SABB and Expo 2007 to address fast growing Broadband markets

The South Asia Broadband Communication Congress (SABB) and Expo 2007 is scheduled to be held from September 4-6 at the Cinnamon Grand.

The objective of the Congress is to establish ties between the decision makers of broadband industry in the region and share information and experiences in this strategically important and dynamic field.

The program which includes keynote presentations by government officials and business executives will be followed with presentations by representatives of leading communications operators and providers in the region, leading technology and marketing experts from broadband equipment vendors and representatives of government agencies and regulatory bodies who will cover broadband communication infrastructure and services deployment status and future development plans.

The Congress will focus on fostering a target oriented collaborative program for proliferation of access to broadband services of affordable and acceptable quality and key issues of national and regional importance.

The telecommunication sector is fast growing and broadband is critical to achieve timely and cost effective socio-economic goals in transforming to a knowledge based economy the SABB organisers said.

The keynote address will be delivered by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, Rauff Hakeem. The other speakers at the plenary cessions are directors of regulatory agencies, leaders of telecom operators and internet service providers and representatives of customer groups and chambers of Commerce.

Key drivers

The speakers from ICT agencies will focus on key drivers for the broadband services, South Asia broadband development directions and open issues, broadband regulation developments in South Asia, communication services pricing structure and trends and effects on key economic sectors.

The Congress will showcase an up-to-date view of broadband communications infrastructure deployment, development plans and legal regulation status presented by Government representatives, the largest communication operators and providers and regulatory agencies in the South Asia region.

Broadband communication infrastructure is quickly replacing the traditional TDM voice communication system and becoming the base of public and private data networks, fulfilling the cherished dream of using one technology as the cost effective means for all communication services.

While developing countries are lagging behind the developed countries in infrastructure and services, the stakes are high in South Asia to overcome the so-called digital divide to expedite productivity growth and open new markets with the huge growth potential.

Fast growing markets

The congress will address the fast growing markets: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Congress is organised by Technology Networking International and supported by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Sri Lanka.

The leaders of major carriers and service providers in the region have been invited to address their current broadband infrastructure service deployment status and future plans.

GW