RCA's Competitive Carriers Global Expo Opens with Record Attendance and a Focus on Advocacy and Growth Opportunities

Keynotes from Sprint, Cricket Communications, LightSquared, Alcatel-Lucent Discuss Strategies for Competing Against Wireless Duopoly

ORLANDO, Fla., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- RCA's Competitive Carriers Global Expo 2012, the premier event for the competitive mobile ecosystem, opened today with record attendance and a series of keynote addresses that highlighted the challenges and opportunities for competitive carriers as device requirements and consumer expectations demand more from their networks. RCA's Competitive Carriers Global Expo takes place March 29-30 in Orlando.  Pre-conference seminars took place March 28.

During the opening general session, Steven K. Berry, president and CEO of RCA, provided an update on the organization's activities and welcomed new members Sprint, Cricket Communications and T-Mobile.  With their addition, the RCA now represents every wireless carrier in the U.S. with the exception of the "Twin Bells."  Following Berry's address, keynote speakers touched on the most pressing issues facing the competitive wireless ecosystem. 

• Bob Azzi, senior vice president, Network at Sprint provided an update on Sprint's Network Vision program, the opportunities for VoLTE in the future, and the potential for RCA members to work together to provide nationwide LTE coverage
• Doug Hutcheson, president and CEO, Cricket Communications called on RCA members to continue efforts to ensure data roaming is available for every carrier and suggested network sharing to help alleviate the spectrum and capital crunch that mobile operators face in the wake of exploding data usage rates.
• Sanjiv Ahuja, chairman of the board at LightSquared, discussed the company's commitment to continue to advocate for the ability to offer wireless broadband connectivity to un-served and underserved communities in the U.S.
• Sandra Motley, vice president of Sales for U.S. Wireless Accounts at Alcatel-Lucent provided an update on the progress of LTE deployments.

The closing general session, on Friday, March 30, at 8:30 am ET, will be live streamed and will feature a roundtable discussion with competitive carriers CEOs including: Hu Meena, president and CEO, C Spire Wireless; Jonathan D. Foxman, president and CEO MTPCS, LLC, d/b/a Cellular One; Michael Prior, president and CEO, Atlantic Tele-Network; and Steven K. Berry, president & CEO of RCA. This session will be moderated by Sue Marek, editor-in-chief of Wireless Group, FierceMarkets. 

RCA today also announced the availability of its "Carrier Approved" Android App Store as part of its new Industry Ecosystem Development Program initiative. Available exclusively to RCA members, the RCA "Carrier Approved" Android App Store is a branded mobile application store focused on delivering a quality, not quantity approach towards mobile applications.

"RCA's focus is on advocacy and the restoration of a competitive marketplace," said RCA president and CEO Steven K. Berry.  "With record attendance, dynamic keynote speakers, and more than 100 exhibitors mingling with our carrier members, RCA's Competitive Carriers Global Expo is delivering on this promise by providing the tools the competitive mobile ecosystem needs to realize the opportunities of a 4G world."

About RCA Events
RCA events bring the decision-makers in the competitive mobile ecosystem together for networking, learning and sharing best practices. RCA's 2012 Annual Convention, celebrating its 20th year, takes place September 23-26 at Wynn Las Vegas. 

About RCA
RCA is the nation's leading association for competitive wireless providers serving rural and regional areas of the United States. The licensed service area of RCA's more than 100 members covers 95 percent of the nation.  Visit www.rca-usa.org

SOURCE RCA The Competitive Carriers Association