IEC Presents France Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, Viaccess and BT in Exclusive Plenary Panel - "Role of Service Providers in the Content Value Chain" at Broadband World Forum Europe 2008

The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) will showcase four of the world's most prominent and influential broadband leaders in a plenary panel on solutions for service providers at the Broadband World Forum Europe 2008 taking place this 29 September – 2 October at the Brussels Expo

CHICAGO – September 23, 2008 – The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) presents “Role of Service Providers in the Content Value Chain" at the Broadband World Forum Europe 2008 next week in Brussels chaired by Mr. Jean-Philippe Vanot, France Telecom’s executive senior vice president of group networks and information systems. Panelists include Deutsche Telecom’s senior vice president of content sourcing and media cooperation, Mr. Peter Kerckhoff; Mr. François Moreau de Saint Martin, chief executive officer of Viaccess; and BT Vision’s head of business development, Mr. Richard Young.

“We look forward to hosting speakers of this caliber in Brussels, as their insight into the challenges and solutions facing today’s service providers will prove invaluable in defining one’s position within the broadband marketplace,” commented IEC President John Janowiak.  “Access to plenary panels such as this illustrates the superior value we consistently look to provide to our general body of attendees with the Exhibits PLUS Pass.”

The plenary panel will address the content ecosystem and the role service providers play, the value they bring, and issues and alternatives that need to be addressed.

“Customers’ needs are increasing dramatically. They want access at all times and places from the device of their choice, as well as the ability to modify, enrich, and share content within different communities,” stated World Forum Plenary Panel Chair Vanot.

“On the other hand, the content owners want to protect their rights while selling secured access to their content. Our plenary panel, ‘Role of Service Providers in the Content Value Chain’ at the Broadband World Forum Europe 2008, will discuss how to maximize these new market opportunities and discuss how the different service providers will have to define their role in the content value chain.”  Mr. Vanot continued, “European telecoms British Telecom, Deutsche Telecom, and France Telecom-Orange, as well as technology provider Viaccess, will explain their respective positions on the different strategic, financial, and technical issues facing the industry leaders today.”

Plenary Panelist François Moreau de Saint Martin added, “Content is the core of the service, and licensing content is key for content services providers. Their success is therefore based on the quality of their value proposition to the content owners. Innovation is generating new revenue streams and increasing them, benefiting the content owners as well. Content protection ensures that these revenue streams are protected...”

The session takes place at 14:00 on Tuesday, 30 September at the Brussels Expo. For more information on this panel, visit: http://www.iec.org/events/2008/bbwf/conference/pp_tuesday_2.asp.
The IEC grants access to this panel along with all keynotes, plenary panels, the InfoVision Awards, Technology Theater presentations, networking receptions, and the entire exhibition floor as part of its Exhibits PLUS package available at www.iec.org/events/2008/bbwf/register/. 

All accredited members of the media are entitled to full and complimentary access to the entire four-day event by registering at www.iec.org/events/2008/bbwf/register/press_reg.asp.