"Reform in telecommunications is transforming national and international telecommunications networks into information infrastructures for building knowledge societies," says Professor Bill Melody of Delft University of Technology. He will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural ICT (information, communication and technology) 2000 Conference at the Vodacom LINK (Learning, Information and Knowledge) Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg, on July 25 - 27, 2000.
The ICT Conference at the Vodacom LINK Centre, which is part of the Graduate School of Public & Development Management of Wits University, Parktown, Johannesburg, is entitled "Innovation, Delivery and Development".
"This important conference will be attended by top experts on telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology from South Africa and overseas," says Joan Joffe, Group Executive - Corporate Affairs of Vodacom and Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, the sponsor of the LINK Centre and the conference.
"Papers and discussions will revolve around a number of issues that are crucial to the development of telecommunications in this country and the convergence between cellular telephony and the Internet.
"Subjects to be covered will include international experience in respect of universal service; the challenges and choices of liberalisation in regulating telecommunications; convergence, digitisation and new technologies; the Internet and e-Commerce; culture and content; and governance and human rights online.
The title of Professor Melody`s keynote address is "Preparing for the Next Generation Internet: creating opportunities from the lessons of global experience."
His paper argues that the extension of national telecommunications networks to provide access to voice services for larger numbers of people can, at the same time, provide the capabilities for access to an ever-expanding range of Internet services.
During the last five years, he adds, reform in many countries around the world has been driven by the synergy between telecommunications reform and Internet development. South Africa has achieved outstanding success during this period against some international benchmarks, but it has lagged in others.
"Most companies are now entering the Next Generation Internet phase of the telecommunications reform and development process. Rapidly expanding Internet services, ranging from e-mail and websites to IP telephony and e-Commerce, will drive the frontiers of telecommunications network in both rich and poor areas," Dr Melody concludes.
For further information about the conference see the Vodacom LINK Centre website on http://link.wits.ac.za
or contact the Director of the LINK Centre, Alison Gillwald, on 717 3645 or on gillwald.a@pdm.wits.ac.za
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