5 QUESTIONS WITH KERRY MERRITT

Talking Network Industry With Total Telecom’s Head of Content

1. WHO IS TOTAL TELECOM AND WHAT IS THE COMPANY’S MISSION?

For over 20 years, Total Telecom (part of Terrapinn Group) has built its reputation as a trusted news source for the global telecommunications industry. Coupled with a constantly evolving events portfolio that offers unique networking opportunities for senior executives from across the communications sector, we pride ourselves on being a content and people-focussed business.

Our events and online platform are all about bringing people together. It’s simply what we do and with a breadth of experience in the events, publishing, and telco markets, it’s something that we’ve gotten very good at!

2. HOW DOES TOTAL TELECOM PARTICIPATE IN THE SUBMARINE CABLE MARKET?

In 2018 we launched Submarine Networks EMEA as a sister event to the Submarine Networks World conference, which has been held in Singa- pore for over 25 years. The decision to launch a more regionally focused conference came at a time of increasing activity in the EMEA submarine cable industry. Five years later, the event continues to go from strength to strength and in 2023 we expect over 800 executives from the global subsea market to join us in London.

In addition to producing Submarine Networks EMEA we actively cover the subsea telecommunications sector as a media brand, reporting on new projects, developments, and news.

3. HOW IS TOTAL TELECOM HELPING TO PROMOTE A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TELECOM SECTOR?

As an events’ organiser, we are very conscious of the role that we play in creating and supporting a more diverse and inclusive industry. Across all our events we make a conscious effort to improve the gender-balance on our agendas, providing a platform for many of the incredible women that are already playing an important role in the telecoms sector.

But of course, true diversity is about so much more than the avoidance of all-male panels at industry events.

At Total Telecom, we focus on a number of initiatives that can hopefully play a small part in supporting this approach.

Firstly, students, recent graduates, and apprentices, can attend any Total Telecom event completely free of charge. We want to make our events as accessible as possible, so, by removing some of the costs involved with attending the event, we hope that more organisations will consider sending their new recruits as well as their more senior executives.

Secondly, we seek to amplify these new industry voices by having young people and industry newcomers join panel discussions and other sessions, giving them a platform to have their say on the future of the sector.

There are so many fantastic initiatives already taking place - the SubOptic Foundation’s mentoring scheme is just one that jumps to mind – and we’re always engaging with the industry itself for ways in which we can be more involved and really work together to make a positive change. It’s a team effort after all.

4. AS SUSTAINABILITY HAS BECOME A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN OUR INDUSTRY, WHAT ARE TOTAL TELECOM’S PLANS FOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS GOING FORWARD?

Sustainability is another important topic to Total Telecom and to the wider Terrapinn Group. Last year, Terrapinn became a member of isla – an independent organisation founded by events professionals and aimed at supporting the industry to transition towards a more sustainable and green future. Across the organisation we are taking active steps to reduce our carbon footprint; reducing waste at events, offsetting staff travel, working with suppliers and venues to ensure our operations are in line with our sustainability targets (full details of which can be found in our Sustainability Policy).

5.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT TOTAL TELECOM IN 2023?

It’s been a busy year already for the Total Telecom team with two events already behind us. March saw us launch our inaugural event in the US – Connected America. With over 1,000 attendees from across the connectivity sector, Connected America was our biggest launch to date and sees us continue to expand our “Connected” events portfolio. This events series is especially important to us as it looks not only the development of communications infrastructure (be it fixed, mobile, subsea, data centres, etc.) but also at what this connectivity can en- able for people, businesses, and communities. The scope of these events is potentially huge and the team are already looking forward to our flagship Connected Britain event in September, which will bring together over 5,000 attendees from the private and public sector.

And of course, we can’t wait for Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 later this month! STF

KERRY MERRITT currently heads up the Content Team at Total Telecom, the leading provider of news, insight and events for global telecoms. Total Telecom serves the global telecom industry, with special focus on executives within operators, service providers and the enterprise users of telecom products and services.

BY KIERAN CLARK

31st May - 1st June 2023

Business Design Centre, London

Submarine Networks EMEA is the leading annual subsea connectivity event in the region, bringing together 800 senior leaders from the global subsea market for two jam-packed days of learning, collaboration and networking.

In addition to offering plenty of networking opportunities, attendees will be able to enjoy thought-leading panels, technical presentations, workshops and cable project and connectivity hub updates.

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES: kerry.merritt@totaltele.com SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITION

MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES: laura.curwen@totaltele.com

Submarine Networks EMEA 2023 is set to be another fantastic event, with over 800 attendees from the global subsea industry set to attend. Now in its sixth year, the event has gone from strength-to-strength and has firmly established its position as the EMEA region’s pre-eminent submarine cable event.

For the second year running, the event will kick off with a pre-event workshop hosted by the SubOptic Association. The SubOptic Members’ Forum will take place on the afternoon of 30th May and is open to both members and non-members of the Association. The afternoon will consist of a welcome from the new Executive Committee, highlights from SubOptic 2023 in Bangkok, insights from the Working Groups, and a look at what’s in-store for the Association. The afternoon will conclude with a networking drinks event held at Jack’s Café (located at the Business Design Centre).

The conference on 31st May will open with a keynote panel exploring “What’s on the horizon for the submarine cable industry?”. Attendees will hear from Gary Waterworth (Network Investments, Meta), Mario Martín (CEO, Telxius), Javier Hector Lloret (Senior Expert, Submarine Cables, Omantel), Adil Alaskah (CTO, Center3) and Gavin Tully (Managing Partner, Pioneer Consulting). Ciena’s Thomas Soerensen will then share his take on market trends and Steve Dawe will provide an update on the activities of the European Subsea Cable Association (ESCA).

Back by popular demand, the ‘News in Brief’ sessions offer an opportunity to hear the latest cable project updates and developments from connectivity hubs in the EMEA and surrounding regions. This year a record-breaking nineteen organisations are taking part, with speakers representing cables including Zeus, IRIS, Tusass Connect, Asia Connect 1, TEAS, IONIAN, and Far North Fiber - to name just a few!

The rest of the day one programme will cover hot topics including public-private partnerships for funding subsea projects, spectrum sharing, subsea cable resilience, investment in the Nordics, emerging connectivity hubs, the future of SLTE, transponder technology evolution, the future of partnerships and the changing dynamics of supply contract commercials and project funding.

The day one programme will conclude with an update from the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) followed by a panel discussion on digital infrastructure investment in Africa. Speakers from WIOCC, Digital Realty, Orange, Liquid Dataport and Balancing Act will explore how subsea cables are supporting the ICT sector’s devel-

Attendees of Submarine Networks

30th May | Bus

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