17th Convergence India
Inauguration 18 March, 2009

The opening day of the 17th edition of Convergence India brought together 389 participants to showcase cutting edge ICT technologies and innovations in emerging segments of 3G, WiMAX, IPTV, digital cable, VoIP, video phone services etc. The participation of exhibitors from 20 countries, including three country pavilions from China, Taiwan and USA, served to highlight the interest of international players in the growing Indian Information & Communications Technology (ICT) market.

With wireless technologies allowing mobile access to voice, data and multimedia over converged networks, the Indian market is excited about the reach of new applications like tele-medicine, tele-education, mobile Internet and location-based services.

“In today’s world – convergence is the keyword. All facets of communication have converged digitally into the mobile handset,” said chief guest Shri Siddhartha Behura, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Govt of India - at the inauguration of the 17th Convergence India 2009.

With a tele-density of merely 14%, rural India represents the next phase of growth for the ICT industry. Shri Behura emphasized the role of communications technology in reducing the digital divide. “Our main concern is to bridge the gap between urban and rural India,” he remarked.

State-owned telecom giants BSNL and MTNL participated at the event, in the wake of commercial deployment of 3G services by both players in various Indian cities. Mr. Kuldeep Goyal, CMD, BSNL and Mr. RSP Sinha, CMD, MTNL were felicitated as Guests of Honour at the event’s Opening Ceremony.

Milagrow Business and Knowledge Solutions released an industry White Paper sharing key insights on the Telecom & Mobility, Broadcasting & Satellite Communications and IT industries in India and the Global Information Security market at the event. Mr. Rajeev Karwal, Milagrow presented the paper at the Opening Ceremony.

The inauguration ceremony was well attended by the industry at large, dignitaries’, senior government officials and media. Keeping with the Indian culture- a Saraswati Vandana, followed by Lamp lighting and ribbon –cutting ceremony by Shri Behura officially commenced the show.