticated home and office systems available to workers in the field, and offer a host of new business services to improve efficiency.   Read the article     Article no.: 11 Topic: Service portability across converged networks Author: Mike Betz Title: EMEA Managing Director Organisation: Bridgewater Systems PDF size: 300KB   About author: Mike Betz serves as Bridgewater Systems’ Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Prior to joining Bridgewater Systems, Mr Betz spent 20 years in senior positions within the sales, marketing and product management groups of leading telecommunications and technology organizations. Mr Betz most recently served as Vice President and Managing Director of Whale Communications’ EMEA operations. He also held a series of high-level roles at a number of networking companies, including Concord Communications, System Management Arts (SMARTS) Inc., Compuware Corp., Oracle and IBM. Mike Betz holds a BSC in Engineering (Mechanical and Manufacturing) from the Amsterdam Institute of Technology. Additionally, he earned a post academic marketing institute certificate from Catholic University, Brabant, The Netherlands and a post academic business school certificate from PAO Bedrijfs en Natuurwetenschappen, Utrecht, The Netherlands.   Article abstract: Converged networks can provide subscribers with a seamless fixed/wireless environment that delivers the services they require no matter what device they are using. With converged networks, subscriber-centric policy management covering all the networks, services, content and applications available plays a critical role solving the complex challenges facing operators. Consolidating these controls produces a series of management efficiencies, lets operators deal flexibly with their subscribers’ demands in real time, and facilitates the development and marketing of new, differentiated services.   Read the article     Article no.: 12 Topic: What’s next with wireless broadband? Author: Daniel Coombes Title: Senior Vice President, Wireless Broadband Networks, and CTO, Motorola Networks & Enterprise Organisation: Wireless Broadband Networks/Motorola Networks & Enterprise PDF size: 428KB   About author: Daniel J. Coombes is Senior Vice President of Wireless Broadband Networks and Chief Technology Officer for Motorola Networks & Enterprise. In his position Mr Coombes is responsible for IP-based wireless broadband architecture and engineering, including Canopy® solutions, WiMAX, metro WiFi and broadband over powerline. During his 31 years with Motorola, Mr Coombes has taken on numerous roles in management and system development. He also held positions of responsibility in Motorola’s Government business and enterprise business. Daniel Coombes holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering, both from the University of Illinois.   Article abstract: The future of digital communications, in both developing and developed economies, is likely to be tied to wireless broadband. The recent approval of the mobile standard for WiMAX, the result of collaboration between hundreds of companies, will create economies of scale that will drive down costs and spur the widespread availability of affordable broadband throughout the world. IP over wireless broadband will deliver voice, data and video affordably to the world’s masses and renew the promise of the Internet revolution.   Read the article     Article no.: 13 Topic: Convergence, convenience and mobility Author: Christian Morales Title: Vice President Intel Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager Organisation: Intel (EMEA) PDF size: 456KB   About author: Christian Morales is Intel’s Vice President of the Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager of Intel Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Mr Morales has held various senior international management roles in sales, channel operations and general management. He brings extensive experience in marketing and building brand awareness for new product segments, as well as expanding and driving business into new and emerging markets. Prior to his current role, Mr Morales was Intel’s Vice President of the Sales and Marketing Group and co-General Manager of Asia-Pacific. He joined Intel as a field sales engineer and rose to director for Spain and Portugal, and then to senior positions managing Western European channels and OEMs. Christian Morales graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from the Electricity, Mechanics and Electronics Engineering School in Paris. In 1990, he completed the Young Managers Programme in the MBA programme at Insead.   Article abstract: Convergence and connectivity have changed the way we access information. Information now comes to people; they do not have to find a fixed telephone to communicate or a desk-top computer to access information. New types of wireless access, especially WiFi and WiMAX, based upon open standards, are making affordable, personal, wireless broadband connectivity a reality. This will accelerate the Internet shift towards two-way, interactive data sharing that has been driven by consumers, but is now having a powerful impact upon businesses.   