MANILA, Philippines, September 13, 2016 – Over 1,300 delegates representing 414 companies from 62 countries around the world recently attended the ACC 2016, the award winning telco and technology conference hosted by leading Philippine telco and digital services provider PLDT and its mobile subsidiaries Smart Communications and Sun at Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa in Cebu from September 6-9.
Now on its 12th year, the ACC 2016 ran on the business theme “The Digital Revolution: Navigating Through the Seas of Disruption.”
"As the ACC navigates a sea of change, we foster an environment that encourages new developments in the digital disciplines of SMACS -social engagement, machine-to-machine innovation and the Internet of Things, analytics and big data, cloud computing and platforms, as well as cybersecurity to protect a most vital new currency; our data," said PLDT/Smart EVP and ePLDT President & CEO Ernesto R. Alberto as he welcomed the delegates during the plenary session.
He added that, "Honestly I'm happily provoked by the idea that we continue to attend ACC to foster and strengthen relationships, with the end in view that we can all, multilaterally and bilaterally, quickly discover new revenue streams, to replace and recover the high-margin legacy voice business that has practically disappeared. New technologies have emerged and disrupted us and, as a consequence, market behaviors and buying habits have changed."
"Certainly the road of transformation stretches further; the waves of disruption continue to crest. The fact of the matter is, conferences such as the ACC are the key to our sustainability and survival," Alberto said.
Topbilled by speakers from around the world who are experts in the fields of telecommunications and technology, the ACC also provides an ideal venue for bilateral meetings, workshops, exhibits, and networking events - one of which was an all-female panel discussion and cocktail hour moderated by Isabelle Paradis, founder and president of Hot Telecom, a Montreal-based global telecoms research, consulting and advisory company.
The keynote address at the plenary was delivered by Shane Minogue, Telco Lead of the International Data Corporation (IDC) of Australia & New Zealand, who discussed the topic "The Digital Revolution: Navigating Through the Seas of Disruption." Other plenary speakers included Huawei Senior Consultant Yong Kim Sang, Ciena Asian & North Asia VP & GM Lionel Gan, Telecom Services Network CEO Kamal Patel, and Telekom Malaysia Berhad EVP Rozaimy Rahman.
"The ACC has become the much-anticipated conference for both international and local delegates because it offers them great technological knowledge and updates and huge opportunities to network, collaborate, and conduct business with industry leaders and players," Alberto said.
"ACC's great attendance through the years can be attributed to its unique combination of networking opportunities and business meetings, with fun and exciting social activities, as well as the excellent accommodations in Mactan Cebu's finest hotels," PLDT International & Carrier Business Head and PLDT Global Corporation President & CEO Alejandro O. Caeg said.
Platinum partners of ACC 2016 included Orange of France, PCCW Global of HongKong, Telecom Services Network (TSN) of Singapore, Tata Communications of India and Canada, Huawei of China, SP Telecom of Singapore, and Sigma Telecom of Istanbul and USA. Composing the gold sponsors were IDT Telecom Asia Pacific (IDT Asia), Quickcom Global, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS), Sheng Li Tel, Telstra, Bankai Group, BridgeVoice, Turk Telekom International (TTI), Digital Realty, BICS, and GTT. The silver partners were Ciena, BT, and Cisco, while the bronze sponsors were Telenor, MMDSmart, Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC), World Hub Communications Limited, TNZI, GENBAND, Telarix, and NGT Networks.
The conference program consisted of the plenary session, opening of the ACC 2016 Exhibit and Shopping Village, numerous workshops, bilateral meetings, turn-over of the ACC corporate social responsibility projects, and social activities.
