W2i Digital Cities Convention Returns to London
The Wireless Internet Institute's third Europe event will explore sustainable business models for citywide wireless deployment, weigh key application drivers, and examine emerging regulatory actions by the EC.
Boston, Massachusetts. 09/24/2007 —
To provide local-government technology stakeholders with the tools for their professional development — including high-level panels, field-practitioner testimonies, and best-practices sharing on the deployment of broadband-wireless networks for cities and communities — the Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) hosts the W2i Digital Cities Convention at Olympia Exhibition Centre in London on October 16–17, 2007.
Citywide broadband-wireless networks and the applications and services they support are fast emerging as effective solutions for local authorities to better manage their day-to-day operations and save on expenses while providing a platform for social and economic development in their communities. “W2i estimates that local governments in Europe could yield in excess of 15 billion euros annually through workforce productivity improvements and reduction of recurring telecommunication costs with these infrastructures,” said Daniel Aghion, W2i Executive Director.
At the Digital Cities Convention in London, panels of experts and field practitioners will speak on: - the range of business models from the U.K., Europe and the U.S., including a pathbreaking public-private partnership agreement between the City of Minneapolis and USI Wireless;
- the regulatory landscape around broadband wireless, with a case study from Prague and a focus on funding and state aid rules;
- applications for transportation, public safety, healthcare and education.
W2i and its partners — Cisco, IBM, LastMile, Synetrix, rClient, among others — will host several interactive roundtable sessions on: - broadband wireless and digital inclusion,
- local-government business processes reengineering,
- service-provider executives and network-managers dialogue, and
- wireless Web-based services and advertising business models.
A survey of participants at the first Digital Cities Convention in London, in September 2006 (download presentations) revealed several perceived barriers to implementation that can stall projects and keep them from getting off the ground. W2i hosted its first Digital Cities Convention in Europe in 2005 in Bilbão, Spain. 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 has secured the early sponsorship of Cisco Systems, IBM, Firetide, Simdesk, LastMile Communications and Synetrix.
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, communities and regions. 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 Philadelphia, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bilbão, Houston, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, Seoul, and São Paulo, and planning is in final stages for London (October 16–17) and Washington, DC (Dec. 11–12). Contact:
Kellie Tulo
ktulo@w2i.com
+1.301.916.5286
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