The major telecom industry show and meeting, NXTcomm, is underway in the 100 degree heat of Las Vegas.   But even before it started, industry execs were gathering to discuss subjects like supplier diversity, the topic for the Verizon co-sponsored DiversityNXT meeting Monday morning. 

Verizon’s Mark Wegleitner, senior vice president for technology, got things going in an address to the DiversityNXT conferees -- a group of minority and women suppliers gathered here.  Woman and minority-owned businesses account for some $3 billion a year in industry revenues.

Mark walked the group through the evolution of Verizon’s all-fiber-optic network and the services available when the fiber runs straight to a home or business.  He sees fiber like the Verizon FiOS network likely to make possible services like 3D TV or even holographic live professional football games projected on the living room carpet.  (Move the coffee table, eh, Mark?)

This was just one of a number of side-meetings at NXTcomm this year, but an important one, and  Mark encouraged the suppliers to work on new products and services that are easier to use, less costly, easier to install and maintain, more secure and environmentally friendly.

Verizon is counting on all suppliers, including those companies owned by women and minorities, to help us deliver the high-speed Internet and unequalled TV service that consumers expect.

There’s a lot more coming this week, and we’ll try to keep readers here posted on what the Verizon team is up to at NXTcomm.