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Editorial Top Regional & Member News Regulatory Corner Regional Performance SAMENA Output to Members
Featured Articles Upcoming SAMENA Activities Past Key 2009 Activities RF Health Corner Top Technology Updates

Editorial
SAMENA is endeavoring to reach new heights in its evolutionary climb, toward building greater knowledge and information value for its membership and the regional telecom industry. This effort is multi-dimensional in nature. SAMENA recently returned from its visit to the Red Sea and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and is now working diligently on its 3rd annual Convergence series meeting, scheduled for November 3, 4 and 5 in the historical bridge city of Istanbul. We look forward to a strong showing of output there. SAMENA is also preparing to roll out a very strong set of new productions for that meeting and as it is finalized with regard to the plans, SAMENA will make sure that all members are aware of its new activities. For instance, SAMENA is issuing a call for papers on strategic topics associated with the renaissance of strength in the telecom industry’s future agenda, which will be reviewed in Convergence to Istanbul.

Upcoming Activities

Convergence to Turkey 2009
November 2009,
Istanbul, Turkey
Flyer

SAMENA Past Events

Past Key 2009 Activities
Beyond Connectivity 2009
Broadband Wireless Summit 2009
Riyadh Regulatory Summit 2009

SAMENA Output (available to members)

  1. 3G WCDMA global map available. (Broadband and WiMAX maps in progress)

  2. “Visions 2008”: Research reference guide on regional telecommunications and beyond, published in 2008.

  3. “Current Facts & Regulatory Updates 2007”, SAMENA’s first publication (next edition expected this year)

  4. Technology research, titled “WiMAX, iBurst and TETRA –A multi-parameter comparison”, produced for and delivered to Omantel.

  5. Research, titled “Threats and Opportunities of Disruptive Technologies”, produced for and delivered to Omantel.

  6. Research, titled “Choosing to Co-brand with Vodafone: Things to Consider”, produced and delivered to SAMENA affiliates.

  7. Internal research report, titled “Pakistan: Telecom Operators’ Info”.

  8. Internal research report, titled “Stats & Info on Datacom Products and Market Shares”.

  9. Research, titled “Dell Resellers and Distributors in the US”, produced for and delivered to Teralight.

  10. Internal research report, titled “The Current Status of FTTH”.

  11. Internal research, titled “Mobile TV and CITC Information – Saudi Arabia”.

  12. Research report, titled “MVNOs & Relevant Info on the SAMENA Region”, produced and delivered to Teralight.

  13. Research, titled “The MVNO Viewpoint for Egypt”, produced for SAMENA.

  14. Internal research, “Seamless Roaming: The Zain Issue”, produced for SAMENA.

  15. Internal research, “Recent Regulatory Updates – Oct – Nov 2008”.

  16. Research, titled “Satellite Launchings in the SAMENA Region”, produced for and delivered to Inmarsat.

  17. Internal research, titled “Problems in the Distribution of Scratch Cards in Pakistan, drafted for Teralight.

  18. Research, titled “VSAT Opportunities in the Mideast & Saudi Arabia”.

  19. Research, titled “Major WiMAX providers and examples of WiMAX partnerships”, produced for and delivered to Inmarsat.

  20. Research, titled “Key Technology Definitions”, produced for and delivered to PTCL.

Regulatory Advisor

Regional & Member News

  • Bahrain's rising IT market facing challenges  

  • Bahrain proposes Cyber crime law to prevent IT related crimes in the Kingdom  

  • Telecom Egypt net profit for 1Q better than expected  

  • Zain Jordan network investment at $410M  

  • Kuwait-led group to get Iran mobile license  

  • Lebanon media city planned for Beirut  

  • Huawei awarded Libya’s first commercial FTTH contract  

  • Morocco reports cellular, fixed line and wireless broadband growth  

  • Etisalat confirms interest in Meditel stake  

  • ZTE trial EV-DO Rev. B on Wana CDMA2000 1xEV-DO network  

  • Saudi Arabia to invest heavily in satellite technology  

  • UAE's Du Spends AED100 Million To Upgrade Network  

Regulatory Corner

  • TRA-UAE’s strategy for future revenue streams 

  • Telecom privatization in Lebanon 

  • Broadband license for the guard band

  • Internet service providers allowed to purchase bandwidth

  • Qatar’s ICT sector

  • Reduction in taxes on telecom equipment

Regional Performance

  • IPTV Adoption in the SAMENA Region

  • CDMA Adoption in the SAMENA Region

  • Certified Mobile WiMAX Devices

   

Top Technology Updates

  • Microsoft’s advanced IPT platform

  • Motorola’s SON for LTE

  • World’s first commercial 4G/LTE site

  • Testing of BGAN X-Stream completed

Featured Articles

Registration of Mobile Users
By Lenka Glynn
The ubiquity of mobile phones has spread rapidly across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa region (MESA), and indeed the entire world, in recent years.  In light of this, it would be easy to assume that operators have actively obtained the details of all of their customers whether for marketing, sales or security purposes, but this is not the case.  Many operators simply do not know or do not verify the identity of their customers, in particular in respect of pre-paid customers.

FCC Rural Broadband Report; Expanding Lobbying Restriction from Obama Administration
By James M. Smith, Maria T. Browne, Maurita K. Coley and K.C. Halm
•             FCC Issues Rural Broadband Strategy Report: “Building Block” for National Broadband Plan
•             Stimulus Program Lobbying Restrictions Expanded

Beyond Connectivity 2009
By Izhar Ahmad, Riaz A. Siddiqui
The regional telecommunications and ICT industry is treading an evolutionary path as it learns to deal with the current economic downturn, keeping long-term strategies for growth and expansive prospects in mind. Amidst prevailing challenging times lies a distinct need for engaging in discussionary undertakings on financial matters and revenue assurance strategies, technology and regulatory challenges, business-modeling, customer retention and other pertinent industry matters.

CDMA Footprint in South Asia
By Zakir Syed
South Asia, representing a major part of the SAMENA region, is experiencing impressive growth in terms of CDMA based wireless telephony and data subscriptions. Unlike the other two regions, namely the Middle East and North Africa, every country in South Asia has at least one operator with a commercial CDMA network.

RF Health Corner

New antenna design for reduced RF exposure

Hearing loss?

TRA-Bahrain on RF Concerns

...

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