Welcome to Connect-World, the information and communication technology (ICT) decision makers'´ magazine. We are the decision makers' forum for ICT driven development.
home magazine Global Africa & Middle East Asia-Pacific EMEA Europe India Latin America North America publishing calendar subscribe media media pack Global-ICT Africa & Middle East Asia-Pacific EMEA Europe India Latin America North America glossary specifications download articles recent articles free articles eLetter archived eLetter events ICT news press releases extras videos blog RSS podcasts widgets white papers about contact us about us our team faq privacy terms & conditions careers links sitemap

Connect-World Latin America I 2003     Magazine introduction Connect-World series of magazines is the leading magazine in the telecom and ICT industry that brings together the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap the leading industry players, regulators, associations and governments, to discuss how technological integration and digital inclusion helps reduce the gap between the developed and developing world.     Theme: Access Through Broadband - A New Initiative for Small and Medium Businesses Articles Contributors Feature articles     Article no.: 1 Topic: E-nabling SMEs Author: Antonio Ca'Zorzi Title: Program Manager for Business Program - ICT 4 BUS Organisation: Inter-American Development Bank(IDB) PDF size: 80KB   About author: Antonio Ca’ Zorzi joined the Information Technology Division of the Inter-American Development Bank in 1999 to foster co-financing agreements with other international organizations in ICT- related programmes. He developed the activity of the IADB in the area of e-commerce, providing strategic advice on the Bank’s involvement in this sector and technical support for projects in a number of countries. He is in charge of e-business development at the Division and is managing the ICT-4-BUS programme. Recent publications include a strategy paper on the Bank’s role in promoting electronic commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean and a newsletter on e-commerce. Mr. Ca’ Zorzi has been named in various panels for the evaluation of projects in the area of ICT to be funded by the World Bank. Prior to working for the IADB, he held various posts at executive level with the San-Paolo IMI Bank in Brussels and Luxemburg. Until 1999 he also was Managing Director of Coopération Bancaire pour l’Europe-GEIE, a service company set up by Italian Banks in Brussels. Between 1985 and 1987 he worked with the Commission of the European Union in the area of culture and technology. Throughout his career he has been involved in ICT- based services aimed at medium and small sized business customers of Italian Banks. Antonio Ca’ Zorzi graduated with honours in Contemporary History at the University of Rome, Italy, and later earned a Master’s Degree in Finance at the HEC School in Brussels, Belgium.   Article abstract: Early online business practices were often based on inadequate understanding of how businesses could use Internet-based technologies in their operations. Most did not succeed, but there were quite a few successful experiences, including some in Latin America. Soon, Internet-based applications and services will become a pervasive factor in all aspects of business including for smaller businesses whose internal workings and dealings in the marketplace will be transformed by information systems that interconnect intelligently with those of their customers and suppliers.   Read the article     Article no.: 2 Topic: Broadband Access in Brazil Author: Luiz Guilherme Schymura Title: President Organisation: Anatel PDF size: 108KB   About author: Luiz Guilherme Schymura de Oliveira is the President and member of the Board of Directors of Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory agency. Prior to his nomination to his present post, Mr. Schymura served as the Director of FGV consulting, as a consultant to the World Bank, to BID, to other institutions and industries and as editor of a magazine about econometrics- Revista de Econometria. Mr. Schymura, a native of Rio de Janeiro earned a degree in electrical engineering from PUC in Rio, received a masters and a doctorate in economy from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas and completed his post doctorate studies in economy at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has been active orienting masters and doctoral theses and has had many of his articles and essays published.   Article abstract: The use of advanced telecommunications for the widespread dissemination of information is a key to progress and development in the world today. Accordingly, Brazil’s integration into the Knowledge Society is Annabel’s primary task. Government action is needed to disseminate and develop broadband applications, to encourage the development of new applications and content and to help small- and medium-sized businesses, improve productivity and opportunities within the existing economic environment. Education will help this happen and broadband will make distance education a reality.   