Minister Bassil calls for the smooth accomplishment of the development of the sector

Dr. Shehadi affirms the Authority’s commitment to liberalize the telecommunications sector and to offer best in class services

Beirut – Wednesday 3rd of December 2008 – His Excellency the Minister of Telecommunications Engineer Gebran Bassil confirmed his support to all the activities undertaken by the “Telecommunications Regulatory Authority” and called for “the smooth accomplishment of the growth and development process of this sector”.   Meanwhile the Chairman and CEO of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Dr. Kamal Shehadi, confirmed the Authority’s commitment towards achieving the goals for which it was established, foremost of which is the liberalization of the telecommunications sector in such a way as to guarantee freedom of competition, to prevent monopoly and to provide the best telecommunications services at the lowest prices possible."

H.E. Gebran Bassil and Dr. Shehadi presented their views at a reception held today by the “Telecommunications Regulatory Authority” on the occasion of the accomplishment of the program of “Transparency & Accountability Grant” (TAG), which was run By AMIDEAST and financed by the American Agency for International Development (USAID).  This project offers grants to organizations to carry out programs with multiple objectives, including transparency, accountability and good governance.

Minister Bassil considered that the “Telecommunications Regulatory Authority” brings out an up to date picture of the telecommunications sector and how it must be assessed.  It also builds on the future of the sector by establishing the appropriate regulatory framework in order to advance and develop this sector based on balanced competition.

Minister Bassil trusted that the government and the political environment in general provide the telecommunications sector with the necessary legal grounds required for the development process through the establishment of “Liban Telecom” and the creation of the appropriate regulatory framework that allows each stakeholder in this sector to fulfill their roles.

Minister Bassil also hoped that the growth and development of the telecommunications sector would pass through smoothly especially in the fast paced development that is being witnessed today in this important sector.. He emphasized the importance of cooperating with all the supporting organizations particularly in the midst of the international financial crisis where Lebanon seems to be benefiting from for the first time.  He called for grasping the opportunity for the interest of Lebanon and its economy.

The reception was highlighted by the presence of H.E. Minister Bassil and representatives of the Ministry of Telecommunications, the American Embassy, the United States Agency for International Development, Born Interactive, the Professional Computer Association (PCA), Neilson, Internet and Data service providers as well as representatives of the operators and a number of personalities and business-men.

The reception which took place at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel started with a speech by the Chairman and CEO of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Dr. Kamal Shehadi, where he stressed on the importance of having accomplished this project.  The project included the development of the Authority’s electronic website, the conducting of market evaluations for telecommunications services in Lebanon, the preparation of a detailed marketing study as well as the production by the Authority of a brochure for the purpose of raising awareness for consumers.

Dr. Shehadi thanked all who had participated in the achievement of the project, particularly AMIDEAST for its sponsorship, the United States Agency for International Development for its financing and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s team which spared no effort in implementing this work.

He also indicated that one of the major accomplishments was the restructuring of the Authority’s website that offers today important interactivity between the Authority and the telecommunications sector and the public in general particularly in regards to the sections related to the consultations , issuing of regulations, decisions, licenses and all types of other telecommunications related information.

He pointed out that the main objective of the website lies in the interaction of the Authority with all the concerned parties and partners in the sector to stress on the Authority’s concern of absolute transparency in its entire works which represent one of the basic values which govern the work of the Authority.  He also indicated that this transparency is the result of the Auhtority’s concern to develop what the Authority has already accomplished till date.

The American Agency

Following this, Ms. Denise A. Herbol, the USAID Mission Director in Lebanon, delivered her speech where she emphasized that “this program indicates our ongoing commitment, cooperation and partnership with the “Telecommunications Regulatory Authority” for the purpose of improving and consolidating the telecommunications industry in Lebanon.  If this sector of crucial importance is well regulated, it will provide huge economical opportunities for the prosperity of Lebanon “

She also said that “the reason we support the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority stems from our deep rooted conviction that the Lebanese telecommunications sector needs to be liberalized and restructured in such a way as to make the market more prosperous, innovative and competitive.   Its actual infrastructure must also be developed from the technological point of view.  For this sector to succeed, it must provide high quality services and competitive prices, with the knowledge that securing the satisfaction of the clients is considered to be the cornerstone of any telecommunications development plan”.

