CommunicAsia diary, Singapore, June 2014--A revisit 12 years later, to a block-buster event

III: 58,500 sq metres, Names and numbers

Incorporating CommunicAsia, BroadcastAsia, EnterpriseIT, SatComm, MobileCommAsia, NetworkAsia, ProfessionalAudioTechnology 2014 and the imbX Ministerial Forum on ICT, the magna event brought together business leaders, companies and industry professionals to showcase their latest innovations, network, exchange ideas and tap new markets. It was arranged on five levels, with one level reserved for meetings and basement 1 not forming part of the locale, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo Exhibition Centre, part of the tourist draw swimming pool stretching across and apparently hanging atop the three towers, two skywalks and a casino. Visitors to the skywalk have to pay an entrance fee of S$ 28 (1S$=Rs. 48) and to view from the 57^th floor of the main hotel tower, you pay S$23. Only hotel guests are allowed in the pool area. Singaporeans are charged S$100 to enter the casino, while foreigners get to enter free, on submitting proof of nationality. The nearest MRT station is Bayfront, connected to the hotel, and some buses stop right outside the venue.

In those four days, 1,946 exhibitors from 55 countries around the world showcased enabling technologies for the entire mobile ecosystem, ranging from satellite communications, embedded technology, mobile technologies to multi-platform screening and broadcasting. 50,000 footfalls echoed, 33,000 at Communicasia+17,000 at Broadcast Asia. There were 35 group pavilions, exhibiting their countries' expertise, and 12 leading companies that took up the exclusive hospitality suites at Level 3. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand together sent 51% of the overseas visitors. In all, 60 buyer groups visited, including one from India. Indians constituted a small 4% of the visitor strength. China, which includes Hongkong, did better, with 7%. Cheek by jowl, crowds thronging all over, visitors moving from level to level in lifts and on escalators, conferences, seminars, demos, screenings, briefings…it was a very busy four days that one spent at the Marina Bay Sands.

Open only to business, trade and media, the five levels of the hotel expo space translated into 58,500 sq. m of area. Assuming half this space was ‘walkable’, you would desperately need the several days that were available to cover good ground. The number of media-persons who attended was not available from the organisers, but I heard somebody say to the catering department that arrangements had been made for 80 persons, but the turn-out had been higher. Incidentally, free snacks, tea/coffee and a business lunch (potatoes were a staple item) were provided to the media till 5 pm. The time limit was a little harsh, considering many of us were around till 6.30. On the last day, since the event was to end around 4, the catering was stopped by 2.30.

India had 46companies in the exhibitors’ count. I could gather the following names:

ADI MEDIA: COMMUNICATIONS TODAY

ADISHWAR TELE-NETWORKS

AKSH OPTIFIBRE LTD

BIRLA ERICSSON OPTICAL LIMITED

CLIXXO BROADBAND PRIVATE LIMITED

COHESIVE TECHNOLOGIES

"FIBER" FOR NEXGEN SVCS

DURA-LINE INDIA PVT LTD

DYOTIS TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD

GANGES INTERNATIONALE PVT LTD

HIMACHAL FUTURISTIC COMMUNICATIONS LTD

INDUS NET TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.

INVENTUM

JRDCUP

JUNOTELE SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED

KARAM - P N INTERNATIONAL

MICROMAX INFORMATICS LTD

NAVIGATORS SOFTWARE PVT LTD

NCN & MOBILITY

NEOSOFT TECHNOLOGIES

SECURINEX  INC

SPIKTEL TECHNOLOGIES PVT. LTD.

TELECOM EQUIPMENT & SERVICES EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL (TEPC)

TERAMATRIX TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD

TIRUBAA TECHNOLOGIES PVT LTD

VISIONTEK

VOXVALLEY TECHNOLOGIES

WARM CONNECT SOLUTIONS PVT LTD

WIFI-SOFT SOLUTIONS PVT LTD

WINJIT TECHNOLOGIES

Singapore Exhibition Services have always been the organisers of this event, which moved to Marina Bay Sands in 2011. It will be held at the same venue in 2015, but earlier than normal, because Singapore is hosting the South East Asian Games, which begin on June 5. CommunicAsia 2015 will be held during June 2-5.                                                                                                  (continued)