Read the article     Article no.: 3 Topic: Can your small business benefit from e-business? Author: Reuben Ray Title: Vice President, SMB Solutions Organisation: IBM Latin America PDF size: 88KB   About author: Reuben D. Ray is the Vice President of SMB Solutions IBM Latin America. Reuben joined IBM as a Systems Engineer, after having obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He worked his way through the ranks to become the Manager for Sales Plan Development at IBM headquarters. In this last position, Reuben was responsible for the development of sales incentives and payroll planning for the 20,000 IBM/US marketing employees. Reuben was later appointed Business Unit Executive for the sales organization for Manhattan, Westchester and New Jersey. He was promoted to General Manager for the Trading Area in Northern New England, and then to Director for General Business. In 1997, Reuben was appointed Vice President of Operations for the Northeast. With the restructuring of IBM, his functions were expanded to cover operations on a national level as Director of Operations for North America. In 1998, Reuben was named Vice President of Business Operations for Latin America, responsible for all of IBM’s business and sales operations in the region. In 2000, Reuben assumed his current position as Vice President of Intermediate Market Sales in Latin America, with the responsibility for product sales and service to small and medium customers of IBM-Latin America.   Article abstract: E-business can give many small businesses a competitive edge in today's wired economy. Using the Internet to sell and service customers, deal with partners and suppliers online is a cost-effective, efficient, way to satisfy customers needs and streamline the full production chain from supplier to customer. E-business only works when business fundamentals are respected, the goals clearly defined, the impact understood and the needed resources fully committed. Small companies can start - at their own speed - building their e-businesses now.   Read the article     Article no.: 4 Topic: Challenges and Opportunities in the SMEs Market -Bridging the Digital Gap Author: Victor Reis Title: President Organisation: Unisys do Brasil PDF size: 104KB   About author: Victor Reis is Unisys Brazil's first Brazilian President and General Manager. Unisys Brazil is one of the Unisys Corporation's most important subsidiaries. During his 30 year career at Unisys, Mr. Reis has worked in most of the company's business units. He started in 1973 as a banking services sales trainee. Before becoming the chief executive, he served for a year and a half as the director of the Public Sector Group. The Group grew by 80 per cent during this period, due in part to his winning bid to create the system of 76,000 electron ballot boxes that computerised, for the first time, Brazil's national electrons. In 1993 Mr. Reis was named Director of the Commercial Industry Group. In this position he built Unisys into one of the key players in the market. His overall reorganisation of the company's southern geographic business unit doubled its revenue in the first year. Mr. Reis graduated as an electronics engineer from Sao Paulo's Makenzie University. He is married and has two sons.   Article abstract: It is widely recognised that SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprises), are one of the main forces in economic growth and job creation. SMEs are responsible for 52% of the Brazilian GDP, but only 10% utilize information and communications technology to increase their competitiveness, creating a digital gap compared to larger organizations. Special, cost effective, solutions and content are needed to meet the needs of SMEs. This, and broadband access, can bridge the ‘digital divide’ between SMEs and larger organisations.   Read the article     Article no.: 5 Topic: Real Tools for SME – They are not Small Big Businesses! Author: Adilson Antonio Primo Title: CEO and Chairman Organisation: Siemens Mercosur (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) PDF size: 124KB   About author: Adilson Antonio Primo is now the CEO and Chairman of Siemens Mercosur - a region encompassing activities in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. He has been with Siemens since 1977, having begun his professional trajectory in the area of power transmission and distribution. After occupying several positions in this area, he was named General Manager of the Power generation division and, later, general manager of Siemens’ regional offices in Salvador and in Rio de Janeiro. Between 1999 and 2001, he served as General Director of Siemens’ Industrial Division and then as Chairman and CEO of Siemens Ltd. iIn Brazil. Mr. Primo graduated as an Electrical Engineer from the Escola Federal de Engenharia de Itajubá. Mr. Primo has been active in a wide variety of industry organizations, having served as the chairman of FICAP, of SINDICEL- the State of São Paulo Association for the Electrical Conductor, Wire Drawing and Non-ferrous Metal Lamination Industry, and also of the Brazilian Copper Association - ABC. He is the vice-chairman of the Brazilian Electrical and Electronics Industry Association - ABINEE.   