Over 100 companies from 14 countries participate

Over 100 companies from 14 countries participate

Rikza Abdullah, Contributor, Jakarta

The opening of an international exhibition and conference on information and communications technology (ICT), called the Techno Pre-Eminence (TPE) -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002, is very timely as the ICT market in Asia and the Pacific has shown signs of recovery in the second half of this year.

The ICT market in the region, excluding Japan, is projected to expand by 13.5 percent to US$76 billion in 2002. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of mobile telecommunications will also drive telecom services in the region to grow by 20.6 percent to $161 billion this year, according to IDC Asia-Pacific.

"About 20,000 key players in telecommunications, banking, financing, security services, information technology, Internet education and the government are expected to visit the TPE -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002 -- which is being held from Sept. 30 through Oct. 3 at the Jakarta Convention Center," said Taufik Hasan, the head of the research and development department (RisTI) of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom).

Telkom is the host of TPE -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002, which is organized by CMP Asia Ltd. in association with PT Internusa Promosarana. RisTI acts as the field coordinator.

The TPE -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002, focusing on the theme of "Mobilizing Toward a Networked Economy," starts in Hall A of the Jakarta Convention Center on Monday with a four-day exhibition on international communications and networking solutions. More than 100 companies from 14 countries worldwide have confirmed their participation in this showcase. Complementary to the exhibition, a two-day conference will start on Tuesday in the Cendrawasih Room, with the presentation of four keynote speakers and 14 highly qualified speakers. About 1,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference.

The keynote speakers, including Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar and IBM Indonesia's country general manager Betti Alisjahbana, will discuss strategic alliances for the future business world; services and applications in the networked economy era; keys and strategies for strengthening international e-commerce; and the next generation's network as a vehicle for the future telecommunications business.

The other speakers will address topics related to services and application, strategies and regulations, platforms and technology, as well as business trends and country/district experiences. The first day of the conference will be closed with a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for Indonesia in a networked world and the second day on plans and strategies for Indonesia in a networked economy.

"Thus, participants of the conference will be able to explore the significant issues, challenges and opportunities of strategic alliances for the future business world," Taufik said. "Besides that, participants will have a sharper vision of what and how services and applications are needed and implemented in the networked economy era, and also what and how the future networked economy will be like."

M. Gandhi, the executive director of CMP Asia, said that key players in telecommunications, banking, finance, security services, information technology, Internet education and the government had definite reasons to attend the event.

They, for example, know that it is a reference event for the ICT industry, a truly business-to-business opportunity, the only conference with a clear focus and direction, and a global networking forum for marketing support and campaign.

The fact that the event has had a proven track record for success, that it was strongly supported by regional trade publications and that it was officially hosted by Telkom were also strong points for them to take part in it.

This year's Techno Pre-Eminence conference is the eighth of its kind, while Connectivity Indonesia is the fourth international communications and networking solution exhibition to be organized in the country. Last year's event attracted more than 10,000 trade visitors.

"Officially hosted by the state-owned incumbent telecommunications service operator PT Telkom, TPE -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002 will surely capture the essence of the technology driven notion, all on one avenue," Gandhi said.

Telkom, with its new vision "to become a leading InforCom company in the region", has a mission of providing one-stop prime quality communication services at competitive prices, and running business with the best management by optimizing the performance of its high quality human resources, employing competitive technologies and working synergically with its strategic partners.

The event's organization by CMP Asia Ltd., in association with PT Internusa Promosarana, is another factor that will bring it success.

CMP Asia, formerly known as Miller Freeman Asia, is the largest non-governmental organizer of trade fairs in Asia and a provider of high-quality business information through its publications and websites. It is part of United Business Media Plc, one of the world's leading business-to-business media and market information companies. It operates in 12 market sectors through its regional headquarters in Hong Kong with 400 staff members in 11 major cities in Asia and the United States. In Indonesia, it works in association with PT Internusa Promosarana.

CMP Asia has more than 80 media products comprising over 70 trade shows held in eight countries and regions and 13 publications with associated business-to-business websites. Every year, 15,000 exhibitors and about 700,000 visitors come to CMP Asia's trade fairs from around the world. Last year, the company won the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Export Marketing Award in the Hong Kong Awards for Services.

Gandhi said the participation of major national and international communications players, such as Indosat Multi Media Mobile (IM3) and Microsoft Indonesia, in TPE -- Connectivity Indonesia 2002 would add weight to the event.

Sutji Lantyka, the corporate communications officer of IM3, said her company would promote its technologically superior products, such as M3-Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), M3- Coolbox, M3-General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and M3-Zone, at Connectivity Indonesia 2002.

She explained that with the M3-MMS, subscribers could send messages not only in the form of letters, but also in the form of voice, pictures, photos, animation, graphics and/or video clips.

M3-Coolbox was an m-commerce service, with which subscribers could buy a soft drink by using their cellular phones with pulses as payments, while M3-GPRS could be used to get access to the Internet through cellular phones. M3-Zone was IM3's portal, with www.indosat-m3.net as its address, which provided information and interactive services for customers and the public, she said.

She said some of IM3's services could be accessed with a prepaid telephone card IM3 Smart and some others with postpaid telephone card IM3 Bright.

IM3 is jointly owned by the country's primary provider of international telecommunications services, PT Indonesian Satellite Corporation (Indosat), and its cooperative Kopindosat. At the exhibition, Microsoft Indonesia will promote a wide range of Microsoft Corporation's products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

Besides Indosat and Microsoft Indonesia, the exhibitors include IBM Indonesia, the Indonesian Satellite Association (ASSI), Hewlett-Packard, Alcatel, Fujitsu Ltd., SAP, Ericsson, Minolta, Multipolar, NEC Corporation, NEC Nusantara Communications, Telcoware Korea, Teleware Network Systems, Telkom Group, Telkom Vision, Telkomsel, Siemens and Astra Graphia.