Broadband Cities 2007 - Amsterdam and Almere, The Netherlands
Broadband Cities 2007, INEC's annual event, will take place in Amsterdam and Almere, the Netherlands on November 14 and 15 respectively. Key to this year's theme: plan for tomorrow's community - and put a stop to discussions about yesterday's infrastructures.
"Cities Thinking Ahead: Planning for a Sustainable, Competitive and Socially Inclusive Community of Tomorrow" . This is the overall theme of Broadband Cities 2007, the annual INEC event that will be hosted in two cities: Amsterdam and Almere, the Netherlands. The theme aims to focus on the needs of tomorrow's community. Dirk van der Woude, representing the City of Amsterdam and serving Amsterdam on the board of INEC: 'Cities have looked back to the past for too long. Cities should start planning for tomorrow’s needs – instead of continuing a debate about yesterday’s infrastructures.’ Indeed, Broadband Cities 2007 is to focus on broadband as a tool in forging tomorrow’s community with regards to varying needs. One central issue on the agenda will be sustainability - and how broadband is to facilitate this by bringing the information to the user as opposed to bringing the user to the information, by teleworking, video conferencing, by smart transport systems. In short, the following themes are set to be addressed:
- Bringing the Information to the User: Teleworking in Tomorrow's Connected City
- Best Practices in E-Democracy
- Broadband as the Best Fix for the Digital Divide: The Convergence of Platforms
- Amsterdam and Almere: Old and New Cities Compare Strategies on Broadband Deployment
- Creative Sector: Jumpstarting Broadband Usage
- Life after Second Life: The Future of Virtual Worlds
Broadband Cities 2007 will be preceded by a day of dedicated workshops on November 13. Stay posted for updates at www.i-nec.com