Article abstract: In Brazil, more than 98% of all companies are Small and Medium Enterprises; they create 53% of all jobs, but pay only 16% of total salaries. By encouraging the development of Brazil’s SMEs we can help resolve the country’s problems of unemployment, income distribution and economic growth. SMEs lack financial resources, qualified human resources and access to technology. Digital inclusion, access to telecommunications and IT, with help from both government and private enterprise, can help these companies survive and grow.   Read the article     Article no.: 6 Topic: The Big Challenge of Small Business Solutions Author: Carlos Francisco Ribeiro Jereissati Title: Chairman Organisation: Tele Norte Leste Participações PDF size: 80KB   About author: Carlos Francisco Ribeiro Jereissati has been the Chairman of Tele Norte Leste Participações’ Board of Directors since November 2002, a position he had previously occupied between July 1998 and September 2000. He is also the main executive of the Grupo Jereissati (La Fonte/Iguatemi) and a member of the Advisory Board of SECOVI (the association of the companies dealing in the purchase, sale, rental and management of residential and commercial real estate in São Paulo). He has also been a Director on the board of the Sao Paulo State Stock Exchange, the Vice-Chairman of Cia. Vidraria Santa Maria’s Board of Directors (Grupo Saint Gobain) and President of the Deliberative Board of ABRASCE (Brazilian Shopping Mall Association). He graduated from Mackenzie University, Sao Paulo, in 1968 with a degree in economics.   Article abstract: Small to medium sized companies account for 98% of Brazil’s businesses. Only 20% of these use advanced telecommunications that provide cost effective ways to improve their businesses. Two factors– cultural and financial – hinder their acceptance of technology. The problem is often not the cost, but the cultural perception of it. Small companies often lack the know-how to select and implement technology projects. They need consulting support from their suppliers to effectively use technology and make their businesses more efficient and competitive.   Read the article     Article no.: 7 Topic: Access through Broadband – A competitive Tool for Small and Medium Businesses Author: Carla Cico Title: CEO Organisation: Brasil Telecom PDF size: 128KB   About author: Born in Verona, Italy, Carla Cico has shaped a brilliant career in the international telecommunications industry. For over 17 years, Ms. Cico has been a significant player in major telecom acquisitions and service improvement projects in various countries such as China, India and Czech Republic. She is widely regarded amongst her peers as one of the world’s leading telecommunications executive. Since March 2001, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of Brasil Telecom S.A., the main fixed-line telecommunications operator in the South, Center, West, and part of the Northern region in Brazil. Ms. Cico is the first female chief executive in the Brazilian telecommunications industry. Previously, Ms. Cico worked as Director of International Business Operations for STET International, S.p.A., in Rome. During her career with the Company she was involved in many major international acquisition transactions related to telecom and also acted as Board Member in different wireline and wireless companies. Ms. Cico also worked as Chief representative for two companies prior to STET. She managed the Beijing office during her employment at IRI S.p.A. and Italtel S.p.A. In October 2002, Ms Cico was listed among the 50 Most Powerful Women by Fortune Magazine and, in December, elected Executive of the Year by ANEFAC, a Finance, Management and Accounting Association in Brazil.   Article abstract: The Small and Medium Enterprises that generate more than half the world’s jobs can benefit greatly by using advanced telecommunications. Analysts say that SMEs are responsible for 46% of Brazil’s investment in data transmission infrastructure. Telecommunications companies in Brazil, looking towards data communications for future growth, are developing cost efficient products for SMEs. SMEs demand innovative services that add value to their commercial communications. The creation and deployment of customized services for SMEs is a requirement for telecommunications operators’ profitability.   