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Connect-World Latin America 2008     Magazine introduction The convergence of networks, technologies, devices and applications has changed our lives – even the lives of those that don’t use a computer or a cell phone – it’s inescapable. Our lives and our lifestyles have changed – lifestyles that depend upon ICT, digital lifestyles, are evolving. This is happening, not only in the world’s great cities, but everywhere reached by digital communications – anywhere a mobile phone works or a cyber café exists. The companies we work for, the companies we deal with, the governments we depend upon and the services they provide, our entertainment, our finances, our security, our health, our social networking and many other aspects of our lives have merged into the worldwide digital universe. ICTs surround us just as surely and pervasively as air. The ICT sector created the conditions for this change, but users of every type – businesses, governments, manufacturers, individuals and so forth - are now driving the change and shaping the sector’s technological priorities, the solutions, applications and content. The more you have the more you want; the demand is insatiable.     Theme: Merging and converging - work, life and ICT. Articles Contributors Feature articles     Article no.: 1 Topic: CITEL - Reducing the digital divide in the Americas Author: Pedro Pablo Quirós Title: Chairman of COM/CITEL and President & CEO Organisation: Grupo ICE, Costa Rica PDF size: 271KB   About author: Pedro Pablo Quirós, is the Chairman of COM/CITEL, the Organization of American States InterAmerican Telecommunications Commission, and President & CEO of Grupo ICE, Costa Rica. Mr Quirós began his career at the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) where he is now the Executive President. At ICE Mr Quirós pioneered Costa Rica’s National Telecommunications System. He left ICE to work throughout the world for companies such as General Electric, GTECH, Ascom/Timeplex and ITT among others. He has helped restructure telecommunications companies in more than one hundred countries and developed telecommunications systems in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Mr Quirós studied arts, history, literature, and later Electrical Engineering, specialized in Telecommunications, in the United States and graduated magna cum laude.   Article abstract: The Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) is an entity of the Organization of American States (OAS). It facilitates and promotes the development of telecommunications in the Americas and coordinates regional efforts to develop the Global Information Society. CITEL works with the ITU to promote programmes for digital, economic and social inclusion throughout the Americas via the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). To this end, it has developed several pilot projects to advance the use of ICTs in rural areas.   buy     Article no.: 2 Topic: Teaching, research and community networks in Brazil Author: Dr Peter T. Knight Title: Coordinator Organisation: e-Brasil Project PDF size: 413KB   About author: Peter Knight is coordinator of the e-Brasil Project, President of Telemática e Desenvolvimento Ltda., and partner of Telematics for Education and Development. Before joining the private sector, Dr Knight led the World Bank’s Electronic Media Centre, and before that was Chief of the National Economic Management Division in the Bank’s Economic Development Institute (EDI) and Lead Economist for Brazil. Dr Knight’s World Bank career spanned over 20 years, with more than eight devoted exclusively to work on Brazil. Earlier he held positions at Cornell University, the Ford Foundation, the Brookings Institution and the Centro de Treinamento para o Desenvolvimento Econômico (CENDEC). Dr Knight is a member of the Board of the Journal of E-Government. Dr Knight has published over a hundred books, monographs, chapters, and articles in various languages and has spoken at many conferences throughout the world. His latest book, e Desenvolvimento no Brasil e no mundo, Subsídios e Programa e-Brasil, was just awarded third place in the prestigious Jabouti Award competition for Brasil’s best book about economics, administration and business. Peter Knight received his PhD. and M.A. degrees in Economics from Stanford University and holds degrees in Government from Dartmouth College (US) and Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University (UK).   Article abstract: Brazil established its scientific and academic network (RNP) almost twenty years ago. The Federal Government maintains the RNP, which is managed by a private company. RNP’s recent Redecomep initiative has established new partnerships to expand high-speed Internet access for education purposes, digital inclusion and to promote Brazil’s competitiveness in the knowledge-based global economy. Combined with interactive digital television, the impact could be impressive, helping create a more equitable and more competitive Brazil, the two central objectives of the e-Brasil Programme.   