Beyond Connectivity conference 2017 to bring telecom and ICT industry stakeholders under one roof

Dubai, 20 February, 2017 

SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications industry association that embodies a community of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African telecoms operators, manufacturers, and specialist ICT firms, has announced that its Beyond Connectivity 2017 (BYC) conference will be held on March 16th in Muscat, Oman. A major networking and thought leadership event for SAMENA Council's members and industry professionals, Beyond Connectivity series of conferences bring together representatives of the public and the private sectors, including telecom operators, technology companies and leading consulting firms, active within the ICT arena.

To be held under the theme, Building corridors in digital development, exclusively Diamond-sponsored by Oman's leading integrated communications service provider, Omantel, the day-long conference will provide a strategic knowledge-sharing platform for SAMENA Council's members to discuss the evolving telecommunications landscape and industry challenges, with specific emphasis on the Omani market. The event will delve into major industry matters, which will be deliberated on through panel discussions. Such matters including emerging sustainability challenges for the telecoms and ICT industry, industry fees and financial obligations for telecom operators, national digital policy development, digitization, including financial services, regulatory frameworks and challenges in cross-border data flows, among others.

Beyond Connectivity 2017 will also facilitate discussion of other revenue-generation opportunities for the operators, regulatory challenges faced by the industry as well as SAMENA Council’s role to represent the interest and vision of the industry players. Over the years, BYC has also served as a platform for companies to enhance corporate visibility, and to announce business partnerships and product launches.

Commenting on the significance of Beyond Connectivity 2017, Bocar A. BA, CEO, SAMENA Telecommunications Council said, “Dialogue, cooperation and coordination are important in today’s industry ecosystem and SAMENA Council has always been keen on providing a common platform for telecom operators and regulatory bodies to discuss various challenges, address the need to identify necessary regulatory and policy amendments to improve industry's performance and growth. Beyond Connectivity conference has had its share of successes in the past, and we intend to build on to those, and overcome any challenges that have been faced in the past."

Commenting on the importance of ‘Beyond Connectivity 2017’ conference, being hosted by the Sultanate; Talal Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel said, “We are pleased to welcome the participants and wish them all the best in the conference. Samena Conference is a common platform for leaders in telecom, to exchange experiences and discuss matters related to this vital sector such as, challenges and ways to develop the ICT sector in the Middle East. The Sultanates telecom sector is witnessing rapid growth and attracting latest technologies. Therefore, we are supporting this conference and participating in it by showcasing our experience in ICT which contributes in building a digital society and positioning Oman amongst advanced countries.

Beyond Connectivity 2017 will witness the participation of Oman's government sector leadership, along with a number of key ICT decision-makers. CEO Omantel and leaders from the industry have already confirmed participation. BYC presents an excellent opportunity for business leaders to directly reach out to their core audience.

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About SAMENA Telecommunications Council 
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is South Asia - Middle East - North Africa (SAMENA) region’s premier industry council of telecom operators and service providers, and represents network investments valuing at more than US$300 billion. SAMENA Council voices network operators’ issues and needs to regulators, policymakers, and international institutions. The largest regional telecom groups, including Saudi Telecom, Etisalat, Batelco, Ooredoo, Viva Kuwait, Orange Jordan, Turk Telekom, Zain, Omantel, among other leading operators and technology companies that are a part of the Council’s membership. SAMENA Council is a sector development partner, and believes in bringing all stakeholders closer together to help create a sustainable business environment for the industry, and to accelerate digital development in regional economies.

As an international non-profit organization, a private-sector representative platform, SAMENA Council is contributing to the understanding of cross-stakeholder priorities within the Public and the Private sectors. The Council has created a unique regional position as the regulatory reach and operator advocacy organization, with institution-level engagements with leading private and public-sector organizations.

SAMENA Council was founded in 2006. In February 2016, Saudi Telecom Company, represented by Dr. Khaled Biyari, became the chairman of the Board of Directors of SAMENA Council.

About Omantel:
Omantel, the leading and main provider of telecommunication services in the Sultanate, has played a great role in connecting the Sultanate parts together and connecting it to the rest of the world.

In-line with its strategy to ensure customer satisfaction, Omantel offers the broadest choice, widest coverage and state-of-the-art mobile and fixed broadband services.  The company is also investing heavily in expanding its network to meet the needs of the customers and ensure providing them the best customer experience.

As we operate in a very dynamic sector, Omantel always seek to keep pace with the new technologies to ensure that our customers enjoy the infinite benefits and competitive edges offered by these technologies. Omantel was the first operator in the Sultanate to introduce LTE and FTTH technologies which offered unmatched super-fast internet speeds and improve the overall broadband experience of our customers.

Omantel, which has a very strong brand presence in Oman, has been voted by international independent firms, as the most valuable brand in the Sultanate as well as the best brand in Oman in general and in among the telecom sector in particular.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment.

© Press Release 2017