Government, public safety, transportation, utilities and enterprises rely on communications technology to keep the public safe, everything powered, communities moving, employees working and our lives and businesses working properly. Last week at the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) over 7,000 communications technology professionals gathered in Las Vegas to learn, network and see new, innovative technologies from more than 400 exhibitors; 100 of those were new to the event, according to show executives.
Stephanie McCall, Show Director, IWCE said, “Over the past 40 years IWCE has evolved from a dealer- only show to a communications technology event. The response we received from attendees and exhibitors last week shows that IWCE is as relevant as ever. We continue to be committed to delivering outstanding education and a platform for technologies innovators to showcase their technology. This is a very exciting time for our industry. We are thrilled to play a role providing a forum for critical communications technology professionals.”
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) partner announcement was the buzz among event attendees. FirstNet was featured throughout the expo hall and conference program. In addition, FirstNet President T.J. Kennedy delivered a keynote address discussing the latest updates to the nationwide public safety broadband network. To view the video, click here. The week’s biggest announcement was made Thursday in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, who announced that FirstNet would sign a 25-year contract to AT&T to build and maintain the nationwide public-safety broadband network, Inside Towers reported. Leaders from FirstNet then held a Town Hall at IWCE on Thursday afternoon to discuss the announcement further. Click here to view the video.
IWCE 2017 was co-located with IWCE’s Network Infrastructure Forum, which brought together the industry’s wired and wireless players to examine communications technology infrastructure, and ETA International’s Education Forum, which offered nine training courses in popular technology areas along with certification.
IWCE also celebrated the retirement and 60-year public service career of Chief Harlin McEwen with a Lifetime Achievement Award. McEwen is currently the Chairman of the FirstNet’s Public Safety Advisory Committee and has had a remarkable story of public safety service, as both a law enforcement officer and administrator. He has been an advocate for public safety telecommunications issues and the “unquestionable lobbying leader for public safety to Congress and the FCC,” according to McCall.
IWCE 2018 will take place March 5-9, 2018, in Orlando, Florida. To learn more, visit www.iwceexpo.com.
April 7, 2017
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