buy     Article no.: 3 Topic: Competitiveness and customer focus Author: Jose Formoso Martinez Title: Executive General Director Organisation: Embratel PDF size: 261KB   About author: Jose Formoso Martinez is the Executive General Director of Embratel. Prior to joining Embratel, he held positions as Vice-President of Telmex América Latina, President of Telecom El Salvador, General Manager of PCS Nicarágua, President of Telgua S.A, (Guatemala), General Manager of Cablevisión (Mexico), and Operations Manager and Business Manager at Condumex (Mexico). Mr Martinez played a key role in the acquisition of Embratel and, since then, holds the position of Vice-Chairman in the Administrative Board of Embratel Participações S.A., Vice-Chairman in the Administrative Board of Embratel, Vice-President of Embratel Participações S.A., and the General Manager of Embratel. José Formoso Martinez received his Mechanical Engineering degree from La Salle University, Mexico. He also graduated in Business Management from the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresas (Mexico).   Article abstract: State-of-the-art technology, innovative services and a focus on the customer is the way to remain competitive. The privatisation of telecommunications ten years ago brought competition and an enormous amount of investment to the market. As a result, Brazil now has a fully modern telecommunications infrastructure to meet its citizens’ needs. Although 84 per cent of Brazil’s households have access to fixed and/or mobile phones, broadband is not yet widely available in the interior and few schools are connected to the Internet.   buy     Article no.: 4 Topic: Trends you can’t ignore Author: Elan Moriah Title: President, Verint Americas Inc. Organisation: Verint Systems PDF size: 228KB   About author: Elan Moriah is President of Verint Americas Inc. and a Corporate Officer of Verint Systems. Prior to joining Verint, Mr Moriah held various management positions with Motorola, including as Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Motorola’s paging subsidiary in Israel. Mr Moriah also worked for Comet Software Inc., as Vice President of Marketing and Sales and as Operations Manager.   Article abstract: Surfing trends ahead of the curve can bring real competitive advantages. There are risks and costs, especially for the earliest adopters, using pieces of solutions from various vendors that have yet to be tested in practice, but it can be worth the risk. Three ICT trends are likely to have a significant impact upon businesses in the near future: analytics and data mining; Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and unified communications (UC); convergence of service delivery tools and workforce optimization (WFO).   buy     Article no.: 5 Topic: Telecommunications business in rural regions Author: Jorge Luis Inchausty Crespo Title: President and CEO Organisation: Datanet ISP Latin America PDF size: 260KB   About author: Jorge Luis Inchausty Crespo is the President and CEO of Datanet ISP Latin America based in Bolivia; he is responsible for Datanet throughout South America. Mr Inchausty has more than ten years experience in emerging broadband, telecom service and TV technology markets and, as well, with telecom and media industry convergence. Prior to founding Datanet ISP Latin America, Mr Inchausty was a founder of StatusPRD, one of the first TV Production Agencies in Bolivia. Jorge Inchausty has a Master degree in e-Commerce, Science Doctorate in Telecommunications and Bachelor degree in Information Engineering.   Article abstract: People in isolated rural areas rarely have access to information and communication technology (ICT). As a result, social and economic development in these regions lags. Although it may not be economically viable for large telecom companies to operate in these regions, smaller companies can profitably develop local telecommunications services, and the solar powered energy needed to support it and supply energy to the population. This basic infrastructure can help local business develop and thrive and give the population access to educational facilities.   buy     Article no.: 6 Topic: Merging and converging - work, life and ICT Author: Joao Pedro Flecha de Lima Title: VP Organisation: Huawei, Brasil PDF size: 224KB   About author: Joao Pedro Flecha de Lima is the Vice-President of Huawei, Brasil. Mr Flecha de Lima has been working at Huawei since it began operations in Brazil nine years ago. Before joining Huawei, Mr Flecha de Lima worked for both the McKinsey and K2 Achievements consulting firms, the ABN Amro Bank and at Pactual, an investment-banking firm. João Pedro Flecha de Lima is a Civil Engineer, graduated by the University of Brasília and MBA by Columbia University.   Article abstract: Convergence of information and communications technologies (ICTs), the Internet, broadband, mobile telephony and such has changed the global economy, the way businesses work, how science is done and the way people live. Much of the world’s population in both the developed and developing world do not have access to the technology because of its cost, the lack of infrastructure where they live, unfamiliarity with the technology, their lack of education or the difficulty of using many of the services and devices.   