The Competitive Carriers Association’s upcoming Global Expo event, like many of CCA’s past events, will surely not lack for topics.
Since CCA’s last event in September, the mobile telecom space has witnessed a record-breaking spectrum auction, postponement of the highly anticipated 600 MHz incentive auction and the release of the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality Report and Order. All of this is on top of what has been a significant increase in competitive pressures that continue to squeeze CCA’s core rural carrier membership.
As such, CCA has a ripe pool of topics from which to choose in setting up various keynote sessions and educational panels. Those keynote sessions are set to include a CEO panel with Sprint’s Marcelo Claure, Rodney Dir from Ntelos Wireless, Jonathan Foxman from Cellular One and Ron Smith from Bluegrass Cellular.
Claure’s participation is highly anticipated as this will be his first time taking the stage at a CCA event since being named CEO of Sprint last August. Sprint has a bit of history in making waves at CCA shows since becoming a member, with Chairman Masayoshi Son last year offering financial assistance to rural operators in building out their LTE networks, as well as the carrier partnering with CCA on its Data Services Hub.
CCA also has planned a keynote panel with representatives from The Weather Channel, The Home Depot and CNN looking at new opportunities for mobile operators in generating revenue from their networks. Other keynote addresses lined up include a handful of equipment vendors looking to guide rural operators in the deployment of next generation services like LTE, voice over LTE and rich communication services.
As for educational tracks, the event has them themed toward financial, technical, marketing/customer service and policy.
One underlying theme for the event could be that CCA is set to alter the proceedings beginning in 2016. CCA President and CEO Steve Berry noted that the Global Expo will transform into the Mobile Carriers Show with its scheduled kickoff next April in Nashville, Tenn. Berry said the move will allow CCA to better focus on mobile carriers, highlighting “smart strategies, innovations and business opportunities in the ever-evolving industry,” with plans for vendors to stress revenue-generating opportunities for CCA’s members. This will also include CCA looking to attract new speakers from outside the traditional telecom industry as well as have educational programs that target a broader range of vendors.
The change will not impact its fall event, which runs under the Annual Convention title. Berry said that event, which is currently scheduled for Oct. 6-9, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will continue focusing more on CCA-related organizational issues, including association member meetings and the election of organization officials.
Look for RCR Wireless News coverage of the 2015 CCA Global Expo beginning March 25, including stories on top news from the event and live video streaming of the important keynotes and panel discussions.
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