Comms Connect 2013: last chance to register

At the core of the event is still radio communications - its uses, applications and benefits. But with the convergence in communication technologies being seen - from IP to mobile broadband and more - the change in name reflects the fact that the event is not just about two-way/narrowband radio and that attendees are able to experience, firsthand, an increasingly broad range of communication technologies and solutions, both mission and business critical, in addition to what has traditionally been available.

Comms Connect 2013 will include workshops, case studies, technology sessions, panel discussions, keynotes and plenary sessions. The audience includes users from a wide range of sectors including numerous government departments, public safety agencies, transportation (rail, road), utilities, mining, and oil and gas, along with communications integrators, dealers, consultants and manufacturers.

With public safety having its own dedicated stream and workshops this year, the organisers are thrilled that Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour, O.O.M., executive director, Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group, will be joining proceedings to give a keynote address, chair one of the workshops and be on hand to advise local suppliers and interested parties about how best to operate within the Canadian marketplace.

There’s a fabulous line-up of other speakers and presentations to enjoy, including a special invited keynote address by Len Ricardo, operations manager at the NASA Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. Len has had more than 40 years of communicating with remote spacecraft; his presentation will cover the unique challenges of dealing with interplanetary communications.

The key focus points for Comms Connect 2013 are:

• Spectrum and licensing
• SCADA/M2M/Telemetry
• Backhaul - IP, microwave and everything in between
• Public safety communications
• LTE and mobile broadband
• Business critical communications - what are the most cost-effective solutions available?
• Networks and infrastructure
• Applications for radio users - what are they and how can they be used?
• Underground and in-building DAS systems - available solutions and their application

This year sees a big increase in the number and scope of training workshops offered in response to their limited introduction in 2012. Three hours in length, attendees will be exposed to greater detail from these classroom-style sessions. Topics covered will be:

• Infrastructure and towers
• Advanced radio over IP
• In-building distributed antenna systems (DAS)
• TETRA network and design
• Wireless broadband for critical communications
• Implementing a digital radio system

“We’ve definitely seen a shift this year in terms of both the number and scope of papers being received,” said Paul Davis, Comms Connect event director. “This will be the event’s seventh year, although it’s first under the new name, and it appears that it is finally and truly resonating with all stakeholder groups.

“It would be fair to say that at this stage it looks as though the 2013 conference will be the strongest to date with half a dozen in-depth training workshops, invite-only roundtables, two days of general industry sessions and keynotes, with local and international appeal, and the largest exhibition we’ve held; it’s very exciting to watch it take shape,” said Davis.

Full information on topics, workshops, speakers and registration details can be found on the Comms Connect 2013 website.

Comms Connect in Sydney in 2014

Meanwhile, details have been released of the first Comms Connect satellite event, to be held at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney, 18-19 June 2014.

Paul Davis, event director, WFevents, said, “We’ve been looking at how we can better serve the market - both users and industry - for quite some time now. A satellite event in Sydney, with the option to rotate to other cities each year, will give those who don’t get to Melbourne access to the quality conference material and training workshops on offer. It won’t be a carbon copy of the Melbourne event, but it will be substantial in terms of depth of conference material and technologies available to exhibition visitors on the show floor.”

A call for papers for Comms Connect Sydney will be published soon, with interested parties able to express their interest by making contact with the Comms Connect team.

For information about Comms Connect Sydney, please contact Paul Davis on 02 9487 2700. To express interest in speaking at Comms Connect Sydney, please contact Lisa Crossley on 02 9487 2700.

2013 Annual Industry Dinner and awards

Tomorrow (Friday, 15 November) is your last chance to register to attend the ARCIA 2013 Industry Gala Dinner, at which the annual industry awards will be presented. This year’s awards and corresponding sponsors are:

• Apprentice/Trainee Award - Engineers Australia
• Professional Sales Award - Motorola Solutions
• Customer Service Award - Schneider Electric (Trio Datacoms)
• Technical Excellence - Simoco Australia
• Engineering Elegance - Wireless Pacific
• New Talent - Harris
• Community Service Award - Critical Comms magazine