Credit Crisis Intensifies Collaboration Among Telecoms.

PTC'09 Looks to Partnerships to Recession-Proof Telecoms Industry

HONOLULU -- In response to the international credit crisis, telecoms have stepped up their level of collaboration with uncommon partners in a strategic move towards recession-proofing. Sharon Nakama, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), forecasts a major reduction to the number of costly projects - such as network infrastructure-building - which are financed and operated by just one entity. Instead, she points to consortiums of varied and diverse members such as the "Unity" cable, being cost-shared by Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, Google, KDDI Corporation, Pacnet and SingTel. This unique six-member group, which includes a web giant, voice carriers, and a specialist data center company, is building an undersea cable from Tokyo to Los Angeles which is expected to provide capacity as early as 2010.

"The Unity Cable typifies how the telecommunications sector adapted its way out of the last downturn," Nakama said. "As a result, the industry is better positioned in today's credit squeeze." At least three of the Unity partners - Google, Pacnet and Bharti Airtel - will address an international audience of telecom leaders from over 60 countries at PTC'09: Collaborating for Change, which will be headlined by the legendary Vinton Cerf of Google. PTC'09 kicks off in Honolulu on January 18, 2009, and runs through January 21.

"Collaboration is and will be inevitable alongside partners and competition," said Bill Barney, Chief Executive Officer of Pacnet. "The Unity Cable project is an example where Pacnet and its consortium partners have led the way for a new operating model for future submarine cable systems. By coming together to build a cable with a high fiber count, consortium members can benefit from a high bandwidth cable that comes at lower unit costs. Unlike traditional consortium-built cables, Unity's new cable operating model allows consortium members to operate fiber pairs in the new cable independently. We believe collaboration and cooperation in the telecoms sector will be here for years to come."

PTC'09: Collaborating for Change will also host world telecom gurus such as Jidong Zhao, Senior Vice President, China Unicom; David McGlade, CEO Intelsat; Kathryn Morrissey, Senior Vice President, AT&T; Akira Terasaki, Vice Minister for Policy Coordination, MIC, Japan; Larry Irving, Co-Chairman, Internet Innovation Alliance; Greg Wyler, CEO, O3b Networks; and many more.

"Sponsorship for the conference is very strong, and with the number of high-level speakers on the program, space is filling up with many early registrations," Nakama said. Discounts are available prior to October 31, 2008. PTC'09 will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.

Space is limited. Online registration is available at www.ptc.org/ptc09. PTC'09 is sponsored by Rogers Communications Inc., Tata Communications, AT&T Wholesale, Bharti Airtel Limited, China Unicom, Pacnet, Stealth Communications, Arbinet, CPCNet Hong Kong Limited, Macquarie Telecom, Orange, Qwest, CITIC Telecom 1616, Global Crossing, Hutchison Global Communications Limited, iBasis, KT, Sprint, GT Group International, Brasil Telecommunications, Ltda, Level 3 Communications, REDCOM, Space Systems/Loral and SubOptic 2010.

Established in 1978, the Pacific Telecommunications Council is an international, non-profit, non-government membership organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Its mission is to promote the development, understanding, and beneficial use of telecommunications and information technology throughout the Pacific region. PTC creates opportunities for networking and the sharing of ideas and information through its annual telecommunications conference, regional seminars, and various activities and interest groups.