ITU/94-1
1 February 1994
ORIGINAL: English

The TELECOM  95  FORUM revamped
to reflect today's world of telecommunications

The TELECOM 95 FORUM, to be held in Geneva in 
conjunction with the TELECOM 95 exhibition from 3 to 11 
October 1995 has been drastically re-thought in light of the 
changes in the policy, economic, regulatory, financial, 
development and investment aspects of telecommunications 
that are now intimately entwined with technology. Innovative in 
concept, form and substance, the FORUM will consist of two 
summits, one on strategies and one on technology. 

TELECOM 95 will be the 7th in the series of World TELECOM 
Exhibition and Forum events, organized by the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) every four years in Geneva, 
earning the title Telecommunications Olympics. TELECOM 91 
attracted over 132,000 exhibition attendees, 850 exhibitors, 
1 790 press representatives and 3 630 conference delegates 
from 142 countries.

Held under the theme "Connect!", the FORUM will include 
major innovations reflecting the new communications industry 
which is emerging. Computers, networking and software are 
already key components of telecommunications and now new 
important players are competing for position in the broadcast, 
entertainment and consumer electronics industries.

The Forum aims to open up a true dialogue with all relevant 
companies and organizations affected by the current 
information technology revolution. "By establishing a truly open 
door policy, the FORUM is a unique opportunity to bring all 
these interest groups together", says Pekka Tarjanne, 
Secretary-General of the ITU, "It will allow the 
telecommunications industry to explain what it has to offer, and 
the users' community to articulate its requirements" thus 
concretely following up decisions expected to be taken at the 
World Telecommunication Development Conference next 
month.

Held under the theme Breaking down barriers towards a global 
information society, the Strategies Summit will provide the 
arena for a multicisciplinary debate addressing the needs of 
ITU constituency as well as the new and convergent nature of 
the evolving telecommunication environment. The topics will 
cover the following broad issues: 
-	Global markets, regional realities: characterizing the 
challenge
-	Evolving structures: public needs, institutional 
responsibilities, managing change
-	Resourcing for growth: capital formation, human 
resources
-	Telecom futures, telecom risks
-	Global challenge; strategies in transition and new 
agenda for international cooperation

Speakers will be invited by the Secretary-General on the basis 
of a pre-selection made by a steering committee.
For the first time, the Technology Summit will provide an 
interactive arena for users, traditional telecommunications 
companies, computer and consumer electronics giants, 
broadcast and cable television interests, and entertainment 
and software companies. Speakers will be selected on the 
basis of papers submitted following the Call for Papers issued 
on 24 January last.

The theme of the Technology Summit "Convergence of 
technologies, services and applications" will explore in three 
parallel conference tracks, the following issues:
-	Communications services for the individual
-	Communications services for business
-	National, regional and global issues

The Call for Papers for the Technology Summit encourages 
submissions from all industries involved in or affected by the 
new telecommunications environment and from governments 
of all countries be they developing or developed. The deadline 
for the receipt of abstracts is 15 August 1994. 

For press enquiries, please contact:
Francine Lambert
Chief, Press and Public Information
International Telecommunication Union
Place de Nations
CH-1211 Geneve 20
Tel: +41 22 730 5969
Telefax: +41 22 730 5939
E-mail:  
X400: s=itumail;a=arcom;p=itu;c=ch
Internet:  itumail@itu.ch

For information on submitting abstracts contained in the Call 
for Papers, please contact:
Lili Rison
Project Manager, TELECOM 95
International Telecommunication Union
Place de Nations
CH-1211 Geneve 20
Telephone: +41 22 730 5244
Telefax: +41 22 730 6444
E-mail:  
X400: s=telecominf;a=arcom;p=itu;c=ch
Internet:  telecominf@itu.ch

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