Time Again for the Annual Gathering

The CommsIndia ’98

exhibition has achieved international recognition. It is considered as one of the

important telecom events in the Indian sub-continent. What comes to the credit of this

event is that it continues to increase its exhibitor-base, now extending across four

continents and over 17 countries. Although the inertia in the Indian telecom reforms is

expected to make its deleterious impact on the show, the organizers claim that 80 percent

of the exhibition space has been booked four months prior to the show. Indicating the

"never say die" spirit of many communications companies.

If "convergence" was

the top-of-the-mind theme echoing across the event last year, this year, ISPs are going to

hold centre-stage. The show is scheduled to be held during 9-11 December, at Pragati

Maidan, New Delhi. The event, which is concurrent to BCS India ’98, will have both

exhibition and conferences.

CommsIndia was conventionally a

mixture of the big and small companies. This year also, this mix, understandably, will

remain. Some of the major exhibitors are Allen Telecom, Andrew, Ericsson, Ericsson

Hewlett-Packard, Hyundai Electronics, Krone Communications, Morion Stock Corp., RFS

Kabelmetal, Rittal Bir, Stratus Computers, Thuraya Satellite Communications, Siemens, Tata

Lucent Technologies, Telecom Italia, Tektronix Inc., and Tellabs.

While Dialogic Corp. will display

products for voice, fax, network interface, and open signal computing platforms,

Globalstar will display its low-earth orbit satellite telecommunication systems that

provide voice, data transmission, messaging, and facsimile services.

Another exhibitor, worth

mentioning, is Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. This is one of the top ranking electronic

companies in China, with a turnover of $386 million.

ICO Global Communications will

exhibit its pocket-sized dual model handsets capable of working on satellite, cellular,

and PCS networks. It will offer its services to surface transport, maritime, and

aeronautical sectors.

CommsIndia ’98 will be

Iridium’s first promotional forum after the launch of its GMPCS on 1 November.

Iridium’s stall is expected to evoke good response. Another important company,

Qualcomm Inc., will showcase CDMA, WILL, and portable equipment. Above all, the theme

pavilion on Internet and networking will be the star attraction.

Conference

The theme of the conference this

time is "Future Trends in Telecommunications in India". There will be three

sessions in the conference.

The inaugural session will

feature eminent professionals. Distinguished panelists in this interactive session will

include Justice SS Sodhi, chairman, Telecom Regulatory Authority of



India (TRAI); S Rajagopalan, CMD, MTNL; Olof Lundberg, CEO, ICO Global Communications; PS
Saran, member (services), DoT; and TV Ramachandran, executive vice-chairman, COAI.

The advantage of running along

with Cable India ’98, likely announcement of ISP policy and the launching of Iridium

services will add to the charm. Hope its positive energy reaches out to the

"great" Indian communications reforms!