With day one of the Wi-Fi Global Congress in San Jose offering an absolute wealth of discussion and talking points, day two kicked off with much promise (and, perhaps, a little disappointment at the fact that it was the last day of the event).
And, once again, it certainly delivered on all fronts. Day two began with WBA co-chair Chris Bruce delivering his opening address and explaining what attendees could expect over the course of the day. Chris also served as the moderator for the first panel discussion of the day: ‘Connect the Unconnected.’ This discussion featured WBA CEO Shrikant Shenwai, Prof H Nwana, Executive Director at the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, Gulzar Azad, Head of Connectivity at Google India, and Dr. Vasanth Kumar, IT Secretary for Delhi City Government. The panel shared their thoughts and learnings on a variety of topics, chief of which was the process of bringing connectivity to underdeveloped areas, primarily in India and Africa.
Prof H Nwana sharing his views in the ‘Connect the Unconnected’ panel discussion.
Some more highlights from day two included:
- Convergence business models for Wi-Fi was a major topic of the day, with speakers including Kevin Lo (former head of Google Fiber) and Enrique Farfan (CTO of Fon) giving talks to a packed theater
Kevin Lo, former head of Google Fiber, discussing convergence business models for Wi-Fi.
- The afternoon sessions saw much discussion and debate on Wi-Fi monetization, with several leading experts sharing case studies. Bobby Sarin (CEO of Ozone), Steve Shaw (VP of Marketing at Accuris Networks), and Greg Ennis (VP, Technology, Wi-Fi Alliance) were just some of the names to take the stage
- One of the most exciting portions of day two took place in the Alcatel-Lucent sponsored Showcase Theater – the WBA Accelerator Program. This exciting initiative gives start-ups and scale-ups the opportunity to pitch their companies to an audience of investors, with the top pitch being recognized with a special prize. First introduced at the Wi-Fi Global Congress in London back in May, the Accelerator has quickly become a highlight of the event. In San Jose, MOTI garnered the most votes and was recognized as the best pitch – this exciting product helps users develop habits that will lead to them bettering themselves. Learn all about it here: http://www.moti.io/
At the end of the day, WBA CEO Shrikant Shenwai took the stage for the final time, thanking all attendees for making the Wi-Fi Global Congress a huge success. He also invited attendees to join us at the next Wi-Fi Global Congress in Liverpool (June 27-30, 2016), and at our members-only Working Sessions in New Delhi this January!
Be sure to check our website and social media pages frequently over the coming days and weeks, as we will be unveiling a ton of Wi-Fi Global Congress content – including photos, videos, presentations, and much more!
