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ATUG 2006 Conference - Collaborate,
Communicate, Innovate
ATUG’S
22nd Annual Conference, ATUG 2006, was held in Sydney at the Australian
Technology
Park, on the 7-8 March 2006.
Renowned for being one of the most significant events in the telecommunications calendar, the conference brings together the most influential minds in the industry. Senator the Hon Helen Coonan will make the keynote address focusing on issues of policy and the regulatory outlook.
Robert J. Whitman, Manager of Global Broadband Market Development for Corning Incorporated will also make a keynote address on FTTH rollout, policies, issues and international developments.
This year’s theme: ‘Collaborate, Communicate, Innovate’ - will debate the current and future state of the telecommunications industry and raise issues of regulation and policy. Topics will be discussed from both local and international perspective as the conference boasts a program of both Australian and overseas speakers.
Rosemary Sinclair, Managing Director of ATUG, will not shy away from the contentious issues in the industry.
“The conference is a platform to raise and debate issues that impact the telecommunications landscape. It is a crucial event for everyone involved in the industry from policy makers to end users.
At ATUG we believe that strong competition between telecommunications service providers is the best way to deliver improved price, quality and innovation. Over the last 25 years we have seen a lot of changes in the industry and we have always fought hard for fair and open competition. At this year’s conference we will continue to push service providers to deliver the best possible value for their customers.”
2006 will see continued developments in technologies and service innovations, changing business models for carriers and service providers, newly focused competition and consumer protection rules, and the sale of the government’s remaining holding in Telstra. ATUG 2006 provides end users, suppliers and policy makers with an opportunity to see what’s coming up in 2006 and what the impacts will be for business and government enterprises.
The accelerated development of IP networks and services, and their uptake by SMEs and residential end users in 2006, 3G mobile data services, converging of fixed and mobile services, true broadband, wireless access and security solutions, are among the new applications, products and services that are starting to make reality of the rhetoric of the networked economy.
More Australian companies than ever before are making use of new structures and processes to expand their markets, grow their business and improve their efficiency. Government agencies are looking to deliver services ever more efficiently and effectively. Communications and information tools are “mission critical” in these efforts.
End-users, customers and clients are also changing. Over the coming five years the “next gen” will enter the workforce with a lifetime of experience using image-based services, mobile/wireless communications and Internet access. The move from voice to visual communications tools will reflect this change in the workforce.
In 2006, important industry policy developments will centre on the regulatory implications of the new paradigm of converged services - voice over IP (VoIP), mobile content services and TV over broadband, among others and the converged operator. Access to content and horizontal integration will be key policy areas. The new regulatory arrangements for competition and consumer protection introduced as part of the pre-T3 package of reforms will be in their early implementation phase.
Beyond the policy work though – at a practical level – industry, government and users need to work together to promote the use of information and communications technology tools so that all can share in the productivity and information gains that are possible. This is the theme of ATUG 2006 –collaborate, communicate, innovate.
The conference will run over two days and include interactive end-user workshops. Day 1 will focus on policy and regulation and emerging services. Day 2 will cover technology updates and procurement strategies. Delegates are also invited to attend the ATUG 2006 Gala Dinner and 21st ATUG Awards on the evening of Tuesday, March 7 2006.
Details:
Conference - Room - Theatre
Australian Technology Park
Bay 4, Locomotive Workshop Eveleigh, Sydney.
Taxi entrance - West Link Rd, via Henderson Rd
To view last years Conference, Click Here