Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena will open the Southern African Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) annually hosted by Telkom in the Drakensberg on 12 September 2005.
SATNAC, now in its 8th year, is an internationally acclaimed conference providing a platform to gain insight into technology trends and challenges impacting the communications industry. Research and development at higher tertiary institutions in South Africa will also be showcased.
Telkom - in association with other stakeholders in the ICT industry and the Department of Trade and Industry through the Technology and Human Resource for Industry (HRIP) programme - supports 16 Telkom Centres of Excellence at universities in South Africa.
"The programme is primarily aimed at promoting applied research and development, and is a deliberate effort to retain post-graduate students in South Africa. We achieve this by providing local research opportunities and meaningful interaction with industry," said Telkom`s Chief Technical Officer Reuben September.
This year SATNAC will host a number of overseas speakers who will focus on the conference theme: "Convergence - can technology deliver?"
Three panels with local and overseas experts will debate topics such as:
* Digital users and their converged services
* Broadband - the connectivity lifeline in a converged environment and
* Network convergence - the key enabler in achieving convergence transparency
Various other interesting topics will be covered in plenary sessions. Another feature of the conference will be papers delivered on research projects undertaken at various Telkom Centres of Excellence, which is hosted in breakaway sessions.
"Great emphasis is placed on the importance of these sessions to showcase the depth and value of the research work undertaken, as well as providing an opportunity for cross-pollination of ideas", said September.
Due to the importance attached to Convergence and the tremendous interest shown by many who will not be able to attend the conference, Telkom - in association with Summit TV - will broadcast the first day of the conference live on DSTV channel 55, as well as stream it on the Internet.
"We believe that, as a responsible corporate citizen, Telkom has an obligation to expose as many people as possible to the ground-breaking developments that are ongoing in the communications industry", said September.
More details on SATNAC 2005 can be found on the official SATNAC website www.satnac.org.za.
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