BRUSSELS – How to accelerate the deployment of the next generation access networks and fully reap the benefits of ICT for society will be the main themes of the discussions at the second ETNO ICT CEO Summit to be held on 30 October in Seville, on the occasion of the 2009 General Assembly of ETNO chaired by Telefonica.

“Broadband infrastructure and services underpin all sectors of the economy and have the potential to increase efficiency and productivity. Chief executive officers will insist on the need for the next European Commission to put broadband at the top of its priorities and develop policies that both encourage risky investment and stimulate take up by citizens and businesses”, said Michael Bartholomew, ETNO Director.

The ETNO CEO Summit will be the occasion of a dialogue between Chief Executive Officers of leading telecoms operators and ICT equipment industries as well as key EU officials, including Pilar del Castillo, MEP, Fabio Colasanti, DG Information Society Director General and Deltlef Eckert, DG Information Society Director in charge of the Lisbon Strategy. The event will be opened by the Mayor of Seville, Alfredo Sanchez Monteseirin and closed by the Spanish Secretary of State of Telecommunications and Information Society, Francisco Ros Peran.
Following CEOs will be participating: Mustafa Akdogan, Albtelecom; Photis Savvides, Cyprus Telecommunications Authority; René Obermann, Deutsche Telekom; Valdur Laid, Elion; Mattila Veli-Matti, Elisa; Carl-Henric Svanberg, Ericsson; David Kay, GO; Christopher Mattheisen, Magyar Teleom; Nikolai Beckers, Makedonski Telekom; Rajeev Suri, Nokia Siemens Networks; Panagis Vourloumis, OTE; Brynjolfur Bjarnason, Skipti; Miroslav Majoros, Slovak Telekom; Franco Bernabè, Telecom Italia; Oliver Gerstgrasser, Telecom Liechtenstein; Cesar Alierta, Telefonica; Salvador Anglada, Telefonica O2 Czech Republic; Hannes Ametsreiter, Telekom Austria; Paul Doany, Turk Telekom; and Bernard Moscheni, VIVACOM. Other companies to be represented will include Alcatel-Lucent, Belgacom, EPT Luxembourg, France Telecom, Verizon.

During the first session, CEOs will discuss how telecommunications services and networks can contribute to growth and how to boost their potential for recovering from the crisis. Incentives for businesses to adopt low-carbon solutions will be discussed.

The second session will look at how to accelerate private investment in mobile and fixed next generation broadband networks, taking into consideration the risks involved. Next generation access networks will lead to a wealth of innovative value-added services and generate new business models. NGA will be an engine for growth and employment.

For more information about the CEO Summit and the media opportunities, please consult http://www.etno.be/Default.aspx?tabid=2172 or contact Thierry Dieu, ETNO Communications Manager (dieu@etno.be or 32 2 227 10 82);

For Telefónica, please contact David Nicholas, Director of Communication, Telefónica Europe (+44 771 575 9176/ david.nicholas@o2.com)

About ETNO

ETNO’s 42 member companies from 36 European countries represent a significant part of total ICT activity in Europe. They account for an aggregate annual turnover of more than 270 billion Euros, employ over one million people across Europe and account for more 70% of total sector investment. ETNO companies are the main drivers of broadband and are committed to its continual growth in Europe.

About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 264 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,704,996,485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.