Light Reading
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications, Publishing, Market research, Data analysis, Events management |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Stephen Saunders |
| Fate | Acquired by UBM in 2005; repurchased by founder in 2014; became part of Informa in 2016 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Stephen Saunders (Founder, CEO) |
| Products | Information services, Market research (Heavy Reading), Events (Big Telecom Event) |
| Owner | Stephen Saunders (majority), UBM (minority until 2016) |
| Parent | Informa (since 2016) |
Light Reading Inc. is a New York City–based company providing information services within the telecommunications industry, with expertise in publishing, market research, data analysis, and events management.
History
Established in 2000 by entrepreneur Stephen Saunders, Light Reading was purchased by UBM in 2005 for $33 million, becoming part of UBM's CMP Media division. Saunders continued as CEO and later that year founded Internet Evolution.
The firm's market research branch, Heavy Reading, grew through the acquisition of Pyramid Research in August 2008.
Between 2011 and January 2015, Light Reading operated Light Reading India, a publication focused on the telecommunications market in India, until it ceased following UBM India's closure.
In August 2013, Light Reading adopted UBM's DeusM community platform. Then in February 2014, Saunders repurchased the company from UBM, which maintained a substantial minority interest. The new ownership aimed to increase staffing levels and adjust media pricing strategies by utilizing lower corporate expenses to enhance infrastructure and reduce costs for clients.
Light Reading became part of Informa in 2016.
Big Telecom Event
The Big Telecom Event (BTE), an annual telecommunications industry summit hosted by Light Reading, was introduced in June 2014 in Chicago. This gathering brought together prominent industry figures to explore advancements and challenges in technology. Distinct from conventional trade shows, BTE excluded exhibitors and show floors, instead featuring an "Innovation Zone" where more than 60 companies presented interactive demonstrations within turnkey booths.
Awards
Light Reading has earned several industry honors, including:
- Gold award in the business-to-business website category at the 2014 Ava Digital Awards.
- Platinum recognition for infographic design and four gold awards at the 2014 Hermes Creative Awards.
- Three accolades of excellence at the 2014 Apex Awards, covering Technical & Technology Writing, Best Redesigns, and Identity and Graphic Standards.