4 THE INCOMPAS SHOW I OCTOBER 20 - 22, 2024 www.bekabusinessmedia.com DAY 1 DAY 1 (Continued from page 1) legislation to streamline the permitting process specifically across railroad crossings, and working with government entities and industry to provide best practices on deployment.” In addition to deployment, another big issue is the tax implications related to the grant money providers received through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program. INCOMPAS has been very active in advocating for the Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act, and will continue to push for its inclusion in the 2025 tax package. INCOMPAS is also at the forefront of efforts to mitigate fraudulent robocalls and text messaging while preserving a competitive landscape for its members. Advocacy revolves around promoting standardized solutions that work for all segments of the voice service industry and can help members meet this dual goal. As for spectrum, it has been almost two years since the FCC’s authority lapsed. “We believe it is critical that Congress reauthorize the FCC’s authority to ensure our country remains at the edge of innovation,” explained Pickering. “Additionally, we have, and will continue to encourage the FCC to unlock two-way fixed broadband service in the lower 12 GHz band. This is a critical component in closing the digital divide and delivering on the promise of providing internet for all.” The 2024 INCOMPAS Show is an ideal place for members to come together and discuss these, and other important issues facing the industry. INCOMPAS offers a unique atmosphere compared to traditional trade shows, with an environment that facilitates meeting, exchanging ideas and information, and conducting business. INCOMPAS also provides an unprecedented number of venues to connect with other attendees, including private meeting rooms, suites, show floor meeting lounges, kiosks, exhibits, branded Deal Center tables, and networking opportunities at The INCOMPAS Bar and evening networking events. “Heading into our event, the anticipation has been palpable,” Pickering said. “Our meeting spaces were in high demand, and our exhibit hall sold out quickly. More than 20% of the companies are participating in the show for the first time, over 28% of pre-registered attendees are newcomers and we’ve seen even more key decision makers from returning companies prioritize coming to The INCOMPAS Show because they see the enormous value it represents.” INCOMPAS also experienced significant growth this year. The association now boasts over 100 members, with 20 new organizations joining in just the first three quarters of the year. Members include communications and technology companies of all sizes that offer cuttingedge products driving our industry forward. “Interest in our association continues to grow, with many companies recognizing the value of being part of a trade association that advocates for policies fostering competition and choice in the communications market,” said Pickering. “Additionally, INCOMPAS provides valuable opportunities, such as The INCOMPAS Show, for networking and developing business relationships. This year’s show is shaping up to be our largest yet and we see many new companies participating each year.” This year, attendees will be treated to a new INCOMPAS Show Mobile App. This userfriendly app puts the power of our show in the palm of your hand, and provides access to everything you need on the go. Attendees can access all the resources that INCOMPAS provides, such as the attendee list, as well as tools for connecting with other attendees, building out a personal schedule, and exploring the map to easily find participating companies. INCOMPAS is also hosting a special track on Monday afternoon called ConnectForward: Telecom Tech & Policy Insights. These sessions are designed for technology-focused attendees, offering insights on strategies to address several areas, including the introduction of AI, how API issues are hampering a vibrant wholesale market and the challenges of joint builds and rights-of-way access. Attendees can expect to find an ever-growing number of buyers this year. INCOMPAS made a concerted effort to attract individuals responsible for procurement to the show. Attendees are invited to participate in the Buyers Forum on Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon, for an opportunity to engage in speed meetings with buyers from 14 companies. The Buyers Forum Guide, which can be found on the Mobile App Resources tab, provides profiles of each company participating, the projects they’re working on and the types of products and services they’re looking for. Anyone interested in meeting with these companies can simply come to the foyer in front of Plaza Ballroom A during the designated Buyers Forum hours. “We understand the success of The INCOMPAS Show is driven by the people who attend and those that support the event through sponsorship,” Pickering concluded. “Throughout 2024, as we attended other events and spoke with current and prospective members, they have expressed their excitement about joining us in Denver. Because of this, we are on track for 2024 to be one of our biggest shows in the past decade.” p Midco’s network is now ready to support hyperscale expansion in the Midwest, with robust infrastructure that ensures high fiber capacity, scalability and reliability. According to Midco, hyperscalers are increasingly targeting the Midwest for its lack of extreme weather, abundant natural resources and access to renewable wind energy. The region also offers affordable power and real estate, making it an ideal place for development. However, hyperscalers require extensive network infrastructure to build massive data centers that can handle large-scale workloads. These centers demand efficient network connectivity and minimal latency – both of which can act as barriers for companies throughout the region. Midco is uniquely positioned to help major cloud service providers overcome local connectivity barriers and expand seamlessly into the Midwest – reducing risk and positioning them for growth. “We control end-to-end fiber connectivity which ensures low latency, plus our optical and IP networks can scale to transport gigabit or terabit speeds as our business partner’s needs evolve,” said Pao Lo, Midco’s vice president of Network Engineering. “It gives us a major advantage to meet customer demands.” Since 2021, Midco has been upgrading and expanding its fiber network to enhance quality and reliability for future demands. Its network now spans across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas and beyond. Midco also has fiber connections to major hubs like Chicago and Denver. One recent test showed latency of less than 20 milliseconds from Spearfish, S.D., to Chicago on Midco’s optical network. The company also recently constructed a 400G transport network. And its wavelength services and dark fiber options offer flexibility and control, ensuring hyperscalers get the performance they need today and the scalability they need for tomorrow. “Our infrastructure is designed for those massive bandwidth demands that go beyond what a typical data center facility would require,” Pao explained. “Our network can scale to 24 terabits of capacity.” Midco is on a mission to make the Midwest a hub for data center development. “Everyone else gets to benefit because we’re building the network for the lowest common denominator – which is the hyperscalers,” said Pao. “It means the best network performance, demands and specifications. It’s going to trickle down and benefit communities, from businesses to our residential customers.” p To learn more about Midco, stop by Deal Center Table 2, or visit Midco.com/Wholesale. Midco Readies Network for Hyperscalers
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