AIRBUS : “Keeping professionals connected when it matters most”

In accordance with the motto "Keeping professionals connected when it matters most", Airbus Defence and Space held the 24th edition of its customer event, SNUC (Secure communications Network operators and Users Conference), in Cannes from 4 to 5 March. Founded in 1994, SNUC is a well-established event comprising a conference, a variety of workshops and an exhibition featuring the latest innovative projects, with offerings from around 15 vendors. This year, it brought together approximately 250 participants, mostly executives from the international public safety sector, but also other user organisations, partners and prospective customers from 28 countries around the world. They exchanged best practices for securing their mission-critical operations and discussed new ways of meeting emerging communication needs and the evolution of the market.

Nicole Lecca, Head of Secure Land Communications at Airbus Defence and Space, highlighted the importance of this gathering for Airbus Defence and Space's professional mobile radio customers. "This year's SNUC was especially important to us. In the context of the planned sale of our activity, we wanted to give a clear signal to our worldwide customers that they matter to us and that we will continue to do business in a professional way, no matter the change of ownership," she said. "The idea for this user forum was born in 1994 with the aim of providing an opportunity to network and create an atmosphere of trust for fruitful exchange with our customers. SNUC is about listening to our customers in order to understand what we can do for them. It's about doing things together, discussing what really matters to that community and setting the direction for the future."

During the plenary sessions, mission-critical network users provided updates on current and ongoing developments along with insights into how network operations are running today. Presentations on the second day addressed the question of how current networks and services are evolving to meet the communication needs of public safety user organisations in the future. The open forum context invited the representatives from Airbus Defence and Space and the delegates to share their experiences and views with regard to new requirements. During interactive workshops, the participants furthermore shared their visions regarding strategies and product roadmaps, thereby fostering innovation together.

Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, Astrium and Airbus Military. The new division is Europe's number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs some 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.