buy     Article no.: 7 Topic: Monetizing networks Author: Andrew Coward Title: VP, Service Provider Marketing & Partnerships Organisation: Juniper Networks PDF size: 249KB   About author: Andrew Coward is Juniper Networks’ Vice President for Service Provider Marketing and Partnerships; he previously ran the company’s global service provider and enterprise operations. Prior to Juniper, Mr Coward co-launched the Asia Pacific operation of Unisphere Networks. When Juniper acquired Unisphere, Mr Coward continued to lead the engineering team as regional CTO. Mr Coward has lived in Asia for ten years, working with service providers, enterprises and governments across the region on IP technologies, first with Bay Networks and later with Nortel. He has designed and planned some of the largest IP networks in Asia Pacific. Mr Coward started his career in government as a network engineer and progressed to the role of Network Manager responsible for building-out one of the first United Kingdom nationwide government backbone IP networks. Later, with Xylogics Ltd, he was responsible for delivery of the first dial Internet access services in North Asia.   Article abstract: The voice revenues telecommunications service providers have depended upon for so many years are declining and data revenues are growing. Nevertheless, average revenue per user is declining due to competition and the third party services they carry over the network, but do not profit from. By leveraging their networks, and their ability to provide top-notch quality of service for a particular application, they can work with content and application providers to offer a better experience and share the resulting revenues.   buy     Article no.: 8 Topic: Trivergence: a new architecture for network devices Author: Petronio Nogueira Title: Partner-Director and Communication and High Technology Leader for Brazil Organisation: Accenture PDF size: 249KB   About author: Petronio Nogueira is a Partner-Director at Accenture in Brazil where he also serves as the company’s Communication and High Technology Leader in Brazil. Mr Nogueira is responsible for Accenture’s Telecommunications and Media & Entertainment practice and, as well, for Electronic and High Technology areas in both the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. He earned his degree in engineering from the Pontífica Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ).   Article abstract: The proliferation of new wireless devices, networks, services and applications is astounding, but it is not always good news to the network operators who see the control of these services - and the revenues - going elsewhere. With trivergence simplifying the consumer experience by using network controlled, virtual, software driven interfaces devices can be simplified and data and content can reside in computers anywhere in the network. This will let operators provide a better, simpler, user experience and build revenues.   buy     Article no.: 9 Topic: Mobile unified communications for the enterprise Author: Gerhard Otterbach Title: Chief Market Operations Officer Organisation: Siemens Enterprise Communications PDF size: 319KB   About author: Gerhard Otterbach is the Chief Market Operations Officer at Siemens Enterprise Communications. He served previously as the divisional head of Enterprise Services at Siemens Communications and as the head of Shared IT Services and CIO of the Siemens ICN Operating Group. Prior to Siemens, Mr Otterbach led the Technology, Innovation and Payment Transaction Management Division at Dresdner Bank. Earlier, at Gesellschaft für Zahlungssysteme (GZS), a payroll systems company, Mr Otterbach headed the accounting systems department after having first focused on organization and IT project management, and general IT Management. Mr Otterbach began his career in the civil service and the tourism office of the German Federal government in charge of organization and IT project management.   Article abstract: Unified communications (UC) improve the efficiency and productivity of the organisation. Presence is the key to UC; it indicates the availability of each employee and specifies the types of communications (voice, video conference, email, text message, etc.) that can reach them at the moment. Users can also define their availability to specific individuals or categories of people (boss, customer, internal, family...). By adding mobility to UC, the same facilities a worker has in the office become available in the field.   buy     Article no.: 10 Topic: Mobile operators - making sense of technology Author: Oliver Flögel Title: CEO Organisation: Movistar Chile PDF size: 305KB   About author: Oliver A. Flögel is the CEO and General Manager of Movistar, which is part of Telefonica Moviles Group where he has worked for over 13 years. He has had extensive experience in the financial area and in business development, mergers and acquisitions within the group. Since assuming the post, Movistar has earned recognition from United Fundacion Chile as the sixth best company for working mothers and fathers; it has also been ranked 13th as a Great Place to Work ® and earned Frost & Sullivan’s prize for America - Latin Mobile Content Services, Category - Product Line Leadership. Oliver Flögel earned a degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Information Systems at the European University in Belgium and Master of Corporate Finance of the Centre for Macroeconomic Studies of Argentina.   