Promon Institute of Technology holds seminar on changes in telecommunications market
- 10/25/2007

Emerging wireless network technologies, evolution of optical communications, impacts and sustainability of community initiatives, and scenarios for telecom growth in Brazil: these are some of the topics to be discussed by Brazilian and international speakers

The Promon Institute of Technology, launched in early 2007 to promote impartial analysis and discussion of emerging technologies that will make a difference in strategic sectors, holds its second seminar on October 30. The focus for the seminar is “Expansion of the Telecommunications Market”.

This focus was chosen in light of the ongoing vigorous market growth in telecom worldwide and particularly in Brazil, explains Ricardo Corrêa Martins, executive director of the Promon Institute of Technology. “Our prime objective is to stimulate discussion and analysis of emerging technologies, together with the business opportunities they create, and their impacts and viability in three priority areas: energy, information and communications technology, and sustainable development,” he says.

In April the Institute held a seminar on technologies for the future of ethanol production in Brazil, where international and Brazilian speakers discussed technological, political and economic issues arising from the surge of interest in ethanol. “This time, in response to the increasingly rapid pace of change in telecom, our goal is to highlight recent technological advances and the outlook for optical and wireless mobile communications,” says Martins. “The discussions will also cover the impact of these advances on the design of new networks and services, as well as the role of regulation as an inhibitor or driver of new technology adoption in Brazil.”

Speakers from Brazil and abroad will analyze the market as it now stands and look ahead, picking out key forthcoming changes and their pros and cons. They include:

• Ian Akyildiz, with a presentation on “The Wireless Network Revolution” focusing on the impact of new radio frequency technologies on wireless network architecture, especially in enabling low-cost combinations of mobility and broadband, and new forms of RF spectrum allocation and management.

Ian Akyildiz is Ken Byers Distinguished Chair Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), where he has headed the Broadband Wireless Networking Laboratory for more than 20 years. IEEE Fellow (1995) and ACM Fellow (1996). He has won many IEEE and ACM Awards, the most recent including the 2003 IEEE Best Tutorial Paper Award, the 2002 IEEE Harry M. Goode Memorial Award (IEEE Computer Society), the 2003 ACM SIGMOBILE Outstanding Contribution Award for his pioneering contributions in mobility and resource management for wireless networks, the 2004 Georgia Tech Faculty Research Author Award, and the 2005 Distinguished Faculty Award from School of ECE, Georgia Tech. Editor-in-Chief of Computer Networks Journal, Ad Hoc Networks Journal, and Physical Communication (PHYCOM) Journal. Past editor of IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking (1996-2001), Kluwer Journal of Cluster Computing (1997-2001), ACM-Springer Journal for Multimedia Systems (1995-2002), IEEE Transactions on Computers (1992-1996), and ACM-Springer Journal of Wireless Networks (WINET) (1995-2005).


• Jorge Salomão Pereira, with a presentation on “Photonics and the Evolution of Optical Networks”, highlighting advances in photonics and their impact on the speed, performance and development of network management and service layers, as well as innovative hardware and software systems affecting network architecture and cost, broadband implementation, and new service evolution and provision.

Jorge Salomão Pereira graduated in electrical engineering from the University of Campinas (Unicamp) He has master’s and doctor’s degrees in electrical engineering from the same university. Managed optical communications at Fundação CPqD (1981-2004). Currently president and director of technology and business at Padtec.

• Frank Robert, with a presentation on “Emerging Technologies – Impacts and New Models”, highlighting the impacts of rapid innovation in network technology on growth of competition throughout the value chain, from semiconductors to the provision of new network services, as well as issues relating to networks and services created and operated by communities of users to replace telco offerings, and the future and sustainability of emerging models such as digital cities, viral communication networks and sensor networks, among other possibilities.

Frank Robert is associate vice president for the Communications and High-Tech practices at AT Kearney In Washington DC and Stockholm, with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Amherst College and an MBA in strategy from Cornell University. He has led strategic planning for the global top ten manufacturers of telecom infrastructure, electronic appliances and mobile devices, as well as participating in strategy and planning for mobile TV (video and audio). He is senior advisor and leader of several projects in various parts of the world for carriers in the U.S. and Europe.

• Renato Guerreiro, with a presentation on “Impacts for Brazil”, highlighting local regulatory policy on emerging technologies, its role as inhibitor or driver, and possible scenarios for the future of telecom in Brazil.

Renato Navarro Guerreiro graduated in telecommunications engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC/RJ). Director-general of Anatel during the most important period for consolidation of Brazil’s new communications model (1997-2002). Author of “Communications, the Infrastructure for the Information Society” (1994), used as a basis for reforming the sector in Brazil. Participated in all stages of the reform. Led the elaboration of rules and contracts in preparation for privatization of Telebrás. Policymaker, regulator and executive in the Ministry of Communications (1993-97: head of tariff department, secretary of communications services, deputy minister. Senior executive of Telebrás System for over 20 years, managing several state-owned telcos. Currently founding partner of Guerreiro Teleconsult.

The seminar will be held at Espaço Promon in São Paulo. Attendance is by invitation only.

About the Promon Institute of Technology

The Promon Institute of Technology (ITP) is a nonprofit set up to analyze and discuss the technologies that will be decisive for energy, sustainable development, and information and communications technology. It is committed to maintaining a position of neutrality and impartiality in all activities and to refraining from establishing commercial ties of any kind. To this end it will cultivate relationships with centers of excellence in research and development in Brazil and abroad.

For more information, contact:
A4 Comunicação
Priscilla Tavollassi – priscillatavollassi@a4com.com.br
Tel.: (11) 3897-4122 / (11) 7152-7689