The TC3 Summit, hosted by by the Telecom Council of Silicon Valley, is one of the more interesting industry events we cover each year, and the 10th anniversary show, held in November at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., was no exception. Located in the Bay Area innovation hub, TC3 helps connect investors from major telecom-focused companies with a variety of colleagues, disruptive startups and other industry stakeholders.
From a news perspective, GE, Airbus, SoftBank and other companies focused on digital transformation are always accessible and eager to share customer success stories. But, at TC3, you get to talk to the men and women who guide these firms’ long-term investment strategies, which provides a unique look at how broad industry movements, over time, will potentially evolve into imperative aspects of the evolving technological landscape.
For instance, Abhishek Shukla, Managing Director, Software Investments for GE Ventures explained to me his interest in technologies that can have an impact across all of GE’s business units, including edge and cloud computing, AI and blockchain–”Things that get used throughout GE.” Similarly, Airbus’ Director of Commercial Space Emmanuel Sauzay highlighted how the satellite communications market is ripe for disruption given trends that lower the barrier to entry to new market players.
Expanding broadband infrastructure into rural markets was another dominant trend discussed during the show. From providing connectivity to businesses operating in harsh environments to bridging the digital divide in an effort to empower the next generation of innovators, it was all on display. I learned from Parallel Wireless and Ice Wireless how the companies partnered to extend connectivity into the provinces of Northwest Territories, Yukon, Nunavut and Quebec. We also spoke with the CEO of Geolinks about their approach to rural coverage as well as future plans around CBRS and millimeter wave.
For more interviews filmed during the TC3 Summit 2017, check out this YouTube playlist. And click here to get connected with TC3 regarding the upcoming event in 2018.
