“Telecom Meltdown or Explosion – What impacts on Brazil?” discussed at Promon Institute of Technology Seminar
- 11/21/2007

New trends and directions in telecommunications were the focus for presentations by professionals and researchers at ITP’s second seminar



The Promon Institute of Technology (ITP), launched in early 2007 to promote impartial analysis and discussion of emerging technologies that will make a difference in strategic sectors, held its second seminar on October 30, entitled “Telecom Meltdown or Explosion – What Impacts for Brazil?”.

The presence of leading experts enriched the discussion about recent trends in information and communication technology (ICT) and the outlook for mobile optical wireless. The speakers were Dr. Ian F. Akyildiz, Ken Byers Distinguished Chair Professor and Head of the Broadband Wireless Networking Laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE); Frank A. Robert, associate vice president for the Communications and High-Tech Practice at AT Kearney In Washington DC and Stockholm; Dr. Jorge Salomão Pereira, president and director of technology and business, Padtec Equipamentos e Sistemas Ópticos; and Renato Navarro Guerreiro, former Director General of Anatel, the national telecommunications agency, and founding partner of Guerreiro Consult.

According to Ricardo Corrêa Martins, ITP’s executive director, the focus for the seminar was chosen in light of the vigorous growth in telecom worldwide and particularly in Brazil. “Our prime objective was to stimulate discussion and analysis of emerging technologies, together with the business opportunities they create,” he said. “We wanted to highlight recent advances, the outlook for the next few years, and the impact of these advances on the design of new networks and services. Another key point on the agenda was a discussion of the role of regulation in Brazil, especially whether it inhibits or drives new technology adoption.”

Dr. Akyildiz presented an overview of new radio frequency technologies such as software radio and cognitive radio, which enable wireless networks to allocate and manage the available RF spectrum in new ways. Based on dynamic spectrum access (DSA), this key solution represents the way forward for the segment, according to Akyildiz, allowing interaction and access to spectrum holes without causing interference for licensed (primary) users or collision among users generally.

Dr. Pereira highlighted potential future applications of fiber optics as well as the current constraints such as low mobility and limited functionality. “Optical technology is still in its infancy,” he said. “This means we have a great deal of room to develop propagation technology. At the same time, access networks are more economically feasible than they were a few years ago. This is a promising basis for telecom systems used for research as well as business.”

Frank A. Robert discussed the current tendency for carriers to focus, in introducing transition technologies, on cost savings and competition with new market players that have strong brand names, such as Google and ESPN. These newcomers are beginning to offer bundled services including pay TV, broadband internet access and wireless mobile telephony, among others. “Carriers need to weigh up the risks inherent in all expansion opportunities,” he said. “They are facing real potential to grow their networks and enhance competitiveness, but new players are focusing on new services rather than expansion and growth within existing constraints.”

For Renato Navarro Guerreiro, who spoke last, technology is an important driver of social development in Brazil, where an ICT “explosion” is inevitable in light of the potential for growth. “Information and communication technologies offer means to achieve the social objectives proposed for Brazil. It behooves the state to set public policy for development and technological evolution, since a country’s profile changes once it no longer bars inclusion and access to technology for the population,” he said.

The Promon Institute of Technology seeks to promote integration among professionals in fundamental areas for the full development of technology sectors in Brazil, recalls Ricardo Corrêa Martins. “We believe the seminar enriched the positive perspectives already reached in their analyses by professionals in the field,” he said. “In ten years’ time we expect the results extracted from these discussions to be as significant as they are to us now in theory.”

About the Promon Institute of Technology (ITP) – www.itpromon.com.br
The Promon Institute of Technology (ITP) is a nonprofit set up to contribute to analysis and discussion of the technologies that will be decisive for energy, sustainable development, and information and communication technology (ICT) in the future. 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 cultivates relationships with centers of excellence in research and development both in Brazil and abroad.

About Promon
Founded in 1960, Promon is a Brazilian organization owned entirely by its employees. Its core business is the design, integration and implementation of complete solutions for key infrastructure sectors such as energy, oil & gas, chemicals, petrochemicals, mining, metallurgy, steel, and information and communication technology (ICT). Operations are conducted by three companies: Promon Engenharia, Promon Tecnologia and Trópico. The group also includes Fundação Promon de Previdência Social, the Promon Institute of Technology, and Instituto Razão Social, maintained in association with Instituto Camargo Corrêa and Gerdau.

For more information, contact:
A4 Comunicação
Priscilla Tavollassi – priscillatavollassi@a4com.com.br
Tel: +55 11 3897 4122 / 7152 7689