Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
|
ITU Telecom World 2013 sets agenda for far-reaching changes in ICT sector
Event wraps up four days of incisive conversations and meaningful debates
Bangkok, 22 November 2013 – ITU Telecom World 2013 closed
its doors today following a packed programme of networking, knowledge sharing
and industry showcasing. The event featured an impressive global line up of
showfloor participants, sponsors and partners, including Ooredoo, China Mobile,
Angola, Huawei, Intel, Alcatel-Lucent, ABS, AT&T, Microsoft Lync, NTT Group, AIS
Group, True, DTAC, Telkom South Africa, Rohde & Schwarz and LS telcom. A full
list of showfloor participants, sponsors and partners is
here.
Pavilions from around the world highlighted opportunities for dynamic ICT
investments to a global audience, featuring Argentina, Azerbaijan, Cameroon,
China, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Lao P.D.R, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand (including
supporting partners MICT, NBTC and TCEB), Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
“We have enjoyed four busy days of conversations, showcasing and networking
at ITU Telecom World 2013,” said ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré. “We
welcomed the world’s youngest country, South Sudan, organizations at the cutting
edge of our ICT ecosystem as well as young innovators who are already helping
shape the future. It has been my privilege to join such a truly broad global
debate. As we prepare to return home to different corners of the globe, my
overarching hope is that we can take the lessons learnt from our debates here
and apply them directly in our lives. Let’s become true agents of change,
working to change the world for the better.”
Hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand, ITU Telecom World 2013 convened over 6000
participants from 153 countries worldwide.
“It has been an honour to host ITU Telecom World 2013 and welcome its global
participants, showcasing our ICT industry to the world, via all our many
activities within the Thai pavilion,” said Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap,
Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand. “Utilizing the
platform that ITU Telecom World 2013 provides has helped us demonstrate and
strengthen Thailand’s position as an ICT hub in the ASEAN region.’’
The seismic change taking place in the ICT industry and its far-reaching
impact was the core theme underpinning all activities at the event.
“At a time when the global ICT sector is undergoing a rapid transformation,
ITU Telecom World 2013 remains the one event where participants from government
and industry can meet, debate and share views on the policies and strategies
that will help fuel growth,” said Mr Li Yue, President and CEO of China Mobile.
“The unique global stage offered by this event has offered China Mobile an
invaluable opportunity to share our vision on 4G as the engine that drives
information services development.”
Key player’s converse, share views and vision
Network virtualization to big data in a big society, spectrum challenges, the
future of the Internet, Internet of things, future of broadband, smart cities
and solutions, embracing OTT opportunities, 3D printing, the
transformative impact of the Internet on Africa – the compelling conversations
at ITU Telecom World 2013 have tackled a very broad-based global agenda. A
vibrant mix of speakers, moderators and participants from all aspects of the
industry and governments debated, shared views, posed challenging questions and
shared visions.
“Ooredoo embraces and continues to drive change in a digital world and we are
delighted to have participated in ITU Telecom World 2013, and to share our
vision with the event’s global audience,” said Chairman of Ooredoo Sheikh
Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud AI Thani. “As the event concludes here in
Bangkok, we look forward to the conversation continuing at ITU Telecom World
2014, where Ooredoo is proud to be playing a key role in organizing this
important international debate on behalf of the State of Qatar.”
Conversations were shared not just in Thailand but around the world through
live webcasts and discussions on social media platforms during the event, with
1400 tweets from 621 contributors, with a reach of over 4 million people
worldwide and 5 million more on Weibo.
Showcases and highlights
Spectacular showcases and presentations highlighted the latest cutting edge
technologies from business in the broadband era, new opportunities in voice and
messaging, IPv6, TD-LTE technology, mobile security challenges, next-generation
surveillance systems, ICTs for disaster relief, data-driven governance, art,
technology and society. Networking was a core component of ITU Telecom World
2013 and participants took part in a series of vibrant social events including
the ITU World club dinner, sponsored by Huawei; Nigeria night; and Qatar night.
They also got networking opportunities via the well-received Event App.
“ITU Telecom World 2013 presented an outstanding opportunity for Huawei to
communicate its vision and network with leading industry and government figures
at the event,” said Deputy Chairman and Rotating CEO of Huawei. “Enabling
participants across the world to embrace the business opportunities of the
broadband era is critical, and our discussions here at ITU Telecom World 2013
have been an important step towards realizing this goal.”
