5 Reasons to Attend Connectivity Expo in May | Wireless Infrastructure Association

The wireless infrastructure industry’s premiere event is less than two months away. Connectivity Expo, which takes place May 20-23 in Orlando, is designed to serve all elements of the expanding and evolving wireless ecosystem – from the macro structures that stand high above the ground and the miles and miles of fiber networks below the ground to the technology driving the ongoing network densification in our cities and the technology embedded in our cars.

Connect (X) is dedicated to bringing together the buyers and sellers of connectivity solutions and will showcase the latest innovative technologies and the vital infrastructure that are driving the future of communications. If you haven’t already registered for Connect (X), here are five reasons you should sign up today:

Cutting-Edge Keynotes

The Connect (X) team has put together a lineup of powerful keynote speakers who will deliver insights about the worlds of infrastructure, wireless, technology and business. Among the scheduled keynote speakers are Neville Ray, T-Mobile’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, who will address Connect (X) attendees Tuesday morning as the show opens. A recent inductee into the Wireless Infrastructure Industry Hall of Fame, Ray has more than 25 years of experience in the design, deployment and operational management of wireless networks in the United States and around the world.

Shelley McKinley, General Manager of Microsoft’s Technology and Corporate Responsibility group (TCR), will address the attendees Wednesday morning. The mission of McKinley’s TCR group is to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more by driving the use of technology to benefit society.

Also on Wednesday, Dan Rabinovitsj, who leads Facebook’s recently launched Connectivity division, will speak. Rabinovitsj has three decades of communications and networking industry experience – including with Silicon Labs, Qualcomm and Ruckus Networks — and is passionate about connecting people, building great products and disrupting markets.

Deep Content

Connect (X) offers seven educational tracks with a variety of sessions to help you stay on top of the evolving wireless infrastructure industry. These tracks include:

5G Infrastructure: Fiber, Small Cells & Fixed Wireless. The step from 3G to 4G was dramatic, and 5G technology is poised to make even more significant changes to industries ranging from healthcare to transportation. This educational track focuses on the integrated solutions – mobile, fixed and fiber – that are required meet the capacity, connectivity and service requirements of a new wave of ultra-low latency applications.
Edge Computing: Intelligent & Distributed Network Infrastructures around the world are going through a massive transformation to keep up with the anticipated proliferation of Internet of Things and to enable 5G services. Understanding the opportunities in a new converged communications/computing infrastructure is critical to any organization in mobile, IT and 5G.
Private Enterprise LTE Networks One of the most significant developments in wireless today is the emergence of the Private Enterprise LTE network. Thanks to changes in the policy framework and new software-based solutions, enterprises can control their own mobile infrastructure and have new opportunities that did not exist before. This educational track focuses on the business models, technology options and benefits to incorporating LTE in shared and unlicensed spectrum to offer fast and reliable services to new support new services and applications, and keep connected to a denser, more diverse set of devices with wildly different performance requirements.
Towers and Macro Sites 2.0 As the wireless industry transitions to 5G and more customer segments emerge, the practical realities of how sites are developed, deployed, capitalized and managed is shifting. Now, infrastructure owners are faced with five different points of presence: macro sites, small cells, distributed network systems, fiber and highly secure radio access points. This series of educational sessions explores the roadmap for the wireless infrastructure industry to continue to provide the essential expertise and vital infrastructure. From new tower builds to commercial buildings to edge data centers—tower owners have a wealth of new opportunities and challenges in the decade to come.
Connected Buildings & Venues: Indoor Networks Property Tech is an important new area for commercial MTU, MXU, campus, industrial, public venue owners and operators. With 80% or more of the mobile traffic coming from indoor locations, property owners, property management and enterprises are becoming more active in owning, controlling and managing wireless infrastructure to ensure the needs of employees, tenants and guests are met with coverage and capacity. This educational track addresses the business shift, the technology and the expertise required to solve indoor connectivity challenges and enable decision-makers to take an active role in the on-premise connectivity infrastructure, from ownership to operations.
Advocacy Federal, state, and local governments continue to examine policies impacting wireless infrastructure deployment. These actions can affect your ability to deliver wireless services, both positively and negatively. These sessions are intended to provide an understanding of these issues and how they affect businesses. A wide array of industry experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders share insight and experience on the most effective approaches to site deployment regulations.
Infrastructure Finance & Investment Track Investment insights from infrastructure industry leaders and the financial analysts that cover it.

Special Programs

Connect (X) offers partner programs and networking opportunities you won’t want to miss, including:

OnGo Partner Program Workshop: This comprehensive workshop produced by the CBRS Alliance provides a deep-dive for business professionals from all industry sectors to examine the business models and underlying technology framework powering OnGo, the next generation standard in Private LTE and Private IoT networks. Attendees will learn from a set of thought-leaders from the CBRS Alliance, its leading member companies and a select team of end-users, all of whom will on stage at Connect (X) to detail their use cases, early deployment experiences and technology ‘take-aways’ that differentiate OnGo from other networking protocols.

The Safer Buildings Coalition is hosting a partner programs focused on the latest news and information about public-safety wireless networks. Sessions will focus on developments with FirstNet, in-building wireless network code requirements and the transition of LMR networks to LTE. A roundtable featuring a real-world discussion of radio and data communications occurring at the community level as well as a deep dive into the ERRCS best design practices and a discussion of RF engineering and in-building design will wrap this partner program up on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Supplier Diversity Summit will bring together diverse businesses with major wireless companies in face-to-face meetings. This program is designed to facilitate productive discussions focused on the role diversity plays in the wireless infrastructure industry.

Exciting Exhibits

More than 100 exhibitors will be on hand to showcase the latest and greatest products and services essential for wireless networks today and in the future. Last year, attendees got up close and personal with a full-scale smart light pole and a smart police car on the show floor and were able to tour an operational data center among other hands-on exhibits.
In addition to a variety of interactive exhibits, attendees can also tour the OnGo Pavilion in the Connect (X) exhibit hall, featuring prototype and commercial CBRS products.

Networking and Fun

What’s a great tradeshow without plenty of opportunities for networking and fun? Connect (X) offers plenty of both.

WIA’s 15th annual golf tournament will take place at Celebration Golf Clubin Orlando on Monday. It’s here that you’ll do more than play a round—you’ll feel what it’s like to play the final course co-designed by the renowned masters of golf course architecture, Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior. See you on the links!

The Connect (X) Launch Party will kick off the show Monday evening at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar.

The 4th Annual Music Movement Charity Concert Tuesday evening will feature country music favorites Joe Nichols and Billy Dawson at BB Kings Blues Club in Orlando.

Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum reception at the Hyatt Regency Orlando – Garden Terrace on Wednesday.

For more information, visit www.connectivityexpo.com

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