Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Business Weekly exclusively reported in March how interest group, Cambridge Wireless, had raised the spectre of a possible digital infrastructure meltdown brought about by the huge burden that will be placed on London’s systems by the attendance at the Games of the world’s media and millions of visitors.

A summit aimed at addressing just those issues as well as identifying further opportunities will take place at the Rowley Mile Racecourse in Newmarket on June 7.

The event, which has been jointly organised by Screen East and is sponsored by the Greater Cambridge Partnership, has attracted some heavy-hitting speakers including William Webb, director of research at OfCOM and Ben Gallop editor of BBC Sport Interactive.

David Cleevely, chairman of Cambridge Wireless said: “The 2012 Olympics will take place in an environment where the consumer will be very familiar with the possibilities of digital media and therefore extremely demanding.

“This presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities which can only be grasped by initiatives reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional industries, such as broadcasting, telecoms; banking, advertising, IT and tourism.

“Taking place on the doorstep of the East of England, these issues cannot be ignored or just addressed too late.

“With this in mind Screen East and Cambridge Wireless have taken the initiative to link the new media content and technology communities and invite adjacent stakeholders to help shape the big picture and to participate in the identification and capture of opportunities arising from it.”

Cambridge Wireless said the event also sought to indulge in a degree of crystal ball gazing about the new technologies that may be available by 2012 and what impact they might have.

Nigel Brown, chairman of the Greater Cambridge Partnership said: “Telecoms is one of the key sectoral assets of the Greater Cambridge area and one in which we truly compete internationally.

“This event will provide the opportunity for the many companies and individuals to come together to discuss business opportunities and get the most out of the Olympics for Greater Cambridge Plc.”

An equally heavyweight array of mobile movers and shakers land at UK Trade & Investment’s Technology-World07 at Hinxton Hall on the same day as the Cambridge Wireless’ event.

Fujitsu, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo, LG Electronics and Sharp Corporation are among the companies to headline the event, all, according to UKT&I, on the lookout for the latest killer technologies.

Chief executive Andrew Cahn said: “Mobile phone technology is developing at a rate of knots. Sooner rather than later we’ll be able to pay our bills, do our banking and watch television on our mobiles.

“Our credit cards, bank cards and even our Oyster card will all be a thing of the past as our mobile phones becomes even more multi purpose.”

TechnologyWorld06 generated more than £13m of business for the UK.