Read the article     Article no.: 14 Topic: Mobile chasms and tornadoes Author: Stanislas Chesnais Title: Chairman & CEO Organisation: Netsize Group PDF size: 288KB   About author: Stanislas Chesnais is the Chairman & CEO of Netsize Group. Mr Chesnais is a serial entrepreneur who has created leading high-tech companies, including Aldea, Cleade and Netsize. Netsize has won the Deloitte Technology 50 award for three consecutive years for being the fastest-growing technology company in France and EMEA. Stanislas Chesnais has years of management consulting and high-tech experience and began his professional career as a consultant for Ernst & Young in France and Canada. Mr Chesnais holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from ESCP (Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris) and an MBA in marketing from Drexel University, Philadelphia.   Article abstract: The mobile phone sector is growing as never before. Handsets offer more features and cost less. Services such as triple-play voice, video and data will soon be readily available on mobile. New technologies - e.g. WiFi, WiMAX and Bluetooth - will soon make seamless connections between networks and reduce calling costs. Public demand for applications, specialised content, business communications, mCommerce, mobile banking, entertainment and such is driving the growth of the entire mobile sector - and no end is in sight.   Read the article     Article no.: 15 Topic: Thriving or surviving with convergence Author: Vincenzo Novari Title: Managing Director of 3 Italia and co-CEO, H3G Italy Organisation: 3 Italia/H3G Italy PDF size: 348KB   About author: Vincenzo Novari is the Managing Director of 3 Italia, a Mobile Media Company controlled by the Hutchison Whampoa Group, and the first operator in the world to launch Digital Mobile TV using DVB-H technology. Mr Novari is also the Co-CEO of H3G, which provides 3G services in Europe using the 3 Italia brand. Mr Novari also serves as the Vice-Chairman of Asstec, the Italian Telecom Industry Association. Mr Novari previously served as the CEO of Andala, later renamed H3G, and as Managing Director of Omnitel 2000 S.p.A. Vincenzo Novari started his career working in the commercial goods sector for companies such as Johnson Wax, L’Oreal and Danone. Mr Novari, a keynote speaker at the ITU World 2003 event, earned his degree in Economics from the University of Genoa.   Article abstract: High-speed mobile broadband connectivity is becoming increasingly common. The advances in technology during the past few years, the development of high-speed networks and the availability of increasingly sophisticated mobile terminal devices have all helped bring broadband to mobile telephony and make truly converged services for voice, data and video possible. Many see mobile broadband, costing no more than fixed, providing access to free international calling to PCs or other mobile phone users, mobile TV, Internet surfing and mobile eCommerce.   Read the article     Article no.: 16 Topic: Mobile TV - open issues Author: Boris Nemsic Title: CEO and Chairman of Telekom Austria Group and CEO of mobilkom austria Organisation: Telekom Austria Group/mobilkom austria PDF size: 288KB   About author: Boris Nemsic is the CEO and Chairman of the Management Board for the wireless business of the Telekom Austria Group. He is also the CEO of mobilkom austria. Mr Nemsic joined the group as mobilkom austria’s Division Manager for network planning and rose through a series of senior management positions to his present post. Prior to joining mobilkom austria, Mr Nemsic headed the departments for mobile communications development at Ascom and Bosch Telecom. Boris Nemsic earned his diploma as an electrical engineer from the Sarajevo Technical University. He was awarded his doctorate by the Vienna Technical University, where he also worked as a scientific assistant at the Institute for Communications and High-Frequency Engineering.   Article abstract: Mobile TV is a new medium, it is not broadcast TV cut to size. It is a personal interactive experience with content and services tailored for the medium. Much content will come from new producers, perhaps viewers themselves, but established broadcasters will dominate for some time. The unknown factors for mobile TV include: workable business models; the role of content providers, broadcasters and operators, etc. in the value-chain, and the impact of technologically driven competition from iPod-like devices, among others.   Read the article     Article no.: 17 Topic: Converging on health Author: Nick Hunn Title: Executive Director Organisation: Mobile Data Association PDF size: 324KB   About author: Nick Hunn is an Executive Director of the Mobile Data Association, covering the brief of mobile healthcare, and CEO of EZURiO Ltd. Mr Hunn has over 30 years of design experience, developing a diverse range of products, including a medical device that was awarded the Queen’s Award for Technology. Over the past 15 years, he has been closely involved with PC and GSM communications, designing convergence products for mobile data. Mr Hunn sits on working groups within the Bluetooth SIG, where he is helping drive medical and M2M standards. Mr Hunn holds an MA degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge, and is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of ARTS (FRSA).   Article abstract: There are many varieties of convergence. Few, however, have the potential of wireless networks to alleviate human suffering and concern by monitoring remotely the health of, and providing healthcare for, not only our rapidly ageing population but for us all. The EU and a number of governments are funding research into low-power ‘Wibree’ technology that can be inexpensively added to Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, economically enabling mobile operators to provide cost-effective remote health monitoring services.   