WELCOME

Dear Respected Colleague,

IIR Middle East / Informa has organised this Leaders in ICT to support the development and understanding across all stakeholders of a regulated and competitive ICT market in the Levant region.

Telecommunications is a major source of revenue for the region and consequently each government has followed a different path in the development of the sector. However, as the industry converges and privatisation, deregulation and liberalisation start to top the agenda, governments in the region and around the world are setting clear Economic Visions & Policies for the ICT sector and developing strategies for the realisation of their vision.

Challenges include how to achieve ubiquitous competitive broadband services to support economic and social objectives as well as fuel GDP growth. New and old models are being considered to advance the role out of these networks through a combination of funding options.

This must-attend programme aims to address the following:
• How a National ICT Policy and strategy, setting out a series of principles for managing the ICT sector, can support GDP
growth, employment and financial contribution to the treasury;
• How best to move from the current position to one where it can maximise the positive impact of ICT on the economy
whilst not losing but only gaining from current ICT investments;
• Analyse the threats as well as the opportunities in moving forward and achieving ubiquitous competitive broadband
services. Consideration has to be given to such matters as national security, internet crime, consumer protection in
particular protection of the child and IPR.

The format of this Leaders in ICT is to major on debate with pre-submitted questions for each speaker as well as an open debate from the floor. The event will act as both a catalyst and a building block in supporting Lebanon and the wider region in finding the most appropriate course of action to meet its own unique position.

We look forward to seeing you on the 1-2 November 2010, Beirut.

Regards

Alan Horne, Chairman, Leaders in ICT Former Director General, TRA, Bahrain & Former President, Arab Regulators Network