Read the article     Article no.: 8 Topic: Keeping the Promise of Technology - Digital Inclusion for Small Businesses Author: Paulo Roberto Bergamasco Title: Chief Technology Officer Organisation: Alcatel Telecomunicações, Brasil PDF size: 120KB   About author: Paulo Roberto Bergamasco is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Alcatel Telecomunicações, Brasil. Mr. Bergamasco received his degree in Electrical Engineering from Brazil’s ITA - Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica and received his Masters degree from Western Ontario University, Canada. Prior to joining Alcatel he served as Telesp’s Switching Manager, as Services Director for Proceda, as Marketing and Business Development Director for AT&T and as a Regional Director for Embratel. Mr. Bergamasco currently lectures at the graduate school of the FGV- Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo.   Article abstract: Small businesses employ 54% of all workers in Brazil, most of them outside the formal economy. By using modern digital technology to increase their productivity and leverage their growth, they will be able to compete with larger businesses that, in turn, will be forced to use technology better and increase their productivity. Creating such a virtuous cycle should be a state priority since the road to the digital inclusion will require strong, focussed government programme supported by the private sector.   Read the article     Article no.: 9 Topic: Digital Inclusion for Small Business – How Can We Do It? Author: Renato Flavio Fantoni Title: Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs Organisation: Ericsson Telecomunicações S.A PDF size: 132KB   About author: Renato Flavio Fantoni is currently the Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs at Ericsson Telecomunicações, in Brazil. He joined Ericsson’s local Design Department 1971. Rising within the company, he was later appointed Director for the Cellular Systems local Product Management Units, Datacom Networks and Multiservices Networks. Mr. Fantoni holds an electrical engineering degree from Faculdade de Engenharia Industrial, Brasil, a MSc. in Computer Studies from University of Essex (UK) and studied Business Management at the Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing in Brazil.   Article abstract: Most businesses in Brazil are small, with 1 or 2 or, perhaps, a few hundred workers. They are, potentially a large market for broadband. Most SME still use dial-up telephone connections, but as prices drop more SMEs will use broadband. The telecom sector – operators, manufacturers, software and content providers - will have to work together to provide the low-cost, scalable, really useable applications and user friendly equipment SMEs need, but do not have ability or funding to implement.   Read the article     Article no.: 10 Topic: Wireless Broadband Access Offers a Path to Global Connectivity Author: Wayne Vande Wall Title: Chief Operating Officer, Mobility Organisation: Latin America Lucent Technologies PDF size: 76KB   About author: As chief operating officer for Lucent Technologies in Latin America, Wayne Vande Wall oversees all marketing, technical sales support, bid engineering, and business management for the Mobility Segment operations in the region. Based out of the Miramar, Florida offices, he has been instrumental in the launch of a new corporate business model and the overall streamlining and restructuring of the business in the region. Wayne first joined the Latin American team in 1998 as Switching and Access Solutions Product marketing vice president before assuming the role of chief operating officer two years later. In this position, he was responsible for product roadmaps, offer integration and presales initiatives that resulted in aggressive market share improvements for Lucent’s SAS in the region. He also served as Switching Product Marketing manager for India and later Switching Country Team head of sales, product marketing, and services for China. Prior to working with product marketing, Wayne held positions within the units of 5ESS Switch Systems Engineering, Intelligent Network Switching Strategy, and Next-generation Switching Evolution, all in the lucent offices of Chicago, Illinois. Wayne began his career in 1983 with AT&T Bell Laboratories in Holmdel, New Jersey as a technical staff member of Operations Support Systems Engineering for lightwave and digital radio systems. Wayne holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Engineering from State University.   Article abstract: The gap between those who make effective use of technology and those who cannot has always existed. The Digital Divide, though, is rapidly widening the gap due to the tremendous advantages that digital technology confers. Wireless, 3G, broadband promises to reduce this gap by facilitating the access of SMEs and individuals to the Internet and the Information Economy. This technology enables not only users on the move, but those in isolated, poorly connected regions, to take part in the digital revolution.   