Comptel Plus

 Exhibits and Educational Sessions Highlight Impact of Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC – March 18, 2013 – COMPTEL, the leading trade association for the competitive communications industry, last week hosted the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Convention & EXPO at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The show attracted almost 2,100 attendees, from all 50 states and six countries, of which more than 45 percent were senior-level decision makers. In addition, the EXPO featured 100 exhibitors – including 17 that were exhibiting at COMPTEL PLUS for the first time.

“There was a tremendous energy at COMPTEL PLUS, as our attendees explored exhibitors’ new products and services in the EXPO hall and networked in a packed Deal Center,” said COMPTEL CEO Jerry James. “In addition, our slate of speakers was very impressive, featuring subject-matter experts who provided informative presentations and showcased how innovation is forever changing the communications industry.”

Innovation was the theme of COMPTEL PLUS, underscored not only by the range of exhibitors in the EXPO, but by keynote speaker Terry Jones, founder and former CEO of Travelocity.com, chairman of Kayak.com and a former EarthLink board member. Jones, the author of “ON Innovation,” discussed how the engine of innovation rests on two pillars: culture and team. And he explained that it’s important to recognize that innovation is not just about how technologies have evolved, but businesses must adapt and develop “digital relationships” with their key constituencies. 

The educational agenda at COMPTEL PLUS also focused on several topics – from cloud services and Ethernet over copper to the IP transition and other key regulatory issues – in tracks on the transition, transformation and innovation in the communications industry.

COMPTEL PLUS kicked off with a golf tournament at the Desert Pines Golf Club, which was followed by the opening night reception in the exhibit hall. Other highlights of the show included:

• CEO Breakfast – This much-anticipated, invitation-only networking event was attended by 50 C-level executives. It featured a panel discussion with Clint Heiden, president of Sidera Networks, and Scott Widham, CEO of Alpheus Communications, both of whom were named Top Competitive Provider Executives of 2012 by FierceTelecom.
• Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) two-hour mini-event entitled "Ethernet Access Services - The Secret Sauce for Service Provider Growth" – This mini-workshop showed attendees how Ethernet access services are enabling a wide group of service providers to capitalize on market opportunities and build new revenue streams.
• Eckert Seamans’ Wednesday workshop on "Interconnection Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Past Present and Future" – This workshop focused on the ongoing significance of interconnection negotiations and arbitrations as the public switched telephone network (PSTN) transitions from TDM to IP-based technology, and how Sections 251 and 252 apply to SIP interconnection.

COMPTEL PLUS EXPO
Throughout the COMPTEL PLUS show, more than 1,200 attendees used the Business PLANner deal center in the EXPO hall, participating in 575 meetings with prospective and current customers.

At the end of the EXPO on Tuesday, March 12, there was an exhibit hall drawing sponsored by exhibitors CSF Corporation, GeoResults, GSAssociates, Overture Networks, RAD Data Communications, Sales Tax Associates Inc., Telco Systems and Transition Networks. Winners of the raffle received American Express gift cards for $1,500, $1,000 and $500. The EXPO drawing sponsors also held raffles in their booths during the convention, in which selected attendees each won $100 gift cards.

News from the COMPTEL PLUS Spring 2013 Convention & EXPO can be found online in the COMPTEL PLUS Show Daily. For news from Monday, March 11, and Tuesday, March 12, visit the COMPTEL PLUS archives. 

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About COMPTEL PLUS
The COMPTEL PLUS Convention & EXPO is the preeminent networking event for innovative communications companies and their supplier partners. Held twice a year, COMPTEL PLUS attracted more than 20 exhibitors and more than 4,100 attendees to our 2012 events. COMPTEL PLUS provides attendees with the opportunity to learn about new products, services and industry trends; meet potential customers and do business. In addition, COMPTEL PLUS offers comprehensive educational programming led by experienced industry speakers. COMPTEL PLUS is produced by COMPTEL, the leading industry association representing competitive communications service providers and their supplier partners. Follow us at www.comptelplus.org or on Twitter at @comptelplus.