Business transformation model with Over-The-Top, capability to monetize, and the need to build digital ecosystems by telecom operators highlighted at SAMENA's "Beyond Connectivity 2011"

Convergence among operators needed to create OTT with a difference for a shared response to the challenge of OTT: du

Dubai - UAE, April 25, 2011 - SAMENA Telecommunications Council's "Beyond Connectivity 2011", the three-day conference which is being held in Abu Dhabi opened today, providing leading telecommunications experts and decision makers in the region with an opportunity to discuss the higher spectrum efficiency of digital technology which makes the industry's shift towards a digital future very imminent.

Highlighting the importance of the conference, Bocar A Ba, President of SAMENA Telecommunications Council said, "Increased spectrum availability is the key to efficiently providing wireless broadband services and hence telecom operators need to focus on stimulating and building a digital ecosystem. Through this conference we intend to provide facilitate discussions among members and non-members of SAMENA about some of the predominantly significant issues of spectrum strategies, digital dividends, digital content, and net neutrality."

Raghu Venkatraman, Chief Strategy and Investment Officer during his welcome speech and key note address on behalf of du CEO, Osman Sultan said, "Telecom operators today are deliberating what comes after connectivity. Operators in the last ten years have been struggling with top-line growth opportunities and flattening of the revenue growth curve. On an average traffic on networks is doubling every 8-9 months which puts a lot of demand on the networks. The threat of over-the-top, monetization, identifying the role operators can play in the digital ecosystem and the need to build digital ecosystems is crucial. Thus there is a need to create OTT with a difference in collaboration with other operators for shared response to the challenges of OTT."

Speaking about the threats of OTT to the regional telecom operators, Karim Daoud, CEO of Intigral said, "Consumers in the region are well served by international and regional web-based video providers. Consumer behaviour in mobile is changing with the proliferation of smartphones and applications usage. But the advent of OTT players is not necessarily bad news for operators. However there are risks such as loss of user interface, consumer churn and cannibalization. Hence operators should get into digital content but this not a revenue generating source. The real economic value of digital media for operators is to strengthen their core business through acquiring new customers, increasing ARPU's and reducing the churn."

Day two of the conference will explore the evolution of technology and Next Generation Networks, along with the Digitalization of the Economy and the Socio-Economic Benefits of Spectrum Reshaping. The conference will round up with the last day including panels on Mobile Content Innovation and the Innovations in technology in the home and through Satellite Broadband. Day three will also feature a "CEO Live Session" which will provide insight into the leadership, thoughts and visions of telecoms leaders in the region, who will have the opportunity to interact and discuss with participants the future of the telecommunications industry, exploring topics related to intensifying competition and future strategies and technologies that need to be adopted, and investments required for building next generation high-speed networks.

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About SAMENA:
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications association that unites the community of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African telecoms operators, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and academics. SAMENA aims to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the SAMENA region spanning over 25 countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The Council is driven by telecoms issues that operators in South Asia, the Middle East, and in North Africa face, and provides its advocacy expertise to help incubate novel approaches and ideas to support the growth of the telecommunications industry in the region.

Headquartered in Dubai, SAMENA is chaired by Eng. Saud Al Daweesh, Group CEO of STC - Saudi Arabia, and is directed by Mr. Thomas W. Wilson.

For more information please call:
Farah Ibrahim
TRACCS
Tel: +9714 3672530
TRACCS Media Hotline: +97150 9448389
Email: farah.ibrahim@traccs.net