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ITU
Telecom World 2003
October
13, 2003
Moving
beyond technology to leadership
GENEVA
-- The industry experts participating in the session
on 'Helping the World Communicate', claimed that the
future of telecom sector depended on education, innovation,
regulatory reform, but above all on leadership.
Panelists
laid out an optimistic vision for the future of the
information and communication technology sector (ICT).
Following the industry's dramatic fall into the doldrums
by mid 2000, industry leaders, from private as well
as public sector, claimed recovery is on the way.
Broadband
is especially hot. According to Yoshio Utsumi, secretary-general,
ITU, broadband has had greater uptake than mobile phones
when comparing their first year of usage. During year
one of broadband, there were 10 million users compared
with 5 million users of mobile phones in its first year.
Conny
Kullman, CEO, Intelsat, outlined how technological advances
in satellites are being used to complement land technologies
such as fiber optics. No longer relying on its bread
and butter of yesteryear, the satellite sector has seen
15 percent annual growth between 1996 and 2002 due to
innovation. He also stated that broadband, and the convergence
of data, voice and video remain areas for future growth.
Carly
Fiorina, chairman and CEO, Hewlett-Packard, saw the
industry as being at a crossroads where important choices
needed to be made. "The future of the industry
does not rely so much on technology, but rather on leadership."
According to Fiorina, globalisation is inevitable and
countries must invest in competitiveness to succeed.
She also asserted that currently the most competitive
nations invest in education and training of their people,
R&D as well as in creating a rule of law environment
where entrepreneurs can thrive.
José
Maria Figueres, senior managing director, World Economic
Forum (WEF) and former president of Costa Rica, set
a goal of "connecting the next 5 billions."
Defining them as the disenfranchised, he asserted the
need to take this group out of poverty and into well-being.
As had Fiorina before him, he too underlined the need
for leadership at the grassroot, national, regional
and international levels. He tasked the industry to
not only set targets but also measure results.
With
its goal for bridging the digital and knowledge divide,
the upcoming World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) will be a meeting point for the the public and
the private sector to discuss how best to bring the
benefits of the digital revolution to all humankind.
His Excellency Adama Samassekou, President of the WSIS
Preparatory Committee, underlined the importance of
creating robust public/private sector partnerships in
aid of bridging the digital divide. His Excellency Guohua
Xi, Vice Minister of the information industry in China
reported on the immense progress in providing access
in China where 490 million people now have access to
fixed-line and mobile telephones.
According
to Erkki Liikanan, member of the European Commission,
European economies are seeing a rise in demand and optimistic
prospects on the back of new technologies such as broadband.
In his remarks, he advised prudent optimism. Government
plays an important role in fostering the promulgation
of ICTs, according to Liikanan. Governments must create
the "right conditions" to foster growth in
ICTs. Key priorities for the European Union are enhancing
competition and stimulating investment, pushing for
the exploitation of ICTs and investment in R&D.
He stressed the importance of leadership in harnessing
the potential of ICTs.
As
stated by Dr. Reza Jafari, chairman, ITU TELECOM World
2003 Forum Programme Committee, the ITU TELECOM WORLD
2003 event serves as "a breath of fresh air for
the industry."
Contact:
ITU TELECOM
Tel: +41-22-761-3318
tim.kelly@itu.int
www.itu.int
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