CONTENTS:	April 2006
• Message from the PTC'07 Conference Chair • Executive DirectorÕs Corner • PTC'07 Mid-Pacific Marketplace   (MPM) Exhibits • PTC News Welcome!  New PTC Members	• New Annual Competition Named for   Satellite Pioneer Sir Arthur C. Clarke • Industry Events • Industry Publications • Contacting Us

Message from the PTC’07 Conference Chair

Dear PTC Members,

PTC'06 was a tremendous success, with a solid program and palpable industry buzz. For PTC'07, Beyond Telecom, we expect even better. There is a lot to look forward to.

PTC’07: Beyond Telecom

Traditional telecom is under siege. Network scarcity is giving way to bandwidth abundance. Application and content services are growing more valuable than transport and access. Historical boundaries between networks, media, entertainment, software, and advertising have blurred. Competition comes from all quarters. Value chains are in turmoil. Predictable earnings are jeopardized by the uncertainty of on-demand services. It’s The End of the World as We Know It. And it’s about time.

Beyond Telecom. A new information and communications ecosystem is evolving – with a new language defining product innovation, definition, and service delivery. Digital lifestyles combine voice, packaged and spontaneous video, location based services, sponsored relationships and close integration with the web – and flow seamlessly between work, home and leisure. Mobile is broadband and television is mobile. Telephones are computers and computers are telephones. Services are applications and applications are services. Networks are getting faster, smarter, more secure, and more reliable, even as prices continue to fall. Consumers have never had it so good. And service providers have never been more deeply challenged as they migrate traditional business models to the emerging paradigm of digital choice.

Beyond Telecom. Beyond transport. Beyond telecommunications as a utility service. PTC’07 will explore the technology, business and policy issues created by the accelerated and continued convergence of communication and entertainment services on IP. Leading providers from Asia and around the world will discuss successful strategies for advanced information services, video, youth and lifestyle marketing, cyber communities and gaming. Policy makers will explore the options and impact of next generation service licensing, net neutrality and IPTV. Vendors will demonstrate the infrastructure platforms and consumer devices that enable the transition to forward-looking business models. Satellite, fiber and VoIP CEOs will share their vision through annual executive roundtables. And PTC’07 will continue PTC’s commitment to illuminate the positive role IP and low-cost access technologies can play in humanitarian relief, disaster management, distance learning, health care, social advancement and poverty reduction.

Beyond Telecom. At the heart of PTC is the opportunity to network. To establish and deepen real business connections. To learn from and with a diverse community of smart and enthusiastic participants from nearly 60 countries around the world. At PTC’07 we will unveil a one-on-one meeting reservation system to help you reach the thousands of industry experts, investors and service providers who will converge on Honolulu next January. And we will more closely link our exhibits, conference areas, company private meeting rooms and Planet PTC to further facilitate information-sharing and business exchange.

Everyone who has been to PTC knows there is no conference like it. It brings together the best minds, creating the most productive business buzz and provocative dialogue for social change in the global ICT community. Beyond telecom, indeed.

Sincerely,
Ken Zita
BG Vice President for Conference
PTC’07 Conference Chair

Executive Director's Corner

By Stephen G. Tom

New Member Benefits

Many PTC members and non-members think of PTC as a single event; our annual conference.  However, a lot happens year-round at the Secretariat as the staff, your Board of Governors, and the Advisory Council pursue new initiatives and work hard to enhance the benefits you can derive from your membership in PTC.

Three major initiatives to enhance member benefits are under way along with one public service initiative:

1. Watch for new web-based services over the next few months as we upgrade our systems to serve you better.
2. PTC'07 will define and address challenges and opportunities affecting your business, your work, and the way you use electronic communications.  Ken Zita, vice president and conference chair, his committee, and the Secretariat are already planning PTC'07 – "Beyond Telecom" (14-17 January 2007). 
3. By popular demand, PTC is redesigning its main conference floor to accommodate two new elements at PTC'07; "One-2-One Exchange" one-on-one meeting tables and the "Conference Cubicle" private conference rooms.  These elements will be combined with the exhibition area; Planet PTC; conference coffee breaks; conference luncheons; and a major new themed reception on Tuesday night; to create the Mid-Pacific Marketplace or MPM.  The MPM will be a beehive of activity that enables valuable business exchanges and critical relationship development.

All PTC members depend on knowledge and relationships to achieve their goals. Whether your focus is commercial in nature or related to academic, social, regulatory, or government and military issues, our new initiatives will deliver more member value.

Our fourth initiative is an Executive Speakers Bureau being developed in partnership with PTC Hawaii Foundation (PTCHF), our local Hawaii chapter.  PTCHF is planning to activate an Executive Speakers Bureau that will bring our international telecommunications and ICT executives into Honolulu classrooms (secondary and post-secondary) to share their expertise and to recruit the next generation of technology professionals.  Watch for further details and the opportunity to sign up via the PTC website.  Plan to share your expertise while you attend PTC'07.  It is a chance for you to make a difference!

PTC'07 Mid-Pacific Marketplace (MPM) Exhibits

Showcase your latest technologies and reach qualified leads at PTC's revamped exhibition now called the "Mid-Pacific Marketplace" (MPM).

