SAMENA’s “Beyond Connectivity 2013” to highlight important policy implications and drivers for industry collaboration across the Digital Domain
Türk Telekom to be Diamond Sponsor of the “Beyond Connectivity 2013” Conference
Dubai – UAE, February 19, 2013: While the overall development in digitization has been quite impressive across the SAMENA region, the overall ICT usage and the level of digitization is still below global averages. Against the backdrop of this need for policies that will help with the ICT industry’s development and progress in the region, SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the tri-regional telecommunications consortium will convene some of the industry leading CEO’s, experts and decision makers at its annual “Beyond Connectivity 2013” conference from March 6-7, 2013 in Istanbul, Turkey. Türk Telekom will be the Diamond Sponsor of the Beyond Connectivity 2013 Conference.
Highlighting the theme ‘Maximizing Revenues through Digital Excellence’ for this year’s conference, Bocar BA, CEO, SAMENA Telecommunications Council said, “With the current information revolution and the ongoing convergence, the ICT sector is increasingly having a fundamental impact on all aspects of our lives from knowledge creation to media and entertainment. This is driving the need for a collaborative approach on various issues such as Internet Governance, Cooperation Across the Content Value-Chain, Satellite Broadband Applications among others. In this context, a region-wide move for digital excellence will be essential to maximize revenues and help boost the industry growth further.”
Key speakers at the conference include Mohamed Isa Al Khalifa, CEO of Batelco Group & Board Chairman of SAMENA Telecommunications Council, Dr. Tayfun Acarer, President of the Telecommunications Authority, Chairman of the Telecommunications Board, Turkey, Hakam Kanafani, CEO, Türk Telekom Group and other industry leaders and executives from across the SAMENA region.
Stating that they are glad to host this meeting in Istanbul organized by SAMENA, which strives to develop the telecommunication sector, Türk Telekom Group CEO Hakam Kanafani said “Its rapidly developing economy has transformed Turkey into a center of attraction. Through the pioneering role Türk Telekom Group has assumed in the telecommunications sector, the Group contributes also in the achievements attained by Turkey with its young, dynamic and high-skilled population. This gathering of telecommunication professionals by SAMENA, where Türk Telekom Group is a board member, opens new horizons in the development of our countries’ telecommunication industries.
The two day event begins with a discussion on “Internet Governance, Implications of New Policy Trends” and the need for international co-operation and collaboration among industry stakeholders in a permanently changing communications environment. The highlight of the second day of the conference is the panel on “Motivation For Digitization in the South Asia-Middle East-North Africa region” which will explore new growth opportunities for telecom industry operators and ICT industry stakeholders and the need for clear and well-funded national ICT policy and execution models in terms of M-Payments, M-Health, E-Government, and similar digital services. “Beyond Connectivity 2013” will conclude with a panel discussion on “Regional Exchange and Agreements for Mobile Roaming” considering that attention is turning to increased usage of international roaming services as mobile operators search for new revenue streams.
About SAMENA:
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications association that represents over 40 telecommunications operators in 25 markets, representing an aggregate subscriber base of 700 million mobile users, 79 million fixed-line users, and 22 million broadband users. The Council’s membership embodies a community of telecom operators, manufacturers, government bodies, academia, and leading global management consultancy organizations. SAMENA’s Board of Directors and member companies include the largest regional operators and global multi-network operators as well as new competitive entrants. SAMENA focuses on digitization and broadband investment policies, and aims to promote beneficial regulation and governance that further industry evolution, as well as cooperation among key ICT industry stakeholders. For further information, please visit www.samenacouncil.org