Monday, April 07, 2008

Arab States - regulation of roaming charges

Arab states to study telecom regulations

High-level representatives of the telecom watchdogs from 15 Arab countries will meet in Bahrain tomorrow and on Wednesday for the plenary meeting of the Arab Regulators' Network (Aregnet). The meeting will be hosted by the current Aregnet president, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain.

Prior to the plenary session, a meeting will be held between the members of Aregnet and high-level representatives of mobile operators in the Arab region, representing 13 mobile companies, as well as the GSM Association.

The aim of the meeting is to discuss the pan-Arab regulation of international mobile roaming charges as well as industry's proposals for self-regulatory measures in this field.

During the plenary meeting, the regulators are likely to agree on a recommendation on regulation of international mobile roaming tariffs for consideration at the Council of Arab Ministers of Telecommunications and Information Technology meeting in June. The plenary will also discuss the papers, prepared by the Aregnet Working Groups, on the unified licensing regime, consumer protection framework, and benchmarking of market data.

On Wednesday, a workshop will be conducted to discuss how telecommunications services could be used to improve and protect the environment.

"We are pleased to welcome our fellow Arab regulators are here in Bahrain. It is a great honor for us to host the plenary meeting and report the achievements of Aregnet during the term of our presidency," said Aregnet's president and Bahrain TRA's general director Alan Horne.

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