[MENAFN] The 11th Arabcom Summit, Arab International annual Telecom development summit for the Arab stares has come to an end with the participation of 620 delegates including 15 Arab Ministers of Telecom and others, 35 Regional Operators/carrier, Telco CEOs, government delegations, the League of the Arab states, The International Telecommunication Union, incumbent and former ministers, Arab and foreign ambassadors, representatives of the consular, diplomatic and military corps accredited in Lebanon, in addition to military and security delegations, general directors, Arab chairman of regulatory authorities and presidents of chambers of commerce and industry in Lebanon and the Arab countries, consultant, vendors, researchers, investment agencies, Investors and others.
Arabcom 2009 has been held in Beirut from 28 to 29 May 2009 receiving unprecedented accolade from the attendees for its extraordinary success. The summit was able to delineate new policy for development in the Arab world so that it may be able to live up to the challenges of the new world economy. The conference was opened by Mrs. Katia Tayar, Founder & President of Arabcom Group, who referred to Man's right of access to communication, renewing her pledge to continue working in order to provide communication and knowledge to all in pursuit of economic and social development for the entire nation. She called on leaders and communities to turn the new communication revolution into a real wealth to serve the nation and its interests. The opening ceremony was attended by 10 Ministers of Telecom, and hosted under the patronage of the Minister of Telecom in Lebanon H.E Jibrane Bassile, patron of Arabcom, who presented a political paper for the sector of telecommunications and provided a vision to form the information community, calling for partnership between the two sectors and the neighboring countries. Furthermore, the Iraqi Minister of Telecommunications, Eng. Farouq Abdel Rahman, has called for approving the Arabcom Document and for further cooperation between the Arab
countries and the two sectors.
Keynote speakers in the summit were CEOs of pioneering Arab companies, including Dr. Saad Al Barrak, the Executive Director and deputy Chairman of Zain Group . Mr. Naguib Sawiris, President of Orascom Telecom represented by Dr. Khalid Ismail Business Development Officer, Mr. Osman Sultan CEO Du, Mr. Hassan Omran Chairman Etisalat represented by Doctor Ali Al Ahmad Group Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Samer Salameh Chairman & CEO Alpha, Mr. Sami El Basheer ITU/ BDT Director, Dr. Kamal Shehadi , President of Lebanon's Telecom Regulatory Authority who presented the Authority's plan to organize the sector and attract investment, in addition
to other international experts, especially from Gartner, Booz & Co, Actel, Macmillan Keck, Value partners, and many others.
The agenda of Arabcom 2009 tackled six main points and lectures were delivered by 32 specialists from 14 countries in America, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Arab Gulf Countries and Asia with the participation of 54 bodies from different countries around the world, in addition to heads of state and representatives of 35
operator companies in the sector from 14 Arab and foreign countries.
The summit tackled several issues, including the Broadband as a need for economic and social development and advancement, Smart cities, network and services integration, broadband services assessment: options or challenges for operators and service providers, broadband and the investment strategy, broadband: content and
site, importance of content and services through broadband technology and horizons available for the development of new services and businesses. The summit also shed light on the most outstanding horizons and challenges facing the Arab world under the new Intelligent Next Generation Networks.
Arabcom Expo 2009 has hosted famous world companies that provide the latest Infrastructures, smart services, applications, programs and mediums used in developed countries in communication and fast access through smart fixed, mobile and wireless networks.
The economic feasibility of broadband services is on the rise, receiving great government attention for its main role in improving the performance and development of communities. Arabcom summit has been able to conclude the following major recommendations which could be brought to bear by Arab governments and decision makers in order to provide broadband services for the public and secure several other services to meet the needs of individuals, populations and organizations.
Arabcom 2009 has come out with the following recommendations:
Arabcom 2009 Recommendations
1- Developing a national plan at the highest level in the country for an urgent project adopting the development, upgrading and expansion of networks and introducing the services of broadband and mobile internet within a specified period of time that meets the current accelerated developments in the world of telecommunications.
2- Coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities to introduce the wide area networks and broadband, in addition to training individuals on using the new applications through an awareness-raising program.
3- Encourage issuing licenses for call centers in the Arab world in order to create new job opportunities for young people and to put an end to unemployment and immigration.
4- The need to help individuals recognize the means of modern communication and enable them to reach digital content and experience exchange in order to take them on board of the upcoming internet generation where content exchange reigns supreme.
5- Following the ICT policy to develop all economic sectors, including health, transportation and education in order to capitalize on the increasing demand on the broadband services.
6- Developing constant regulatory frameworks on which investors could rely in the long term while taking investment decisions.
7- Observing impartiality in network technology and supporting the participation in infrastructure which could pave the way for affordable broadband services.
8- Providing rare sources for radio spectrum and public rights of way in a fair, transparent and competitive way so that they may be utilized effectively.
9- Supporting competitive, balanced market to manage supply and demand on broadband services.
10- Paying more attention to the end-user by providing contents and applications that are suitable to the Arab world interests and emphasizing the protection of consumer rights.
11- Making use of broadband network and providing IP TV for users through such network in order to enhance interaction between consumers and service providers.
12- The need of government intervention should traditional and regulatory policies fail or in case they turn out to be slow in developing the broadband market.
13- The need to provide further opportunity for institutions that use communication automation to impart their opinions on the services provided in order to maximize the benefits of the ongoing development in this sector.
14- Proposing to provide the mobile TV service for free for an initial period in order to encourage users to use and benefit from such service.
15- Innovation in the Arab world: the Arab world needs several steps to execute a plan that aims at breathing life into the ICT industry; the most important elements of the plan are as follows: providing suitable infrastructure and environment in order to stimulate innovation – capitalizing on the experience of Arab university graduates around the world and Arab scientists.
16- Communication and information: Reaching effective cooperation between telecommunication service providers and information agencies in order to provide users with information content in order to move the broadband service forward.
17- In conclusion, although some of those concerned with the industry will inevitably be opposed to this, the success of cellular communication industry is the best example of how those concerned are cooperating in order to reach the benefits of the broadband sector. Therefore, sectors which will make the best use of the broadband are: industry, health, transportation, tourism, education, professional services, government, etc…
Arabcom 09 Telecom Summit closing and recommendations
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