A volcanic eruption might just become the tipping point for video-conferencing! Implications: The more video the world uses, the more bandwidth gets utilised. The more bandwidth is required, the more broadband networks will need to be deployed. The more broadband becomes a necessity, the more optical fiber demand will grow. Ergo, More Video = More Fiber.

1. www.sterlitetech.blogspot.com
Video-conferencing takes
off as flights are grounded.
Posted by Pulkit Bhatnagar.
A volcanic eruption
might just become the
tipping point for videoconferencing!
As the Icelandic volcano continues to send
ash south and east towards Europe and
Russia, (NASA’s brilliant images) more
and more companies are moving towards
video-conferencing and tele-presence
solutions to do business.
The head of Cisco’s Tele-presence
Technology group, Fredrik Halvorsen,
said recently that they have seen a
huge spike in usage and interest for
their telepresence solutions (see a
telepresence video here). Another
interesting comment came from the CEO
of a Norway-based startup, Videoworks.
Even Zimmer said the volcano would make
business people think about the benefits
of video-conferencing.
One more company doing well is Regus,
a company that provides meeting rooms
and video-conferencing suites. Bookings of
the suites jumped 75% in the US, and 108%
across the U.K., says Guillermo Rotman,
president of the Regus Group Americas.
But what I really liked, was when Norway’s
Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, got stuck
at New York, he just took out his iPad and
began doing his governmental duties
using the Internet. Talk about a PM who’s
showcasing why his country is among the
most tech-savvy telecom markets!
I am sure if you have corresponded with
people in Europe recently, you would
have come across atleast one out-ofoffice Video-conferencing takes off as
flights are grounded. message due to the
volcanic eruption. Travellers are stranded
at airports, frustration is rising, and losses
due to missed deadlines or business
meetings are piling up.
I know of some friends stuck in Europe
who have been using Skype to reach out
to family and bosses in India. Their time at
the airport or hotel is spent trying to work
remotely or in watching movies/playing
games online. Bottomline – everyone’s
tying up bandwidth; while losing out on
time that could be spent with family or
working more productively.
Enter Video-conferencing!!! Lets look at
the benefits of video-conferencing:
1. Less travel-related expenses (airfare,
hotel, foreign exchange, food, etc).
2. Quicker decision-making possibilities
and turn-around response times.
Reduced down-time.
3. Opportunities to collaborate with
multiple people in multiple locations
simultaneously without worrying
about logistical details.
4. Non-productive time and energy
savings. In fact, utilisation in pursuing
other revenue-generating ideas or
quality family time.
5. More effective presentation
possibilities. (Tech staff can show
through video how to repair a damaged
part without having to travel and
ascertain what the problem is. Savings
for both!)
6. Reduced risk of travel-related injury
or problems like passport issues,
security problems, getting stuck at
airports due to missed/cancelled
flights or over-active volcanoes.
7. Environmental benefits. All the fuel
saved will definitely lead to a cleaner
and greener planet.
Implications: The more video the world
uses, the more bandwidth gets utilised.
The more bandwidth is required, the
more broadband networks will need to be
deployed. The more broadband becomes a
necessity, the more optical fiber demand
will grow. Ergo, More Video = More Fiber.
Keep abreast of the latest trends in power and
telecommunications at www.sterlitetech.blogspot.com