Read the article     Article no.: 11 Topic: Turning Access Into Business Author: Robert Kurz and Sameer Sant Title: Managing Director and Head of Corporate Strategy Organisation: Keymile Brasil Ltda PDF size: 136KB   About author: Robert Kurz is Managing Director of Keymile Brasil Ltda. based at Keymile’s South American Regional Headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. The Keymile Group, a recent merger of Ascom Transmission Ltd. and Datentechnik AG is a leading supplier of multi-service access systems enabling network convergence for subscriber services. Previously, Robert Kurz was VP Business Development North America and Global Key Account Manager for Ascom Transmission Ltd. He has held various engineering, sales and managerial roles in Australia, Switzerland, and the USA. Robert Kurz holds an Electronic Engineering degree from Curtain University, Western Australia. Sameer Sant is Head of Corporate Strategy of the Keymile group. He began his career as a software developer and led many projects in inter-working between data networks, telephony and Telex networks in the Ascom group. He served as a Product Manager for access products, in product management and business development for Ascom Transmission Ltd now part of the Keymile group. Sameer Sant holds a BSC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, a MSc. Degree in Digital Communications Systems and an MBA.   Article abstract: Many SMEs do not have full time, in-house, IT support. They depend upon suppliers such as their telecommunications service providers to determine their needs and provide solutions. By delivering additional services and content to small business service providers can open a new market. Operators are superbly placed to build this market. They control the access both to consumers and businesses and can offer both advice and an array of intelligent bundled services over and above those directly attributable to telecommunications networks.   Read the article     Article no.: 12 Topic: IT Network Security for Small and Medium Businesses Author: Herbert A. Molina Title: Vice President Organisation: Sybari Software PDF size: 124KB   About author: Herbert Arturo Molina graduated in industrial Engineering from the National University of Engineering (UNI) in Lima, Peru. Institution, which was founded in the late 1800's following the strict academic guidelines from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA in the US. Molina holds an MBA with a major in International Business from Texas A&M University.Herbert Molina has over 20 years of sales management and marketing experience having worked based out Peru, US, and Brazil most of them dedicated to the transfer of technology to Latin America and Europe. Molina has worked for companies such as Price Waterhouse Coopers in Lima, Peru and Scovill, RobertShaw Controls, Unisys, Wang, Computer Associates, Seagate, Mcafee/Network Associates and currently at Sybari Software where Molina joined in mid 2001 with the task to create and implement Sybari's South Florida, Caribbean and Latin American Operations based out Plantation, Florida. Under Molina's tenure at McAfee, offices were opened in Mexico, Colombia, Plantation and Brazil where Herbert Molina was instrumental to acquire McAfee's Distributor business based out of Sao Paulo operation, which had at that time more than 50 employees. Under Molina's regime sales of Antivirus, Protocol Analyzers, CRM, Firewalls and Encryption solutions grew from 2.0 Million US to over 37.0 Million in 4 years.   Article abstract: In Latin America, few SMBs have adopted effective Internet security measures. Information technology providers are just beginning to realize the importance of the SMB marketplace and its needs. They have a responsibility to educate and protect these "locomotives" of the local economies by positioning their technology where it can do the most good. The propagation speed of malicious virus attacks doubles every six months. The Melissa virus took four hours to infect the Internet in 1999, today, it would take minutes.   Read the article Confirmed authors (Order by article no.)   Antonio Ca'Zorzi Program Manager for Business Program - ICT 4 BUS, Inter-American Development Bank(IDB)   Luiz Guilherme Schymura President, Anatel   Reuben Ray Vice President, SMB Solutions, IBM Latin America   Victor Reis President, Unisys do Brasil   Adilson Antonio Primo CEO and Chairman, Siemens Mercosur (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay)   Carlos Francisco Ribeiro Jereissati Chairman, Tele Norte Leste Participações   Carla Cico CEO, Brasil Telecom   Paulo Roberto Bergamasco Chief Technology Officer, Alcatel Telecomunicações, Brasil   Renato Flavio Fantoni Director of Public and Regulatory Affairs, Ericsson Telecomunicações S.A   Wayne Vande Wall Chief Operating Officer, Mobility, Latin America Lucent Technologies   Robert Kurz and Sameer Sant Managing Director and Head of Corporate Strategy, Keymile Brasil Ltda   Herbert A. Molina Vice President, Sybari Software