30/08/2007 - 01/09/2007
46th FITCE Congress Warsaw, Poland
Belgium scores big at the 2007 congress in Warsaw
A new milestone in the European FITCE community has been achieved this year: the FITCE Congress 2007 was the first to be organised in Eastern Europe. Poland’s capital Warsaw was the host of the 2007 FITCE congress. The Congress with as motto “The Broadband Way to the Future” took place from 30th of August to 1st of September 2007. About 150 ICT professionals from 16 different EU national FITCE member organisations made the trip to Warsaw and they received value for their presence. As usual, the Belgian delegation was well represented with 13 participants (without the partners). For more details you can also visit www.fitce2007.pl.
The main topics of the Congress were:
- Broadband Services and Business Models
- Broadband Network and Market Evolution
- Content Needs and Broadband Access Supply
- Frequency Management and Accessibility for New Broadband Services
- Quality of Service and Users Trust
- Content from Users
- Fixed and Mobile - Telecommunication Service in Converged World
- European Regulatory Context
- New Telecommunication Services and Social Behaviour
The Congress was opened by the welcome messages from Mr. Giorgios Argyropoulos, President of FITCE Europe, Mr. Jerzy Polaczek, Minister of Transport Republic of Poland and Mr. Wocjieck Halka, President of SIT Poland. All opening speakers stressed the fact that this congress was the first to be held in Eastern Europe and that it could be seen as a clear indication of strong economic growth in Eastern Europe.
The opening ceremony ended with an interesting panel debate between top-level representatives of the incumbent Polish operator as well as of the new competitive telecom service providers. The main topic in the debate was “The Broadband Future” and how to make it tangible for the community.
This first day of the congress continued with 2 technical sessions, entitled “The Broadband Way to the Future” and “Can Broadband be made profitable?”.
During coffee breaks and during lunch it was clearly observable why FITCE is the place to be for each ICT professional: it is offering an ideal platform to network among ICT peers within the EU and to exchange valuable related experiences and insights. 
Belgian delegates José Van Ooteghem and Filip Simoens talking with Jean-Paul Casel of FITCE Luxemburg)
As usual and typical for the FITCE Congresses there is also time for pleasure and getting a taste of the local culture. The Polish organisation surprised the whole FITCE attendance with an enjoyable typically Polish dinner in a historic 19th century farmhouse of which the impressive wooden construction caused the admiration of the participants. 
Belgian delegation enjoying a Polish dinner
The 2nd day was a full but very interesting day, well filled with 6 additional sessions with following topics: “New Services, New Regulations”, Mobile on the Move”, “FMC = Fixed – Mobile competition”, “Network Technology Trends” and “Broadband Wireless Access Evolution” and “Users shape the Broadband Future”.
Our FITCE.be boardmember Marc Verbruggen – also our representative in the Congress Paper Selection Committee – was chairman of the session “Network Technology Trends”. 
Marc Verbruggen in action as session chairman
During these 2nd day sessions, all 4 selected Belgian papers were presented:
- Eleni Kosta, KUL: ”RFID Technology: When Innovation brings Along Data Protection Challenges”
- Jan Van Ooteghem, UGent – IBBT: “Business Models for Broadband Internet on the Train”
- Nico De Blauwe, VUB: “Public Transport LBS: Combining GPS and GSM Poitioning Techniques”
- Patrick Boets, VUB – Banama Telecom: “Wireless Broadband Communications in Rural and Remote Areas – a WiMAX Solution?”
FITCE.be hereby warmly thanks the Belgian speakers for their valued congress contributions.
The Belgian congress speakers-left to right: Nico De Blauwe, Eleni Kosta, Jan Van Ooteghem and Patrick Boets
For the first time during FITCE congresses there was also a “Poster Session” foreseen with as topic “Green Telecommunication”.
After such a day of being completely immersed within new ICT insights and technological updates it was time to find some relaxation and again take a taste of a typical Polish sight. The Polish FITCE organisation offered us a guided tour at the “Museum of Gas Production” where we received an interesting explanation of how the City of Warsaw produced gas for utility purposes for its citizens as well as for street lighting. This gas production started end of the 19th century and lasted even till the seventies of the previous century. The evening was concluded with a Polish dinner at the museum.
The 3rd and last day of the Congress started with the Round Table and Conclusions of the Congress, followed by the FITCE General Assembly. 
General Assembly-left to right: Secretary General Filip Geerts, President of FITCE Europe Giorgios Argyropoulos and General Treasurer Georges Devroey
In the afternoon of that last day we enjoyed a tour of Warsaw. 
A visit at the Royal Castle
And to respect the good traditions of the FITCE congresses there was of course the Gala Dinner which took place at the Hall of the Faculty of Physics – Warsaw University of Technology.
The Gala Dinner was - especially for the Belgian delegation - a “big moment” of pride
As usual during the Gala Dinner, the FITCE Congress Awards were presented and all 3 awards were granted to Belgian speakers :
- Nico De Blauwe : award for Best Presenter
- Jan Van Ooteghem : award for Best Young Presenter
- Eleni Kosta : award for Best Paper
FITCE.be hereby warmly expresses its congratulations to the award-winning speakers. 
Jan Van Ooteghem receiving his award
Press play for an interview with the award winners
One congress is hardly finished or the next one already calls for attention.
The 2008 FITCE Congress will take place in Liverpool from 3rd Sept till 6th Sept 2008. The theme of the 2008 congress is “The Magical Mystery Tour – Next Stop…True Convergence?” (for more information visit www.fitce08.eu.)
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