UBM Acquires 4G World Exhibition and Conference

February 6, 2012
Rachel Wimberly

UBM continued to expand its rapidly growing portfolio, with the purchase of the 4G World Exhibition and Conference for its UBM TechWeb division from Yankee Group Research for an undisclosed sum.

The 4G trade show is billed as the “largest independent telecoms and wireless event serving the U.S. market,” according to UBM officials.

“This acquisition expands our offering in the rapidly-accelerating mobile broadband market,” said Tony Uphoff, CEO of UBM TechWeb.

4G World serves the fast-growing mobile broadband market, which is expected to reach 2.5 billion 4G subscribers by 2016, according to Pyramid Research.

UBM TechWeb will leverage its Light Reading and InformationWeek communities – which include key service provider and enterprise technology decision-makers – to further develop 4G World as an integrated event platform for 4G marketers around the globe, according to UBM officials

“4G World brings a valuable brand to our portfolio, and will immediately be able to tap into our thriving Light Reading and InformationWeek online communities serving global communications providers, enterprise technology executives, developers and the 4G marketers tasked with reaching them,” Uphoff said.

Last year’s show drew 8,500 attendees and 250 sponsors, generating revenues of approximately $3.2 million, and this year’s event is on tap in the fall at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Besides a showfloor, the event also features a comprehensive education program, focusing on the latest innovations in business and technology, with 200 industry speakers.

The 4G World operational team, led by John Sellazzo, are based in Massachusetts, and eight employees will be transferring with the business.

“I would like to welcome John Sellazzo and his team into UBM TechWeb , and I look forward to working with them to drive the business forward in close co-operation with Joseph Braue, group director of UBM Techweb’s Light Reading Communications Network,” Uphoff said.

4G World also has an edition in Asia, which will not be owned by UBM, that will be held April 17-19 at the Raffles City Convention Center in Singapore.

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