Top level executive speakers and a host of exhibitors are sure to attract record numbers to Europe ’ s leading event for broadband , cable and satellite . Euromedia takes a look at what to expect in Cologne .
Amonth before doors open , organisers of ANGA COM ( Cologne Fairgrounds , June 7-9 ), were able to report that 2015 ’ s booking levels have been matched , with 450 exhibitors from 37 countries having registered . “ The situation is even better than expected ,” said Dr Peter Charissé , Managing Director of ANGA COM . “ Numerous new exhibitors and increased booth spaces enabled us to more than compensate some merger- and marketrelated losses . Our concept of combining broadband and media mirrors the converging industry development obviously better than ever .”
For the first time , Dr Hannes Ametsreiter ( CEO Vodafone Germany ) and Anke Schäferkordt ( Co-CEO RTL Group ) will join the congress opening session . Highlight of the international congress track with 13 panels in English will be the re-designed International Television & Broadband Summit . Speakers are : Michel Azibert ( CCO and Deputy CEO , Eutelsat ), Wilhelm Dresselhaus ( spokesperson of the Managing Board , Nokia Solutions and Networks ), Bruce McClelland ( President Network and Cloud and Global Services , ARRIS ), Xinbing Tang ( CTO of Huawei Fixed Network Product Line ), Dirk Wierzbitzki ( EVP Products and Marketing , Swisscom ) and Dr Dirk Wössner ( President , Consumer Business Unit , Rogers
Communications ). The summit will be moderated by Matthias Kurth ( Executive Chairman of the European cable association Cable Europe ).
International highlight of the second day will be the speech of Günther H . Oettinger , European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society . He will present his view on broadband investments and connectivity in the Gigabit Society .
Topics of this year ’ s technology panels are Cloud TV , RDK ( in cooperation with SCTE – The Society for Broadband Professionals ), UHDTV ( in cooperation with DVB ), DOCSIS 3.1 ( in cooperation with ISBE – International Society of Broadband Experts ), Internet of Things , Big Data , PNM , RF Design , 5G and WiFi . All technology panels will be held in English .
For the joint congress day of ANGA COM and the media congress Medienforum NRW Hannelore Kraft ( above ), Prime Minister of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia , as well as leading representatives of the broadband and media sector have already confirmed their participation : Conrad Albert ( Member of the Executive Board , ProSiebenSat . 1 ), Tom Buhrow ( Director General , WDR ), Dr . Manuel Cubero ( CCO , Vodafone Deutschland ), Michael Hagspihl ( Managing Director Private Customers , Telekom Deutschland ) and Lutz Schüler ( CEO , Unitymedia ) are expected .
A further highlight is a panel dealing with the ‘ Cable Agenda 2018 ’, which will take place in cooperation with the VPRT ( Association of Private Broadcasting and Telemedia ) and the Medienforum NRW . Representatives of the Media Authorities , ProSiebenSat . 1 , Tele Columbus , Viacom and Vodafone will discuss the analogue switch-off and the coverage development of HD Free TV offerings . LIWEST Kabelmedien will report on the situation in Austria where the analogue switch-off has been already planned for this year .
A top-class strategy panel takes place in cooperation with the German TV
Association Deutsche TV-Plattform . It deals with the competition between the next generation of terrestrial television ( DVB-T2 ), which will begin operating in Germany during the course of this year , and Mobile TV via mobile networks and WiFi . Taking part in the discussion are Media Broadcast , Media Group RTL , Telekom Deutschland , Sony , Vodafone Deutschland and ZDF .
Another highlight is a panel about the future of Pay-TV and Video on Demand . Following his keynote , Dr . Christoph Schneider ( Managing Director Amazon Instant Video Germany ) will discuss with Deutsche Telekom , NBC Universal Global Networks Deutschland and Sky Deutschland .
In addition to the regular congress panels and open to all visitors there will be again a practical forum in the Speakers ’ Corner : 20 companies will present new products , projects and solutions ; altogether there will be 29 presentations . As a further highlight there will be three overseas panels ‘ ANGA Asia ’, ‘ ANGA Middle East ’ and ‘ ANGA Africa ’, where experts speak about experiences and outlooks in these markets .
The third congress day will become the Broadband Theme Day with free access for all visitors . The panels will particularly address all kind of broadband companies including the increasing number of local and regional fibre network operators . The topics range from FTTH , G . fast and Smart Home to Internet of Things and Regulation . Cooperation partners of the theme day are : Bitkom Federal Association for Information Technology , Telecommunications and New Media , BREKO Broadband Association , BUGLAS Association of Fiber Network Operators , FTTH Council Europe , VATM Association of Telecommunications and ZVEI .
“ This year , we bring together broadband and media companies more high-ranking and international than ever . With the re-designed International Television and Broadband Summit , the completely free of charge Broadband Day and three special overseas panels we underline our claim to be the leading market place for both industry sectors far beyond Germany ,” declared Charissé .
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