FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Contact: Lisa Reyes
Phone: +1-312-559-3325
E-Mail: lreyes@iec.org

European Contact: Brian Dolby
Phone:+44 (0)115 948 6917
E-Mail: brian@bcspr.co.uk

European Contact: Howard Jones
Phone:+44 (0)115 948 6917
E-Mail: howard@bcspr.co.uk

CHICAGO – February 20, 2008 – The International Engineering Consortium (IEC) today announced that Telecom Italia will serve as a service provider sponsor at the upcoming SOFNET 08 conference and exhibition this 28 April through 1 May at the Olympia National Hall in London, England with BT as the official host sponsor.

"It's clear to the industry where next-generation networks are headed and what they need to be successful," commented IEC President John Janowiak. "And currently there is no conference and exhibition exclusively dedicated to bringing software and hardware vendors together with the new breed of 'soft service providers'…therefore the IEC is proud to partner with BT and Telecom Italia to quench the thirst for this type of knowledge."

SOFNET 08 will present more than 50 world-class educational sessions to complement an exhibition featuring cutting-edge software and hardware applications created to enhance IP-centric networks designed to satisfy the end user by offering a multitude of "anything, anytime, anywhere" services.

"Telecom Italia is committed to provide ultra bandwidth to its clients thus enabling a variety of services increasing industry and commerce productivity and bettering the way of life of citizens," commented Telecom Italia Head of Future Center and Technical Communications Roberto Saracco. Mr. Saracco continued, "To that effect Telecom Italia is building an infrastructure based on optical and wireless that will progressively and pervasively reach all its clients…software is becoming a crucial asset for the exploitation of the ever more powerful communication and SOFNET 2008 can help in creating a better understanding among the various stakeholders."

Roberto Saracco Head, Long Term Research and Scientific Communication Telecom Italia

SOFNET 08 Conference Chair and BT Group Chief Technology Officer Matt Bross further commented, "While transforming our business at BT, we realised early on that, in a software-driven world, collaboration with external partners was crucial. The SOFNET 08 conference and exhibition will address why service and application innovation has become imperative for sustainable customer and shareholder success."

Conference Chair Matt Bross Chief Technology Officer BT Group

SOFNET 08 will unite software and next-generation technologies by enabling "soft service providers" to deliver innovative services to market.

Keynote speakers include Conference Chair Matt Bross; Ms. Sally Davis, chief executive officer of BT Wholesale; Mr. Bhaskar Gorti, senior vice president and general manager of Oracle; Mr. Helmut Leopold, director of platform and technology management at Telekom Austria AG; and Mr. Andreas Mueller-Schubert, general manager of global solutions at Microsoft TV Microsoft Corporation.

For a detailed conference schedule and exhibitor listing, visit www.iec.org/events/2008/sofnet/ or contact Lisa Reyes for more information at lreyes@iec.org or +1-312-559-3325.

ABOUT THE IEC
A nonprofit organization, the IEC is dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high-technology industries and their university communities. Since 1944, the IEC has provided high-quality educational opportunities for industry professionals, academics, and students.

In conjunction with industry-leading companies, the IEC has developed an extensive, free, on-line educational program. The IEC conducts industry-university programs that have substantial impact on curricula. It also conducts research and develops publications, conferences, and technological exhibits that address major opportunities and challenges of the information age.

More than 70 leading high-technology universities are IEC affiliates, and the IEC handles the affairs of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association and Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society for electrical and computer engineers. Please visit www.iec.org.