While worldwide broadband service - and IP telephony service in particular - is deploying gradually, Japan has already experienced rapid growth of over 1 million FTTP subscribers and over 4 million VoIP users. Indeed, the region has started shifting toward the second stage of these services. Current IP telephony over broadband service in Japan is moving to carrier-grade reliability and value-added service. In this session, panelists will discuss the current technology and market situation surrounding broadband IP telephony. Future prospects for worldwide adoption will be examined with regards to:

• Reasons behind the rapid growth of broadband IP telephony in Japan
• Regulation and deregulation
• Competitive situation facing IP telephony service providers
• IP-Centrex service penetration
• Wireless IP telephony developments
• Convergence between IP telephony and web-based applications

Yasubumi Chimura
Vice President
IP Solution Company
Oki Electric Industry

Since he joined Oki Electric Industry in 1981, Mr. Chimura has been engaged in research and development of message switching, packet switching and ATM-LAN. Since 1995, he has led VoIP products development in Oki and established IPTPC (IP Telephony Promotion Center) in 2002 to promote and deploy VoIP market. Mr. Chimura is also working for VoIP quality assessment standardization in TTC (The Telecommunication Technology Committee), Japan.

Pete Bonee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sylantro Systems, has 25 years of leadership experience in companies focused on emerging communications technologies and markets. Prior to Sylantro, Mr. Bonee was vice president of product operations at Latitude Communications, a leading innovator in enterprise conferencing. As one of Latitude's early executives, he was responsible for product development, manufacturing operations, customer support, international product approvals, and distributor channel support.

Toshiyuki Misu, Chief Manager, 1st Network Software Division, NEC, joined the company in 1984. He has been engaged in the software and business development of intelligent networks, VoIP, mobile Internet, and IP multimedia subsystems.

Tatsuya Yonekawa, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Service and Operations, Communications Business Department, NTT Resonant, Inc., is responsible for the service and operations of NTT Resonant, Inc., one of the NTT group companies dedicated to developing new communication and portal services. Previously, Mr. Yonekawa was responsible for creating the NTT group's long-term vision in NTT holdings. Prior to NTT holdings, he was responsible for developing customer premises equipment for NTT.