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Suppliers and users - the essential mix!
There is a real buzz around the industry at the moment as more and more commentators and experts discuss the merits of next generation networks or how technology can solve the world's problems. This is a sign of a market growing in confidence and ambition and I am sure that for BAPCO all this discussion and renewed confidence is a good thing.
There are so many possibilities, so many questions that need answers and so much optimism surrounding new technologies. Of course, on one level the emergency service communications are sewn up for the next few years, but we are already seeing how different users are enhancing their essential voice communications through innovative use of data applications and bearers while other initiatives outside of our immediate market, such as city centre wireless schemes, demand our awareness and consideration to arrive at a point of view as to their place in the quiver full of arrows that will be communication in the 21st Century.
User demand and innovation drives suppliers who, through their marketing efforts, stimulate evermore thinking and activity in the user. The essential mix of suppliers and users is justified and re-enforces the reason for BAPCO. This relationship will again be enhanced at BAPCO2007 in April and I look forward to a lot of good debate and discussion, certainly the new conference programme will encourage and stimulate these activities.
Remember the old cliche, you only get out of it what you put into it, so don't hold back at BAPCO2007, get your point of view on the table, maintain the discussion!
Locally, in the South West Region we are holding our next regional seminar on 7th March on the subject of wireless working, I look forward to welcoming as many of you as can attend at the offices of Integraph in Swindon. Further details can be found on the Association's web site.
If you are reading this then you are probably a manufacturer, supplier or user of electrical/electronic equipment. If so, do you know about the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive and how it impacts your organisation? To learn more visit the NetRegs pages of the Environment Agency's website or the DTI website.
Finally, at the recent BAPCO Roadshow event held at Bramshill we received an update on the early recommendations and the current state of play relating to the 7 July bombings by Councilor Richard Barnes of the London Assembly. The updated situation is to be made publicly available at www.london.org.uk/assembly during March and some of the highlights are included in an article here in the Journal.
Peter Prater, Chair
Commercial Advisory Group (CAG)