Article abstract: In Chile’s developing regions, the coming of mobile telephony is something of a miracle. Many people in remote regions have only seen fixed phones on visits to big cities; many have never used one. Cell phones, tiny gadgets not connected to the wall, but that connect them to family and friends in distant towns and villages and to the Internet brings them news and entertainment. This same technology will make it possible to connect every corner of the country by 2010.   buy     Article no.: 11 Topic: Three billion Author: Adnan Yaqub Title: Chief Technical Advisor Organisation: Orga Systems PDF size: 304KB   About author: Adnan Yaqub is Orga Systems’ Chief Technical Advisor; he has had almost 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector. At Orga, Mr Yaqub was involved in developing the world’s first GSM Prepaid Billing System. As the company’s CTO, he also led the development and launch of the world’s first convergent billing platform. Prior to Orga, Adnan Yaqub held executive positions with Allen-Bradley Company, Star Gate Technologies, COMMSOFT and Bell Labs. Adnan is widely respected as speaker at various international billing conferences. Mr Yaqub earned his degree in electrical engineering (BSEE) from the University of California and a Masters in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) from Ohio State University.   Article abstract: There are three billion mobile phone users. Most people who live near a mobile network, and can afford it, have a mobile phone. Competition has driven down average revenues per user, as usage and costs rise. To build profits, mobile operators need to build revenues based on mobile screen services by working with content and application providers. They can also profit by cost-effectively serving the remaining three billion people at the bottom of the economic pyramid that do not yet have mobile phones.   buy     Article no.: 12 Topic: Clearing the static about mobile video Author: Francisco Varela Title: Strategic Partner Development Manager Organisation: YouTube PDF size: 271KB   About author: Francisco Varela leads mobile operator relationships for YouTube. He has global responsibilities for creating and overseeing YouTube’s strategic partnerships with companies such as Vodafone, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and DoCoMo. Mr Varela also works on product strategy for the YouTube mobile site and other YouTube syndication efforts. Prior to joining YouTube, Mr Varela worked for the mobile software company Openwave Systems in London, responsible for Openwave’s EMEA legal team. Mr Varela also spent nearly five years as International Counsel at Yahoo! Inc., where he worked on Yahoo!’s strategic alliances and acquisitions. Mr Varela earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and was selected in his third year to study at the Harvard Law School.   Article abstract: Consumer demand for mobile video is driving increased content availability and cooperation among industry players. While much of the demand is entertainment-focused, mobile video is also offering real social benefits. Governments and NGOs need to focus upon ways to use mobile video more efficiently to meet societal challenges such as education, health and poverty. Industry players must now begin to work together to standardise platforms, and provide a uniform experience for consumers and advertisers alike. A common platform can build profitability.   buy     Article no.: 13 Topic: Mobile TV - is there a business in Brazil? Author: Alberto Blanco Title: Founder and President Organisation: Participe TV PDF size: 217KB   About author: Alberto Blanco is the Founder and President of Participe TV - a company focused on developing the mobile TV business in Brazil. The company owns a UHF license in the City of Rio de Janeiro to provide the service. Mr Blanco is a telecommunications sector veteran having worked with such Brazilian mobile operators as Oi, Telemig Celular and TIM. At Oi, Mr Blanco held the position of Marketing VP and was responsible for the creation of the “Oi” brand and its strategy and positioning in the market. Before working in telecom, Mr Blanco worked with Ambev, Johnson & Johnson and Citibank - always involved in the marketing and technology areas. Alberto Blanco earned a degree from Mackenzie University in Sao Paulo, and an MBA from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.   Article abstract: Brazil is one of the world’s largest mobile markets and almost all homes also have TVs. The current mobile TV offerings have not done well, because of the cost and the limited programming. Broadcasters, though, will soon roll out free programming for mobile using the spectrum dedicated to mobile broadcasting by the ISDB-t standard Brazil has adopted for digital TV. Developing this market requires ISDB-capable handsets and a cooperative working relationship between mobile operators, mobile TV operators and content providers.   buy     Article no.: 14 Topic: Integrating our lives, time and space Author: João Macias Title: Vice President Organisation: BT Global Services Latin America PDF size: 274KB   About author: João Macias is Vice President for BT Global Services Latin America. