Broadband industry converges at 'TIA 2011: Inside the Network'.(EVENT REVIEW)(Conference notes)

Participants at the Telecommunications Industry Association's inaugural annual member and industry conference and exhibition--TIA 2011: Inside the Network--met recently in Dallas, gaining perspective about the future of the broadband network from key industry leaders, and participating in business, technology, and policy activities and discussions.

TIA 2011 focused on the value of the network ecosystem, the infrastructure, and the intelligence that goes into the quality of service, reliability, sustainability, and security of "The Network."

In the opening keynote on May 18, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson spoke to a standing-room-only crowd about the need for additional spectrum as the number one priority to meet demand and encourage and promote innovation. He predicted a chaotic growth period over the next five years as the network evolves to meet soaring demand, and foresaw a 10-to-15 year investment cycle, tax and regulatory climate permitting.

During the opening keynote on May 19, Verizon executive vice president and chief technology officer Anthony J. Melone recognized that lines between fixed and mobile networks are now blurred to the point that there really is only "one network" that needs to work seamlessly to meet demands for mobility anywhere, anytime on any device. He also spoke about the need to embrace an open culture for developing new applications and devices and technology standards that would break uncharted ground.

At Thursday's VIP and Spring Policy Summit Dinner, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski emphasized the impact of the "spectrum crunch" on America's broadband future: "Every day we delay freeing up new spectrum is a day with real costs to consumers, our economy, our global competitiveness, and our future," he said.

Genachowski strongly urged continued investment in infrastructure, saying: "We also need to tend vigilantly to our fixed broadband infrastructure. ... Even mobile communications travel overwhelmingly by wire, including fiber," adding that "wireline networks also offer higher speeds for breakthrough innovations."

In a keynote address, Robert Vrij, executive vice president, Alcatel-Lucent, president of the Americas region, spoke about the opportunities for the broadband industry, saying: "Regardless of your network type--fixed, wireless, converged--today, everyone has an opportunity to participate in a growing market that is being fueled by growing end user demand for high value services, the emergence of the Cloud as an enabler for new business models and the willingness of the industry to embrace an ecosystem approach toward driving continued innovation like never before."

TIA president Grant Seiffert told attendees, "We know that innovation and investment in infrastructure will remain the keys to our further success in the network. The demands on mobility--and mobile backhaul--cannot be solved without a continued focus on the backbone."

TIA also held its 12th annual Spring Policy Summit in conjunction with TIA 2011 in Dallas.

Keynote Speakers at the Spring Policy Summit included U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell and Deputy Undersecretary for International Trade Michelle O'Neill, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Todd Keil, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and AT&T President, Supply Chain & Fleet Operations, Tim Harden.

Sen. Hutchison emphasized the need for Congress to pass legislation to incentively investment in American technology.

Rep. Blackburn called for a series of tech stakeholder roundtables to develop a self-regulatory structure that protects online consumer privacy while allowing Internet-based companies to innovate and grow.

The TIA 2011: Inside the Network event featured well-attended educational sessions covering Converged Networks; Smart Grid; Machine to Machine (M2M); Cloud Computing; Mobile Backhaul, Video and Data; Sustainable Networks; Regulatory Issues; Security and more.

Several TIA technology and engineering groups held meetings at TIA 2011, including the Smart Device Communications Committee (TR-50); the User Premises Telecommunications Requirements Committee (TR-41); and the M2M Standardization Task Force (MSTF), a global group hosted by TIA 2011.

More than 2,200 verified attendees visited TIA 2011: Inside the Network. Media coverage of TIA 2011: Inside the Network can be found at tiaonline.org.

Leaders in the industry expressed their support for the event through sponsorships, presentations and presence on the Exhibit Floor, including Host Sponsor Alcatel-Lucent; educational track sponsors Nokia Siemens Networks (Converged Networks track); Walker and Associates (Mobile Backhaul track); and ILS Technology (M2M Track and Pavilion), Adtran, GENBAND, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Juniper Networks, Panasonic, and RIM.

The event was also sponsored by numerous industry organizations, including BICSI; CEA; Connected Nation; CSE; JSI Capital Advisors; MEF; Metroplex Technology Business Council, Moss Adams; NRECA; NRTC; NTCA; Omni; OPASTCO; QuEST Forum; Telecom Council of Silicon Valley; TDG; Yankee Group; Wi-Fi Alliance; WTA; ZPryme; 4G World.

Media supporters included, Penton/Connected Planet (Show Daily); Telecom TV (Digital Marketplace); RCR Wireless (Mobile Broadband Revolution workshops); Channel Partners; Fierce Telecom; HD Voice News; Inside Networks; Light Reading; Lightwave; OSP; SearchTelecom; TelecomReview; Transmission & Distribution, and VanillaPlus.

Learn more about TIA 2011: Inside the Network at http://www.tia2011.org. Follow TIA 2011 on twitter #tia2011.

TIA's 2011 Market Review & Forecast, is available for purchase online at the TIA store. TIA members receive a discount of more than 60 percent off of the cover price. Review copies are available for qualified media.