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ATUG 2005 Communications Kaleidoscope
Communications Futures: 2015
The telecommunications industry is once again in a “watershed” phase - with new technologies, new business models, new applications all driving innovation and competition. More than ever innovation is the key indicator of strong competition and the driver of benefits for end users.
The 2005 Annual Communications Kaleidoscope event will paint a backdrop for the important policy and regulatory debates will be a feature of the 2005 telecommunications agenda. The event will cover three topic areas with expert presentations and comments and the opportunity for a lively debate and discussion on the implications for the industry and its customers - convergence, next generation technologies and consumer trends.
Convergence between technologies and industries is starting to drive new business models and raise new policy questions - the formation of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, discussion by the ACCC about the role of content and access to it as part of a competitive communications landscape, the emergence of Voice over the Internet services and TV over broadband and mobile phones.
Technology of course is at the centre of innovation in telecommunications. Discussion of “next generation network” capabilities, Voice over IP, fibre to the home, WiMAX, 3G and powerline gives a broad context to the debate about policy issues such as whether the copper local loop is an enduring bottleneck, where operational separation might apply, whether the access regime supports new forms of infrastructure competition.
At the end of the day, the telecommunications industry succeeds or fails because of consumers (both residential and business) interest in the products and services on offer and whether they see value for money. Connectivity is extending to and through the home. Connectivity is providing information, entertainment and business opportunities. The Government taskforce on teleworking, the research results from the Connected Home project, and the development of multi-purpose devices such as digital television sets are important parts of this discussion topic.
Last updated 10-Mar-2010