Highlights of NEW features to Exhibitors

• The "One-2-one exchange" of one-on-one meeting tables
• Branded Executive Conference Cubicle Meeting Rooms
• Themed "Marketplace" reception on Tuesday evening
• All conference coffee breaks to be held in the MPM
• Exhibitor contacts to be included in attendees list
• Multiple booth discounts
• Special benefits for referring new exhibitors
• Access to all plenary sessions

Continue to receive key marketing benefits:

• All conference luncheons are held in MPM
• Access attendee list for marketing communications
• Press coverage before and during PTC'07
• Online and print promotion of your products & services
• Free passes to selected conference sessions

   ..and a whole lot more!

PTC members enjoy a substantial discount off exhibit rates - an $840 savings! For detailed information please visit http://www.ptc07.org/exhibits/ or contact Dolores Fung at Tel: +1.808.941.3789 ext. 120 or Email: dolores@ptc.org

PTC News
Welcome!  New PTC Members

Name: Echostar International
Joined PTC: 09 January 2006
Company Overview: Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, Echostar Communications Corporations is a public company with approximately 20,000 employees.  The Company and its subsidiaries deliver Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) television products and services to customers worldwide.  Throughout its 24-year history, Echostar has demonstrated its entrepreneurial spirit by achieving significant industry firsts:  first company to offer a satellite receiver for less than $200; first to develop a UHF remote control; first to offer an Integrated Receiver Descrambler (IRD) for C-band satellite TV;  first nationwide installation network dedicated solely to satellite TV systems; first to offer satellite receiver with built-in digital video recording; first satellite TV company to offer local channels to local markets in all 50 states.
Website: www.echostar.com

Name: Veniglobe
Joined PTC: 27 February 2006
Company Overview: VeniGlobe Inc. is a Canada-based telecommunications carrier providing a full range of customized solutions for businesses and carriers with inter and intra Asia voice and data needs.  VeniGlobe is specialized in Vietnam, Cambodia and India voice wholesaler market, while also is a pioneer in developing MVNO services in key Asian markets such as China.
Website: www.veniglobe.com

Name: BroadGroup
Joined PTC: 23 March 2006
Company Overview: BroadGroup consultancy is focused on strategic analysis, pricing, marketing and regulation across data centres, wireless broadband and wholesale businesses internationally. We also have emerging coverage of mobile data and megahubs and exchange based trading, and new fora focused on mobile thought and managed services. We support our client base internationally through research, customized assignments, reports and studies.
Website: www.broad-group.com

Name: Guide.net
Joined PTC: 24 March 2006
Company Overview: Guide.Net is an Internet software company specializing in the development of interactive websites that connect to other Internet resources, such as databases, email servers and ecommerce services. Guide.Net has developed database driven websites using MS-SQL and MS-Access on Windows platforms and MySQL on Unix/Linux platforms. We have in-house redundant servers for superb performance and reliability and well as co-location agreements with Net Enterprise and LavaNet. We also have experience providing web programming services in PHP, ASP and Cold Fusion.
Website: www.guide.net

Name: HKCOLO.com Limited
Joined PTC: 29 March 2006
Company Overview: HKCOLO is a Neutral Colocation provider serving 180+ carriers. HKCOLO is recognized by strategic allies, CRGWest of OneWilshire, LA and Telx of 60 Hudson, NY as the leading provider in the region.  HKCOLO provides all the basic colocation services together with Managed IP in-house backbone, Managed IP Transit, voice switch leasing and in the future direct link to other colo sites.
Website: www.hkcolo.com

Name: Touchstone Systems Inc.
Joined PTC: 31 March 2006
Company Overview: Touchstone Systems, Inc. is a VoIP session management company founded in September 2003.  Our services are based on a fully redundant switching platform.  We support the essential signaling and media protocols including H.323 and SIP.  Our customer support is available 24X7 with real-time access to all customer performance metrics.  The Touchstone management team brings decades of experience to the delivery of high capacity, high quality services to the VoIP marketplace.
Website: www.tstoneinc.com

New Annual Competition Named for Satellite Pioneer Sir Arthur C. Clarke

A new annual award program has been created for college and university students at all levels, is aimed at identifying commercially viable ideas and concepts that show promise of advancing communications satellite technology and services. Named for Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the program will award $50,000 to the winning college or university student or student team that best defines a feasible technical or applications concept that might leapfrog the existing state of development of the industry.

Sir Arthur is known worldwide as the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and dozens of other acclaimed works of science fact and science fiction. He is equally recognized in global scientific and engineering circles as the genius who first proposed communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit. His seminal paper, Extra-terrestrial Relays,” was published in Wireless World magazine in October 1945.

The award program is sponsored by SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company.

" The Clarke Challenge sets the stage for an exciting and vibrant competition among the best minds in academia today,” Edward Horowitz, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM, said. “Through the Clarke Challenge, we hope to draw out the most imaginative ideas, while at the same time, putting a spotlight on the growth potential of our industry.”

