ARAB TELECOM REGULATORS INITIATIVE

UNCLAS AMMAN 003989

SIPDIS

PASS TDA FOR STEINGASS/SIGLER
USDOC 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/PTHANOS
E STAFF FOR CADE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS EAID JO XF
SUBJECT: ARAB TELECOM REGULATORS INITIATIVE


1. (SBU) Telecommunications Regulatory Commission chief
Muna Nijem approached USAID director and Econ Couns on
June 30 about U.S. Government support for an effort she
is leading to create a network of Arab telecommunications
regulators. Nijem said the idea to create a network was
developed during a regional ITU conference in Algeria
earlier this year. Jordan will organize an initial,
organizational meeting in Amman August 28. (Algeria has
the regional ITU chair for 2003, which Jordan will take
over in 2004.)


2. (SBU) According to Nijem, the network will be a
resource for the development of pro-competitive, consumer-
focused telecom regulation in the region. She said it
would address issues including how operators negotiate
compatible licenses across borders and regional numbering
concerns. In addition to helping regulators operate more
efficiently, Nijem said that the rationale for the
initiative was to increase regional economic and
political cooperation.


3. (SBU) Nijem asked for assistance prior to the late
August meeting in pulling together ideas for how a
network could operate. Basically, this would mean
bringing in one outside consultant for a one-month period
to prepare an agenda for the meeting. Her initial
thoughts included creating a web-based "virtual" system
for sharing ideas among network members as well as
periodic workshops and seminars. A network might also
pool resources to bring in outside experts to address
regional needs. Nijem expected that once the August
meeting had agreed on a general vision, the group would
commission a full-blown study of how a network would
operate. She thought that organizations like the World
Bank or TDA would be asked to help fund this longer-term
study.


4. (SBU) Comment: USAID Amman will look into the
feasibility of bringing in a short-term consultant to
help Nijem prepare for the August meeting. Post suggests
that possibilities for longer-term support for this
initiative under MEPI and by TDA be studied closely.
Following the recent acquisition of Jordan's "Fastlink"
mobile operator by Kuwait's MTC, and MTC's partnership
with Vodafone in Bahrain, plus Orascom's expansion in
Egypt and North Africa and the various possibilities in
Iraq, the outlines of a regional mobile network are
emerging. By encouraging greater connectivity within the
region and between the region and the rest of the world,
this initiative would fit perfectly with our broader
economic goals for the region, particularly MEFTA. Nijem
herself is a forward-leaning, former Motorola executive
who favors U.S. technology and is among the most senior
women in the Jordanian government.
GNEHM