At a time when the emphasis is on solid business models, actual service deployment, and rational expectations of profitability, service providers must devote their resources accordingly. This means getting up to speed quickly and efficiently on the most recent technology applications and developments, as well as the strategies for turning these innovations into return-on-investment. The National Communications Forum (NCF), held October 29–November 1, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, emphasizes in-depth technical education by delivering the no-nonsense information carriers need to remain profitable and competitive. Complimented with the InfoVision Demonstrations, NCF zeroes in on the most important developments across the range of technologies within the communications industry, highlighting what's most relevant for the future of your company. The emphasis is on real-world deployments and lessons learned—not hype.

Emphasis on Optical, IP, and Next-Generation Developments

The network is simplifying as emerging protocols and switching developments enable multiple service types to traverse a common, fiber-based infrastructure. As gains in QoS, reliability, scalability, throughput, and network management bring this next-generation network to light, many challenges still remain. NCF-InfoVision 2001 is focused on helping service providers of all varieties negotiate this transition while achieving solid profitability every step of the way. Taken together, the educational program provides a virtual roadmap to the communications world of the future.

NCF-InfoVision 2001 is divided into five vertical tracks, each designed to cover the most salient developments and trends. Registrants are free to attend any session across these five Forums, enabling delegates to custom-craft their educational experience to meet their specific business requirements. Session content ranges from fundamentals training to reviews of leading-edge developments and applications.

This format allows NCF-InfoVision attendees to get up to speed on subjects while keeping abreast of leading trends within your area of expertise. This horizontal yet vertical design makes NCF-InfoVision the perfect vehicle to meet your training and continuing education needs.

• Metro Optical Forum
• Optical Technologies, Access, and Architectures Forum
• Carrier IP Forum
• DSL Access Forum
• Broadband Access Forum
• Complete conference information

Who Should Attend?

NCF 2001 is the premier conference for network professionals at service-provider and vendor organizations who must stay up-to-date on the latest industry developments. The program is geared toward the unique needs of professionals at service-provider communications companies, including the following:

• Incumbent local exchange carriers who must keep abreast of the very latest technological developments to serve their target markets effectively and to prevent competitors from penetrating those same markets first.
• Interexchange carriers and competitive long-distance carriers whose primary service long-distance connectivity is rapidly becoming a commodity, forcing the exploration of new enhanced services and market segments.
• Competitive local exchange carriers who are under increasing pressure to deliver profitability to their investors who must examine the latest technologies that enable the most effective new services.
• Fixed and mobile wireless service providers who must maximize the opportunities presented by deregulation to penetrate the North American market.
• Cable companies who will be forced in the near future to improve the reliability and sophistication of their existing plant as they assume the position of telephony service provider in the new local loop.
• Internet service providers whose basic business model is changing as customers look for more than simply connection to the Internet as a good price.
• Equipment and software vendors who must make certain that critical decisions regarding product-line development are in line with what end users and service providers require, now and in the future.
• Next-generation service providers who must stay up to date on the latest technology developments as they seek to serve users in the new world of communications.
• Government and university professionals whose regulatory activities and scholarly research must keep abreast with current business trends and real-world technology applications in the industry.