SAMENA Telecom Council launched in UAE
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—SAMENA Telecommunications Council was successfully launched on 13rd April 2006 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai (UAE). A prestigious cast of experts, from all over the region and also North America and Europe made appearances to speak on the behalf of the SAMENA Telecommunications Council.
SAMENA refers to the South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African regions of the world. The council aims to bring together wireless and wire-line operators, including those that are not the PTT or monopolies of a specific country.
Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Wohaibi, Chairman of the Board, Executive President of Omantel, and Chairman of the Board of Oman Mobile introduced to the group multiple,., strategies of growth and development for SAMENA Telecommunications Council. Mr. James M. Smith, Esq. of Davis Wright Tremaine in Washington D.C., also spoke and addressed the attendees of his prior experience in his capacity as the former President of Competitive Telecommunications Association (Comptel) for seven years and how Comptel grew exponentially and provided much highly valued input with regard to SAMENA's options and expectations.
SAMENA is a vehicle to incubate ideas and develop a means for operators and service providers to gain traction in a collaborative and informative and consistent manner, with the regulators, suppliers and media in the industry.
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a regionally based Telecommunications Association which serves the telecommunications operator and service provider community in 25 countries spanning from Morocco to Pakistan and from Turkey to Yemen. SAMENA Telecommunications Council is Chaired by Dr. Mohammed All Al Wohaibi and is Founded and Directed by Mr. Thomas Wilson.
The conference was concluded with a special focus on Telecommunication industry of. Pakistan. The Vice President South Asian Affairs Mr. Riaz Asher Siddiqui presented the reforms and growth of Pakistan's Telecom Industry in the launching ceremony. It has been highly appreciated and agreed that the guidelines would be taken from the telecom industry of Pakistan to promote the telecom infrastructure in the SAMENA region. lie further added that two slots have been reserved in SAMENA's board of directors for PTCL and one cellular operator (the most suitable candidate), however final decision will be announced prior to the next board, of directors meeting of SAMENA Telecommunications Council. It is important to note that from Pakistan PTA, NTC, PTCL, Instaphone, Warid Telecom and LTE have joined SAMENA Telecommunications Council.