As I mentioned in the previous OilComm E-daily, attendees at the 2012 OilComm conference in Houston witnessed several transformations of the show compared to last year. One of those changes was the inclusion of an inland remote communications track. Previous shows had focused on the connectivity challenges happening over the oceans, but this year’s topic expansion revealed that many of the issues facing IT managers on land and water are much the same.
   Whether oil and energy fields are located 100 miles off the coast or 100 miles from any sign of civilization on land, both environments operate in areas that often lack traditional communications infrastructure and feature harsh climates. Employees at both types of facilities work long shifts far from home and must undergo extensive training not only to do their jobs effectively, but also safely.
   Keep in mind, however, that while the challenges may be similar, the solutions are a little bit different. Because OilComm 2012 brought providers that serve both inland and offshore customers together, a new dialog opened for new markets. Providers began to think how their inland-based solutions could work offshore and vice versa. This cultivates a powerful business environment for traditional terrestrial and cellular spectrum providers and a critical test for satellite. How can satellite operators continue to leverage their advantage at sea, while preparing for terrestrial service plans to move out onto the ocean? With the consolidation of both service providers and their customers’ infrastructure, I think hybrid satellite and terrestrial-based solutions will come out on top when both of these worlds meet.
   In conclusion, OilComm 2012 was a true creative experience for the oil and gas sector. The panel sessions of this show felt more like brainstorming sessions. New ideas were proposed and exchanged and competitors engaged with each other as if they were partners. I am very excited to see this dialog continue in 2013.