Read the article     Article no.: 18 Topic: WiMAX, 3G and WiFi - play together! Author: Jim Baker Title: CEO Organisation: Moovera Networks PDF size: 320KB   About author: Jim Baker is the founder and CEO of Moovera Networks, a UK-based developer of fixed and mobile wireless access devices. Prior to founding Moovera in 2006, Mr Baker was CEO of Telabria, a wireless ISP that launched one of the first WiMAX-class networks in the UK. Previously, Mr Baker was based in California where, as CEO, he led two successive streaming media companies from start-up to acquisition. Jim Baker is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a member of the IEEE and IEE, and an active member of the WiMAX Forum Service Provider Working Group. He is also a regular conference speaker on wireless technologies and their applications and has been profiled in Forbes Magazine.   Article abstract: WiMAX is growing rapidly. WiMAX infrastructure spending should reach US$7.5 billion by 2009 and there will be almost 250 million WiFi devices operating by 2011. There are few major metropolitan areas in the US, and globally, that are not considering wireless broadband networks. Metropolitan networks with WiMesh cells and WiMAX backhaul are a perfect match. WiMAX/WiFi/3G convergence may be the key to a successful wireless broadband strategy, but 3G operators see this as cutting their voice revenues.   Read the article     Article no.: 19 Topic: The road towards convergence Author: Lin Cheng and Frank Toupin Title: (Lin Cheng) President of Western Europe, and (Frank Toupin) Director of WE Product Marketing Organisation: ZTE PDF size: 548KB   About author: Lin Cheng is ZTE’s President of Western Europe. Prior to joining ZTE, Lin Cheng served as the CEO of Ferma China/Spheris Telecom - a developer of value-added service platforms for telecom operators - as the Director of North Asia Department and Managing Director of SAT Beijing as well as a Vice President and Member of the Board of SAT-Linkton and of SAT Guangzhou. He also worked for Satelcom International, a business communication system manufacturer, as Marketing Manager for Asia-Pacific. Lin Cheng began his career in China working for Thomson - CGR as a project manager. Lin Cheng graduated from the French National Telecom Engineering School (Paris) and earned a Master’s degree from Paris VI University on Artificial Intelligence. Frank Toupin is the Director of WE Product Marketing Department for ZTE. Before joining ZTE, he worked on HSDPA/HSUPA as a Product Marketing Manager. Mr Toupin worked previously for Nortel as a Product Line Manager and for France Telecom as an International Corporate Program Manager. He began his career at the Technical Headquarter of Bouygues Telecom in charge of the GSM Radio Infrastructure. Mr Toupin has long been involved in conferences and publications in Europe and Asia. Frank Toupin graduated in Engineering from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications, France, and worked on the Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifier at Queen’s University, Canada.   Article abstract: IMS, the IP Multimedia Subsystem, is the key to fixed-mobile convergence for operators, especially those merging existing legacy networks. IMS, an open industry standard for voice and multimedia communications on IP networks, helps operators implement services like VoIP, video applications, etc. It facilitates billing and generally helps operators implement advanced IP-based systems. Notwithstanding its relative ease of use, migrating to IMS is still a complex process; despite the need, only 30 per cent of Europe’s operators have begun to use it.   Read the article Confirmed authors (Order by article no.)   Francisco Ros Secretary of State, Telecommunications and the Information Society   Ainārs Šlesers Minister, Transport of the Republic of Latvia   Tomas Barakauskas Director, The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Republic of Lithuania   José Manuel Amado da Silva Chairman, Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal   Dan Cristian Georgescu President, National Regulatory Authority for Communications, ANRC, Romania   Reinaldo Rodriguez Illera President, Comision del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (CMT), Spain   Kevin Power Chairman, ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association); Chairman, OneAccess; Director, Viatel, OneAccess/Viatel/ECTA (European Competitive Telecommunications Association)   Andrew Zimmerman Managing Partner, Accenture   Caroline Gabriel Co-founder, Research Director and Lead Analyst, Wireless Technologies at Rethink Research Associates   Jerome Albert CMO, Convergence Business Group, Alcatel-Lucent   Mike Betz EMEA Managing Director, Bridgewater Systems   Daniel Coombes Senior Vice President, Wireless Broadband Networks, and CTO, Motorola Networks & Enterprise, Wireless Broadband Networks/Motorola Networks & Enterprise   Christian Morales Vice President Intel Sales and Marketing Group and General Manager, Intel (EMEA)   Stanislas Chesnais Chairman & CEO, Netsize Group   Vincenzo Novari Managing Director of 3 Italia and co-CEO, H3G Italy, 3 Italia/H3G Italy   Boris Nemsic CEO and Chairman of Telekom Austria Group and CEO of mobilkom austria, Telekom Austria Group/mobilkom austria   Nick Hunn Executive Director, Mobile Data Association   Jim Baker CEO, Moovera Networks   Lin Cheng and Frank Toupin (Lin Cheng) President of Western Europe, and (Frank Toupin) Director of WE Product Marketing, ZTE