Convening a unique audience spanning leaders of governments, regulators,
leading ICT players, top thinkers, experts from law, academia and top
representatives of global media, participants, such as Telenor, used the
platform provided by the event to deliver Visionary Keynotes, in a session
moderated by CNN’s John Defterios. Participants also highlighted their key news
and announcements, including presenting South Sudan, the 193rd and latest
country to join ITU’s Member States. Global management consultancy McKinsey &
Company took the occasion to launch their report on the economic and
transformative impact of the Internet in Africa.
Cybersecurity @ World 2013
The ITU’s cybersecurity pavilion was buzzing with activity during the week,
beginning with a showfloor session on the lessons learned from ITU-IMPACT and
partners' current global cybersecurity efforts, and how to move forward in
helping developing countries build robust cybersecurity capabilities. Panellists
included pavilion partners ABI Research, The Cyber Guardian, Nuix, Symantec,
Omani Computer Emergency Response Team (OCERT) and IMPACT Alliance. It also saw
the launch of the Global Cybersecurity Index, a project to rank the
cybersecurity capabilities of nation states from different regions in one global
index.
The Child Online Protection: Vision post BYND2015 briefing at the Pavilion
focussed on issues related to child online safety was attended by COP Champion,
the First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Maintaining cybersecurity requires robust security standards and the ability
to attribute actions in the cyberspace. From ITU’s Standardization Bureau, Bilel
Jamoussi provided an overview, of ITU-T Standards on Security and Identity
Management.
Mr Rob Attoe, Senior Vice President from Nuix’s Investigations Training and
Services presented a report on Host-Based Network Analysis.
High-Tech Bridge and ITU announced the use of ImmuniWeb® as part of a toolset
to ensure that the websites of ITU’s Member States are secure.
On the final day of the event ITU commemorated its partnership with Trend
Micro on the Cybersecurity Pavilion. ITU and Trend Micro will distribute
co-branded information to key influencers and audiences on a regular basis.
Innovation @ World 2013
Innovation was high on the agenda at ITU Telecom World 2013, both on the
powerful debate agenda but also within the InnovationSpace at the event.
Futuristic, even provocative installations, enabled participants to interact
directly with the technologies of tomorrow including origami-inspired robotics,
life-size striking silhouettes, thought-powered gaming and much more in
The Lab,
curated by innovation partner Ars Electronica.
The InnovationSpace was also home to the ITU Telecom World Young Innovators
competition winners, keen young thinkers from across the globe, who came
together this week for the
Accelerator programme – a culmination of an annual search
for young people using ICTs to find real-life solutions to real-world problems.
Commenting on her event experience, Young Innovator winner Brenda Katwesigye
said, “Summing up in one word my experience in the ITU Telecom World 2013 Young
Innovators competition, I would say ‘Incredible!’. Great mentors helped me with
my project, I’ve loved having the opportunity to meet with the other winners and
take part in the Accelerator Programme. I feel I’ve gained a global edge and an
extra momentum which will be invaluable for the successful realization of my
project.”
Looking ahead
A closing conversation marked the conclusion of the chapter of conversations
in Thailand, and passed the baton onto Qatar, where ITU Telecom World 2014 will
take place in Doha next year. The next edition of ITU Telecom World will take
place in Doha in December 2014, at the state-of-the-art Qatar National
Convention Centre. The event will bring together influential global leaders in
ICT from the public and private sectors for strategic debate, knowledge-sharing,
innovation-showcasing and networking at the highest level.
The State of Qatar has appointed leading international communications
company, Ooredoo, to help organize ITU Telecom World 2014, on behalf of the
Government of Qatar.
At a glance: event snapshot
- Over 6000 total participants
- 239 Speakers
- 300 Media from 20 countries and 120 outlets, including print
and broadcast
- 58 Forum sessions
- 166 Showfloor participants from 33 countries
- 25 Partners
& Sponsors
- 22 National and thematic pavilions
For more information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, ITU
|
|
Note for media: Videos and photos of ITU Telecom
World 2013 are available.
Video:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpoIPNlF8P2PpyXYDRaWq57UMZ0MnIpX_
Photo:
www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures/collections/72157630527796340/
About ITU...