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s business and customers in 22 countries of the region. Mr Macias joined BT from Oni Group, a telecommunications services provider active in Portugal and Spain, where he was Chief Operations Officer. Before that he worked for Iberia, managing the airliner’s line of business in charge of telecommunications. Prior to this, he held a succession of management functions in Unisys Portugal. João Macias holds an electronic engineering degree from the Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon University.   Article abstract: A growing number of workers work from home or in the field. Although this has brought great advantages - better work/life balance for workers, greatly reduced office and energy costs for companies, a smaller carbon footprint - there are many issues and problems to resolve. These problems include reconciling workers’ working lives with their private lives and the loss of team spirit, lower work motivation and a feeling of isolation that can jeopardize the creation of a corporate culture.   buy     Article no.: 15 Topic: Mobile marketing - good or bad? Author: Ana Paola Teixeira, CEO, and Bruno Zani Title: Country Manager Brazil, Organisation: AndinaTech PDF size: 239KB   About author: Ana Paola Teixeira is the CEO of AndinaTech; she has 17 years of multidisciplinary experience running her own mobile value-added services company, doing strategy consulting for top corporations while at McKinsey and Co., and working in technology dynamism research and diplomacy with the United Nations. Ana Paola Teixeira holds an M.Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Sussex, a B.A. in International Economics and a B.A. in International Affairs, both from the American University of Paris. Bruno Zani is AndinaTech’s Country Manager Brazil; he is a marketing veteran, with over 14 years of experience in marketing management in companies such as: Unilever, Pepsico, Johnson & Johnson, L´Oréal and Natura. Mr Zani also lectures in Marketing in the MBA Programs of ESPM (Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing) and ITA (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica). Mr Zani holds a BA in Business Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, São Paulo, and an MBA from the University of Miami.   Article abstract: The mobile phone, like it or not, is fast becoming the delivery mechanism of choice for many advertising agencies and brands. It is always on, always with the user and highly personal. Mobile operators can easily mine usage data, profile their users, and determine which users would be good targets for advertisers. Although this is interesting to advertisers, but many users are annoyed by advertising. Accordingly, many advertisers are considering sending only advertising that the users have opted to receive   buy     Article no.: 16 Topic: Mediation in Latin America - A practical approach Author: Rick Woods Title: Vice President Product Management Organisation: Intec Telecom Systems PDF size: 191KB   About author: Rick Woods, Vice President Product Management, Intec Telecom Systems, has over twenty years of experience within the telecommunications sector where his background includes software design and development, project management, project implementations, and product management. Mr Woods is responsible for the mediation layer of Intec products and focuses on applying those products to innovations such as IMS. A published author, Mr Woods writes for industry publications, and has appeared as a featured speaker at many industry events. Rick Woods is a Computer Science graduate of Virginia Tech.   Article abstract: Telecom operating companies use mediation systems to process and control CDRs - call detail records. They mediate - serve as an interface - between a variety of network systems, handle roaming data between operators, forward information to a variety of billing and accounting related systems and are a crucial link in the roaming fraud detection process. Given their complexity, specialised systems handle specific functions but comprehensive mediation systems have common interfaces and databases to simplify and better control mediation processing.   buy Confirmed authors (Order by article no.)   Pedro Pablo Quirós Chairman of COM/CITEL and President & CEO, Grupo ICE, Costa Rica   Dr Peter T. Knight Coordinator, e-Brasil Project   Jose Formoso Martinez Executive General Director, Embratel   Elan Moriah President, Verint Americas Inc., Verint Systems   Jorge Luis Inchausty Crespo President and CEO, Datanet ISP Latin America   Joao Pedro Flecha de Lima VP, Huawei, Brasil   Andrew Coward VP, Service Provider Marketing & Partnerships, Juniper Networks   Petronio Nogueira Partner-Director and Communication and High Technology Leader for Brazil, Accenture   Gerhard Otterbach Chief Market Operations Officer, Siemens Enterprise Communications   Oliver Flögel CEO, Movistar Chile   Adnan Yaqub Chief Technical Advisor, Orga Systems   Francisco Varela Strategic Partner Development Manager, YouTube   Alberto Blanco Founder and President, Participe TV   João Macias Vice President, BT Global Services Latin America   Ana Paola Teixeira, CEO, and Bruno Zani Country Manager Brazil,, AndinaTech   Rick Woods Vice President Product Management, Intec Telecom Systems