The International Telecom Union (ITU) Telecom Asia 2002 kick-started today with the joint forum opening session: 'Investing in Asia: From recovery to prosperity' at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The opening session focused on the way to move forward in the telecommunications industry in the region.
Johan van Egmond, chairman ITU Telecom Asia 2002 forum programme committee, and member of the advisory board, said: "Telecommunications is one of the major industries for the developing as well as developed countries. ITU Telecom Asia aims at helping the development of telecommunications in all countries of the Asia-Pacific region and shape their future."
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With depressed economic conditions threatening to impede growth and the adoption of next-generation products and services in much of the world, the ITU forum is playing a critical role in helping other regions find their way to economic recovery. It also aims at focusing on strategies to stimulate sector-wide growth, and to transform it into renewed prosperity in all the world regions.
Yoshio Utsumi, secretary general, ITU, said: "The gap between Asia's digital haves and have-nots has narrowed, yet rapid technology change is creating a new divide."
The ITU chief said "big progress" had been made in reducing the digital divide, in particular in Asia. "However, a new divide is emerging with the usage of more sophisticated, advanced telecommunications technologies - which includes broadband, wireless LANs, PDAs and other new information and communication technologies."
While developing countries were implementing basic telephony services, advanced countries were focused on rolling wired-line and wireless broadband Internet, he said. Despite this, the telephone had made "remarkable progress" in increasing the penetration rate.
What's in store at the exhibition?
There are exhibitors from around the world at the ITU Telecom Asia, showcasing the latest technologies in every field.
There are leading vendors showcasing a variety of exciting new products in areas ranging from transport and network management to broadband satellite, IP and next generation wireless.
In voice over internet protocol (VOIP) solutions, Comtec is showcasing a new range of VOIP phones and software, along with Dart, a new radio-based rural access system. IBM is displaying a new speedy wireless-class service framework, the SPDE Service Provider Delivery.
There's plenty to see in the satellite arena too, with APT, Intelsat and SpeedCast all showing their latest wares. At the APT stand, visitors are getting information on the new APSTAR IV and APSTAR V satellites, due to come into service in 2003 and 2004 respectively with footprints covering most of southeast Asia and Oceania.
Intelsat is highlighting its GlobalConnex VOIP and IP data solutions that support information exchange from points anywhere in the world.
Not to miss, all eyes are on next-generation cellular, with important offerings on show from a wide range of vendors, including Ailent, CMG, Comsys, Ericcson, NTT DoComo and RedKnee.
Revolutionary handsets are also the stock-in-trade of Swedish giant Ericcson, which is showing its latest offering from Sony-Ericcson joint venture along with a range of latest multimedia messaging and streaming applications.
Finally, to help operators successfully exploit revenues from emerging new service paradigms such as always-on-Internet, companies like RedKnee and RNS are demonstrating new billing and content management services asset tracking tools which will help operators achieve the maximum return on investment while maintaining optimum network efficiency.