| BELTUG Update December 6, 2011 |
| |
Based on the priorities of our ICT manager members, BELTUG has prepared a user-driven action plan until September 2012. With a mix of information sessions, case studies, interactive discussions and other information, we will help you take your communications technology and services a step forward. |
| |
|
Lobbying
1. BELTUG position on Cybersurveillance
2. BELTUG challenges RIM
3. BELTUG/INTUG ask regulators to pay more attention to the business market
4. BELTUG position on Private GSM
Networking
1. Consultation: video from the desktop
2. Consultation: looking for audit/benchmarking services
3. A warm welcome to our newest members
4. BELTUG in the Press
Information and vision
1. A Policy for BYOD
2. Update on SIP trunking
3. Security SIG on 8 December: mobile devices and mobile apps
4. Confirmed dates for Belgacom services phase-outs on BELTUG website
5. Presentations available
Agenda
|
|
|
Lobbying
|
| BELTUG defends your interests and addresses issues with government representatives and service providers. |
1. BELTUG position on Cybersurveillance |
|
The Belgian Privacy Commission organised a consultation on a very interesting 9 page document with recommendations on 'cybersurveillance'; on how employers can control electronic communication in business, with respect to the privacy of their employees. In its answer BELTUG pleads to enlarge the scope to new services like videoconferencing, instant messaging (IM) and social networks, and to evaluate the recommendations from the reality of cloud services and the use of smartphones and tablets.
In Q2 2012 we will update our paper "Recommendations to a Corporate Policy". |
|
| 2. BELTUG challenges RIM |
|
|
Following the recent problems at RIM, BELTUG set up a meeting to discuss the situation, the concerns of client companies and the lessons learned. RIM explained the background of the incident, and especially focussed on the decisions being taken to avoid this kind of problem in the future. From our side BELTUG explained the expectations of the business users, especially on the improvement of the communications in case of incidents.
|
|
| 3. BELTUG/INTUG ask regulators to pay more attention to the business market |
|
|
BELTUG/INTUG submitted its comments to BEREC’s (European Regulators Group for Electronic Communications) draft Work Programme 2012. In particular, we want BEREC to focus on business services, and appeal for a far-reaching harmonisation. Right now, companies face too many barriers when building an international ICT strategy.
|
|
| 4. BELTUG position on Private GSM and guard band frequencies |
|
| GSM “guard band” frequencies let companies use private GSMs for in-house communication, but these are not yet available for private use in Belgium. 30 BELTUG members explored this topic. Many BELTUG members are interested in the technology, but others believe Private GSM is already obsolete. BELTUG is asking the BIPT to free the guard band frequencies, within the context of the EU’s new Spectrum Policy. |
|
|
Networking
|
|
|
1. Consultation: video from the desktop
|
|
|
Videoconferencing is much more than installing screens, and certainly more than a phone call with moving images added. BELTUG launched a consultation for experiences with low-cost solutions, and collected a wealth of information.
|
|
| 2. Consultation: looking for audit/benchmarking services |
|
One of our members is planning an audit / benchmarking of their voice services (fixed and mobile). BELTUG launched a consultation to find out who is active in this area. We received almost 40 reactions. From the responses, we can certainly deduce that many companies are active on this market and that customers find a regular audit / benchmarking of their telecom services to be a very useful and enlightening exercise.
|
|
| 3. A warm welcome to our newest members |
|
|
We would like to welcome all our new members who joined last month: KMO-IT, Whitehorses.be, Openix, ZiekenhuisNetwerk Antwerpen, Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Bureau Van Dijk Electronic Publishing, Digit4, TEC, 4Clinics, Mazda, AR-TE.
|
|
| 4. BELTUG in the Press |
|
|
A panel of BELTUG-members commented on the results of the Datanews survey on the use of telecommunications in Belgian companies.
Datanews Enquête télécom
Datanews telecomenquête
Both BELTUG and INTUG have been highlighted in the media lately. As Director of BELTUG, Danielle Jacobs was interviewed for BT’s Let’s Talk e-zine on Power to the Infrastructure. In the Market Pulse segment, she spoke about BELTUG’s take on the state of competition in the Belgian market for communication services.
As President of INTUG, Danielle was profiled in the magazine of INTUG member BTG. BTG is the user organisation in the Netherlands: the “Nederlandse Vereniging voor Bedrijfstelecommunicatie Grootgebruikers”.
|
|
| Information and vision |
| We want BELTUG members to be the best informed ICT decision makers and professionals. |
|
| 1. A Policy for BYOD |
|
| BELTUG organised a session on what to include in a policy for bring your own device. In the audience of more than 20 businesses and public institutions, only one company already has a policy BYOD, lots of companies have a policy “do not bring your own device”. It is very clear times are changing quickly. The presentations are available. |
|
| 2. BELTUG X-change: to SIP or not (yet) to SIP? |
|
| The X-change on SIP trunking, with the experience of the Belgian Icecream Group, made it clear that BELTUG members still have a lot of questions and issues about SIP. Some of the topics brought up included certification of the PBXes, the use of faxes and alarm installations, the combination of SIP and Belgacom Explore, SLAs on speech quality, etc. BELTUG is in the process of putting these concerns together, in order to address them directly with Belgacom. |
|
| 3. Security SIG December 8: mobile devices and mobile apps |
|
|
The Security SIG will meet on 8 December to discuss security for mobile devices and apps. On the agenda will be: protecting ourselves against malware and non-secure apps, including specific lines of defence, and a case about the real experiences of USG People with smartphones and tablets.
The Security SIG is open to all BELTUG members.
|
|
| 4. Confirmed dates for Belgacom services phase-outs on BELTUG website |
|
| Regularly, companies come to us commenting that different deadlines for the phase-out of services are circulating. Belgacom has formally confirmed that the timing which was presented to BELTUG is correct. Please let us know if you are receiving other information. |
|
| 5. Presentations available |
|
| There are lots of presentations available for our members on our website. Recent additions cover topics ranging from private GSM, SIP, BYOD and cloud experiences. |
|
| Agenda |
| |
|
|
| |
|
BELTUG in (social) media
|
|
|
|
