W2i Announces Program Agenda for Digital Cities Convention in São Paulo
Broadband Wireless Stakeholders from North and South America Gather to Share Best Practices on Wireless Opportunities for Cities, Communities and Regions.
Boston. 07/30/2007 —
To provide local-government, agency, and institutional technology stakeholders with a firsthand understanding of broadband-wireless infrastructure implementation, applications, and services, the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) hosts the 14th Digital Cities Convention at the Renaissance Hotel in São Paulo on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
The Digital Cities Convention in São Paulo is a day-long thought-leadership conference exploring the range of wireless technologies, applications and business models for cities, communities and regions, with a special emphasis on: - Global best-practice sharing on sustainable business models with local-government case-study presenters from:
- Corpus Christi, Texas,
- Minneapolis, Minnesota,
- Macedonia (USAID),
- Mexico City, and
- San Francisco
- Jumpstarting broadband-wireless infrastructure debate with representatives from ABEP, CIASC, PRODERJ, and PRODESP;
- Policy and regulatory frameworks discussions, including recent ANATEL rulings for Brazilian cities;
- South American case studies; and
- Industry perspectives from Motorola, Cisco Systems, and Intel, including a Technology Showcase of leading vendors.
“The Digital Cities Convention is a unique opportunity to explore, in an international context, viable and sustainable business models in support of broadband-wireless deployment for cities and regions,” said Sergio Queiroz, Coordinator for Science and Technology of the Secretariat for Development of the State of São Paulo. “We welcome W2i to São Paulo State.”
“W2i looks forward to hosting the 14th Digital Cities Convention -- our second in Brazil -- in support of the region’s planning around wireless infrastructure, applications, and services, as well as its digital-inclusion initiatives," said Daniel Aghion, Executive Director, Wireless Internet Institute. "Metro-scale broadband-wireless stakeholders from around the hemisphere are invited to come to São Paolo, the world’s third-largest metropolitan area, to share best practices.”
Click for full program details. BACKGROUND
W2i hosted the 6th Digital Cities Convention in Rio de Janeiro in April 2006:
http://w2i.com/events/schedule/event_overview/p/eventId_22/id_80
The event brought together national, state and local government officials, wireless experts, and several Brazilian and international field practitioners to discuss the broadband-wireless opportunity for cities and rural communities. Among the communities presenting on their projects were: Basque Country, Spain, Goiás State, Macaé, Mangaratiba, Marilia, Ouro Preto, Petrópolis, Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, and Sud Mennucci. View event photographs and the program agenda. PRIVATE-SECTOR ENDORSEMENTS
In addition to ongoing cooperation agreements with international-development organizations, such as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and CIFAL Atlanta, the W2i Digital Cities Convention is endorsed by the WiMAX Forum and has secured the early sponsorship of Cisco Systems, IBM and corporate host Motorola; Firetide and Simdesk. ABOUT W2i AND THE DIGITAL CITIES CONVENTION
The Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) is an independent forum bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of social and economic development and better-managed cities. Held annually in three to four regions of the world, the W2i Digital Cities Convention includes a thought-leadership conference exploring the planning and deployment of broadband-wireless infrastructure, applications and services; practical training for local authorities; roundtables for wireless service-provider executives and digital-inclusion stakeholders; the annual Wireless Communities Best-Practices Awards; and a Technology Showcase produced in partnership with the public sector, private sector, and international development institutions. Building on Conventions in Chicago, Philadelphia, Seoul, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bilbão, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, and London, planning is in final stages for São Paulo (September 11), London (October 16–17) and Washington, DC (December 11–12). Contact:
Peter Orne
Editorial Director
pjorne@w2i.com
1.617.303.2220
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