 She also added that “I totally agree with Dr. Shehadi that the electronic website lays the foundation for interaction with all the concerned parties participating in this operation:  The general public (or the users), the private sector (the service providers) and the government.  The website also provides a positive forum for the exchange of ideas and information about the services and their providers.  It guarantees the transparency of the activities of the Regulatory Authority and reaches a wide spectrum of the public.  Furthermore the issues of transparency, Accountability and rational government are the distinguishing features of this activity”.

Ms. Herbol also discussed the program which will be financed by the American Agency and explained that it has covered over 146 projects till date in the different Lebanese regions and sectors.  She also thanked all those who participated in the achievements of the project, particularly the Board of Directors and the employees of the Regulatory Authority.

Mrs. Ajam

As for Mrs. Mahassen Ajam, Commissioner, Board Member, and Head of the information and consumer affairs unit, she emphasized that the Authority wants to achieve several objectives through the new electronic website, the most prominent being the building of an interactive forum adapted to the developing of communication needs and providing a flexible mechanism which allows the contents updated in an easily and secured manner.
 
She also pointed out that the objectives also include providing the users with complete, comprehensive and unbiased information that can be obtained through a simple easy access service. , Moreover this service would offer them an internet platform as a forum for managing research and collecting information about the market (users, operators, service providers, etc..) and as a means for encouraging international, regional and local investors to open companies and to follow up their businesses in Lebanon.

Mrs. Ajam also gave a detailed explanation of the main sections and sub-sections included in the electronic website Where she explained  the generated benefits f particularly in regards to users, investors, telecommunication service providers , operators, students and researchers as well as to reporters, importers and others.

Market study

Following this, the market analysis expert at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Miss Lelia El Khazen, gave a detailed technical presentation generated from the TAG program.  She touched on the outcome of the study analysis and its objectives and onthe fact findings which were conducted o and the main figures that were generated on the fixed and mobile telephones and on the internet market.

She also conducted a comprehensive (SWOT) analysis  on the telecommunications market by evaluating the points of weakness and strength of the market and the available opportunities and apparent challenges in this vital sector.

Then, a discussion took place between the speakers and the audience followed by a cocktail reception held for this occasion.

Distinctiveness of the site

On the 6th of the November, Lebanon Web Awards presented the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority with a bronze award for its electronic website, www.tra.gov.lb which was designed by “Born Interactive”.  The regional organization “LIRNEasia” which is active in developing potentials in the field of policies and legislation of the information technology and telecommunications, also conducted a model study for the classification of telecommunications regulatory authorities according to the method of utilization of their electronic websites for communicating with their partners.

This same organization made its first evaluation on the first version of the electronic website of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Lebanon.  At the time it awarded with a grade of 50 per cent, while the new updated version received a grade of 70 per cent.

The awareness brochure

One of the achievements of the “Transparency & Accountability Grants” project was the preparation of an awareness brochure explaining the goals of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority which was established in accordance with the telecommunications law no. 431, issued in 2002, and which actually started work when its Board of Directors were appointed in April 2007.  Its mission is to “establish a regulatory environment that enables a competitive telecommunications market to deliver state-of-the-art services at affordable prices to the broadest spectrum of the Lebanese population."

The brochure also touches on the values of the Authority which are independency, transparency, accountability and fairness and on its role in issuing the appropriate regulations, in encouraging investments, in maintaining the stability of the market and ensuring the protection of consumer rights.

The brochure also deals with the Authority’s priorities in providing competition in all the markets of the telecommunications services (except the basic telephony service) by liberalizing and expanding broadband services and mobile telephony services by creating the necessary regulatory framework and by continuously building the institution of the Authority.

To view the Embassy of the United States of America’s press release, click here
To view the Findings of the market study, click here