LTE World Summit Latin America 2014
April 28 – April 30, 2014
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Windsor Barra Hotel
Attendees: 600+
Exhibitors: est. 39
Media/Analysts: est. 25+
Calysto Overview
The 5th annual LTE Latin America, part of the LTE World Summit series of events produced by Informa Telecoms and Media, was a forum for discussions about issues surrounding LTE deployments, case studies and network performance. Although organizers didn’t have final attendance figures available, they predicted attendance would come in at approximately at 700, including 60 percent who were operators from more than 30 countries across Latin America.
This year’s discussions centered on monetizing LTE, architecture and QoS challenges, hetnets, LTE business models, handling the mobile data explosion, Wi-Fi, backhaul and more.
The conference program followed the typical format, with strategic and technical tracks that gave attendees opportunities to learn more on current LTE topics: LTE advanced; HetNet evolution; SDN/network virtualization; LTE backhaul requirements; TD versus FD LTE; 5G; SDN; Voice-over-LTE; mobile video optimization; roaming and spectrum management; monetizing LTE; service innovation; and LTE security. There was also a pre-conference Signaling Focus Day and a Central American/Caribbean track.
Speakers came from ETB Colombia; VOX; CLARO; TIM Brazil; FOX Latin America; ON Telecom; VIVO Telefonica; Nextel Brazil; Telefonica Digital; IFETEL Mexico and other operators, government officials and vendors.
The show floor was generally busy and many took advantage of the speed networking sessions and the meeting request service, where organizers facilitated introductions with event attendees. Sponsors and exhibitors included Huawei, Samsung, Amdocs, F5 Networks, Alcatel Lucent, CSG, Ericsson, Oracle, Ulticom, SAP, ZTE, Allot, PCTEL, Broadsoft, and others.
Media mentions were mainly limited to Latin American press and some social media. The LTE World Series blog itself provided a few interviews with speakers.
Organizers maintain this event attracts a high level of decision-makers, along with government regulators, which makes it a good spot for those who want an event for lead generation and networking, as well as a forum to delve into the future of telecommunications in Latin America over the next few years. With the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, communication in Latin America is a primary focus.
From an interview in the LTE World Series blog, Artur Coimbra, Broadband Department, Director, Ministerio Das Comunicações, Brazil said: “4G is the current trend on individual broadband access in Brasil and, I believe, also in Latin America. We believe that more people will have Internet access through 4G than through fixed broadband by 2017. Therefore, we will come to LTE LATAM to talk about perhaps the most important telecommunications issue for the continent nowadays.”
Of course, Rio is ever a popular event destination as well.
Next: April 13 – 15, 2015; Windsor Barra Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Articles of Interest
LTE World Series blog