Suzuki Speaks at ITU Telecom World 2003



NTT Communications (NTT Com) CEO Masanobu Suzuki spoke about the need to address customer needs during ITU Telecom World 2003. The event, widely considered to be the "International Olympics of Telecommunications," took place at the Geneva Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland from October 12 to 18.

Suzuki spoke on October 14 as a member of a panel discussion entitled "Satisfying the Customer," joining other corporate executives and academics from the telecom industry. John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc. and Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone Group, delivered keynote addresses prior to the panel discussion.

This year's Telecom World attracted approximately 118,000 visitors. Although attendance was less than during the Internet bubble era, staffers at the NTT Group booth in the Japan Pavilion noted that visitors seemed much more focused than in past years. This year was also distinguished by a particularly strong showing of East Asian exhibitors, who accounted for a large portion of the 911 exhibitors representing 51 countries.

NTT Com participated in the NTT Group booth along with NTT Holdings, NTT DoCoMo, NTT-ME and NTT Data. Visitors appeared to be very pleased with staged presentations of the NTT/VERIO brand and other products and services of the NTT Group.

Satisfying the Customer
During the panel discussion, Suzuki addressed issues related to customer service. He emphasized that the demands of Internet users are diversifying as fast as the Internet itself, and that telecos must address these needs aggressively.

The scope of Internet usage has expanded far beyond the recent past, when consumers basically used the `Net to search for information or send email. Today, they enjoy shopping and auctions from the comfort of their homes, and utilize data-storage and hosting services to transmit , store and process information.

Corporations, meanwhile, are leveraging networks and information and communication technologies (ICT) to create new business models for cost reduction and enhanced management of business processes. Moreover, corporations know that networks and ICT can help to determine their very survival, so they are placing increasingly greater demands on telcos and ICT service providers.

Suzuki pointed out that telcos should provide comprehensive ICT services that guarantee the reliability of networks, quality of services and security. Furthermore, he noted that telcos have the obligation to implement new Internet-based technologies that widen the range of solution services and maximize IP capabilities.

Suzuki concluded by explaining the four core business domains that NTT Com is targeting as the foundation for realizing its vision of becoming a "Global IP Solution Company," namely, solutions, network management, security and global service.

Suzuki emphasized that meeting the needs of customers also requires competing telcos to cooperate in the development of global networks.