Alex Arena
Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer
PCCW

Fixed network operators around the world, particularly ex-incumbents or monopolies, have weathered a tough period of market liberalization and still face intense competition. All operators have had to re-invent themselves-moving from provision of basic narrowband access to broadband. Some operators, such as PCCW, have moved further to a more diversified model, focused on adding content, transaction, or application-related services. Interactive IP-based pay TV (or IPTV) is one example. PCCW's success in this shows that a traditional fixed network operator can make that transformation. Besides IPTV, other services, such as home networking, security and surveillance, t-commerce, micropayments, and fixed-mobile convergence, will all provide further areas of revenue growth and lead the customer into an exciting new world of converged communications.

The underlying fixed broadband network will need to change to support these new-generation services, and a cost-effective migration to an all IP-based next-generation network, or NGN, is of paramount importance. This migration brings with it a vast array of challenges, including security, reliability, and interconnection of networks, as well as the interoperability of vendor equipment in what will surely be a multi-vendor environment. The Broadband World Forum 2006 will be an ideal platform for operators to air and share their views on these challenges as well as for vendors to present their solutions. We have already seen from previous Broadband World Forums how the coming together of operators and other telecom industry leaders from around the globe can result in much greater collaboration and cooperation.

At the same time, the Broadband World Forum itself is evolving. This year we are pleased to widen the scope of the conference to include some new areas. For the first time, we are holding sessions dedicated to content provision, with reputed speakers in the field discussing crucial issues, such as content piracy and IPR, as well as the content aspects of the IPTV/pay-TV business. Also, we will be incorporating dedicated sessions on broadband wireless to examine the latest developments in this area, such as WiMAX and UMTS-TDD.

As overall Conference Chair of the Forum, it is my pleasure to invite you to this very special event. It will be a valuable opportunity for you to gain insight into the issues and strategies related to the future of broadband and the incredible breadth of new service opportunities. I expect this year's program to be especially stimulating.

I would like to thank the members of the planning committee, the session chairpersons, and all of the speakers and exhibiting companies for their valuable contributions to this event. PCCW is pleased to serve as official sponsor of the Broadband World Forum 2006, and I look forward to seeing you at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre overlooking the famous Hong Kong harbor.