Titans of Tech’09 to focus on converged economy

THE 2009 edition of Titans of Tech conference and exhibitions would focus on enabling the country to harness the benefits of creating a converged economy.

Managing Consultant, Technology Africa, organisers of the event, Don Pedro Aganbi, said in Lagos, that the theme of 2009 event would be, “Realising the Potentials of a Converged Economy,” noted that this was chosen in recognition of the fact that this is the era of convergence.

He also disclosed that Titans of Tech 2009, is schedule to hold in the month of April 2009, at the prestigious Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

“Technologically, convergence refers to the trend of technologies to merge into a single medium bringing together a myriad of media. While historically, legacy technology handled only one medium or accomplished one or two tasks, but through convergence, devices are now able to interact with a wide array of media formats,” he said.

Stressing that communications services, in particular, have in recent times moved rather rapidly from voice only to voice and data only and then voice, data and video.

Convergence, he noted, has significant implications in any economy, because it tells on the consumer and productivity of any nation, pointing out that it will challenge existing business models, patterns of consumption, shared values, common experiences, which will in turn pose challenges for the policy and regulatory framework.

He further said that a new industrial sector is emerging, aptly referred to by some as the interactive ‘multimedia industry’.

This industry, he postulated, is developing as a result of the convergence of three more traditional sectors: communications (telephony, cable, satellite, wireless), computing (computers, software, services), and content (publishing, entertainment, information providers).

“Thus convergence is creating a whole new industry that will be the driving force for the economy going into the future,” he declared.

Therefore, he said, Technology Africa beliefs that it is time to consider what the converged world will look like and the implications thereon.

Emphasising that Titans of Tech 2009 would provide the needed platform for key industry stakeholders to consider how to promote growth and innovation in this converged world and ensures universal access to high quality content.

Aganbi said that the fourth edition of the Titans of Tech would also cover how to ensure the consumers’ access the content they want, where they want and when they want it.

Participants and exhibitors expected at the event include leading telecom services providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), vendors, software developers and vendors, Test and Training Centres, Auxiliary Service providers, Support Services firms, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Consulting Firms, Finance/Funding Institutions, among others.

Over 8, 000 visitors, 240 delegates, 24 exhibitors and 15 speakers graced the two-day programme in the 2008 edition.

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