The second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, is the headlining act at a conference organised by the country’s telcos in March next year.

The Planet 2010 conference to be held in Auckland, will showcase the value of communications in New Zealand. It is organised by the Telecommunications Industry Group (TIG), whose membership comprises of all the main telcos, bar TelstraClear and 2degrees.

TIG chief executive Rob Spray says visitors to the conference will be impressed by how far the industry has come.

“Planet 2010 will give attendees a real taste for what telecommunications has delivered in our lives, in New Zealand society and for the economy. Telecommunications is opening up a whole new world of opportunity and possibilities for businesses, consumers and society in general – and this will all be on display.”

He says in the past 10 years the telecommunications industry has invested over $12 billion in New Zealand, and currently employs over 60,000 people.

There will be 25 speakers and 45 exhibitors at the conference with day one devoted to business and day two to consumers. Information on the website predicts 750 delegates on day one and around 3000 on day two. Aldrin will appear on both days.