Speaking from his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sir Arthur said, “Sometimes it’s hard to see just how far a good idea can go. I am delighted that SES AMERICOM has created a Challenge for young people to advance the state of satellite communications. I look forward to being part of the process that helps incubate a new generation of young space scientists and engineers.”

The Clarke Challenge will benefit a talented individual or team that has shown creative problem-solving originality and dedication in his/her/their academic pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. Monies awarded can be used for any purpose the winner(s) decide. Applicant(s) must be in an accredited U.S. institution of higher education, and must submit electronically a complete proposal no later than September 22, 2006. Application details can be found on the AMERICOM web site.

SES AMERICOM anticipates that it will be able to extend the reach of the Clarke Challenge in the coming years. The company is working with the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation (www.clarkefoundation.org) and the Universities Space Research Association (www.usra.edu) to publicize the program.

The first award will be made at the end of 2006.

Contributed by Monica Morgan (monica.morgan@ses-americom.com)

Industry Events
*Look for exclusive member discounts*

MEMBERS ONLY: Log in here to view full descriptions of industry events and publications including exclusive member discount codes.

The 5^th Annual Mobiles Malaysia 2006
19-20 April 2006, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

NAB 2006
22-27 April 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Total Telecom
25-27 April 2006, Geneva, Switzerland

GTM 2006
08-11 May 2006, Washington DC, USA

Wireless Enterprise Summit
08-10 May 2006, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Pike & Fischer's 2^nd Annual Broadband Policy Summit 2006
09-10 May 2006, Washington, DC, USA
*PTC members receive $100 off the registration cost!  Call (800) 255-8131 to register with discount code PTC056. 

The 3^rd Annual Mobiles Vietnam 2006
10-11 May 2006, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Broadband World Forum Asia
15-18 May 2006, Hong Kong

Spring 2006 Von Europe
15-18 May 2006, Stockholm, Sweden 

WiMax World Europe Conference & Expo
22-24 May 2006, Vienna, Austria 

Telecoms World Australasia 2006
31 May - 02 June 2006, Sydney, Australia
*PTC members receive 10% off the registration price.

GlobalComm 2006
04-08 June 2006, Chicago, Illinois USA 

Interop - Tokyo
05-09 June 2006, Tokyo, Japan

Mobile Content World Australasia 2006
06-08 June 2006, Sydney, Australia
*PTC members receive 10% off the registration price.

Building the Broadband Economy
08-09 June 2006, New York, USA 
*PTC members receive a 25% discount on registration for Building the Broadband Economy that includes the 2006 Intelligent Community Awards program. 

ISCe 2006
13-15 June 2006, San Diego, California, USA
*PTC members save $400 to attend ISCe! Register for the 5th Annual ISCe Conference and Expo by May 5th and save $400 off a full-conference pass.

CommunicAsia2006
20-23 June 2006, Singapore

IMS Evolution Summit
27-28 June 2006, San Diego, California USA
*PTC members get a 20% discount when you register with code PC82

C3 - Corporate & Channel Computing Expo
27-29 June 2006,  Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, USA 
*Complimentary C3 expo guest passes and 50% discount on C3 Conference Program for PTC members

Submarine Networks World 2006
03-06 October 2006, Singapore
*PTC members stand to enjoy a 15% discount off the 4 or 3 Day conference registration fee.

WCET 18th Annual Conference
01-04 November 2006, Portland, Oregon, USA
*PTC members will receive a 15% discount off the WCET non-member rate using the discount code: wx6dx2. 

Click here for complete list of industry events

Industry Publications
*Look for exclusive member discounts*

MEMBERS ONLY: Log in here to view full descriptions of industry events and publications including exclusive member discount codes.

America's Network
*20% discount on the annual subscription fee*

Connect-World
*50% discount on the subscription fee*

eStrategies Asia Pacific
*Receive 6 issues for the price of 4*

Federal Buyers Guide, Inc. (FBG)
*Receive free printed issues of Federal Buyers Guide, Department of Defense Buyers Guide, and Homeland Security Buyers Guide for members in the USA and Canada*

Interfax China IT & Telecom Report
*Receive 15% discount on all annual subscriptions or complimentary four week trial subscription free of charge*

OSP Magazine
*FREE publication for all U.S. PTC members*

Philippine IT-Enabled Services Industry Perspective (ITES)
*10% discount on purchase price of publication*
Why is the Philippines a cost-effective outsourcing location (pdf, 64kb)

Telecom Asia Magazine
*20% discount on the annual subscription fee*

Via Satellite
*FREE subscription for PTC Members*

www.SubCableNews.com
*Save €180 on a 14-month subscription*

Contacting Us

PTC's online and email bulletin to members is distributed once a month. You should receive your next copy on, or soon after, 05 May 2006.

For more information on PTC, visit our website at www.ptc.org. Please send your questions or suggestions to Janice Claveria at janice@ptc.org.

If you or your company representatives wish to continue informing other PTC members of new or improved products, or of individual achievements via the Members' Bulletin, please express your wishes to Janice Claveria by emailing janice@ptc.org.

Please note that for news and headlines, we will only publish items that include a link to the cited article. This service is for PTC members only.