The UK NextGen Broadband Infrastructure Conference Events for 2013

The national NextGen Conference and exhibition, which each year holds several special events around the country that are designed to showcase the importance of a modern digital infrastructure (broadband internet access) and encourage idea sharing, has finalised its timetable for 2013.

On top of that the annual Next Generation Digital Challenge Awards, which run alongside the NextGen Conference, have also been setup to help recognise UK projects that deliver “the best in next generation digital access infrastructure innovation“. The 2013 Awards Ceremony is this year scheduled to take place on 14th October 2013 at the National Conference.

Last year saw the likes of CityFibre, Hyperoptic, B4RN, Cambium Networks and AllPay Broadband all picking-up awards for various achievements (here). As usual anybody can nominate an innovative project for the awards via email (awards@nextgenevents.co.uk) and this process will remain open until 30th April (International Nominations are open until 28th June). A shortlist will then be revealed on 2nd July.

The first event (Digital Scotland 2013) on this year’s schedule is due to be held at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Conference Centre on 22nd May, which will be preceded by an invitation only dinner on 21st May at Edinburgh Castle. Happily the first conference is a business event with free entry for all pre-registered delegates. Later events will take place in Leeds and London (see below).

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to delivering world class infrastructure across Scotland by 2020. This conference will allow us to engage with digital leaders and discuss how we can deliver world class connectivity for the people of Scotland. This will be vital in order to stimulate debate, capture ideas and showcase Scotland’s existing strengths in the digital arena.”

Marit Hendriks, Director of NG Events Ltd., said:

“With events in Scotland, Leeds and London we are digging deeper into digital impacts across the entire economy and the way we all work and live.

For ‘Digital Scotland’, for ‘Intelligent Cities’, for enterprise leaders and for the needs of local & national economic growth, these events will inform the design and deployment of the next generation of broadband access.”

This year ISPreview.co.uk has joined various other organisations, such as BT, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and the ISPA (plus many more), by teaming up with NextGen 2013 to help raise awareness of the events and promote the benefits of faster broadband access.

The NextGen 2013 Events Timetable

1. 22nd May 2013 – Digital Scotland 2013 (Edinburgh) – REGISTER

Hosted by the Scottish Government, this event will bring together those parties interested in creating a World Class Digital infrastructure for Scotland by 2020. Nicola Sturgeon MSP – Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities – will be delivering a Keynote.

2. 19th June 2013 – Intelligent Cities Conference (Leeds) – REGISTER

The City of Leeds, with support from ‘Leeds and Partners’ and ‘Leeds City Council’, will host this event to address the needs of smarter cities. Looking beyond the basic connectivity infrastructure to inward investment, open data, super connected cities, innovation, healthcare, medtech, wealth creation, digital inclusion and M2M capabilities.

3. 14-15th October 2013 – NextGen 13 National Conference (London)

NextGen UK’s “leading event” for Next Generation Broadband activity aims to build on the conferences as described above and provide the focus to take forward the country’s digital access requirements debate. The event also includes this year’s Digital Challenge Awards.