DESCRIPTION:

The training workshop will be held at Hotel Rama Gardens, Bangkok , from 7 to 9 May 2012, back-to-back with the 3^rd APT International Mobile Roaming Workshop scheduled from 10 to 11 May at the same venue.

This Training Workshop which is targeted at Telecom Service Providers, Policy Makers, Regulators, Technical Experts, Academic Researcher, aims to build skill on understanding the regulatory and commercial aspects of International Roaming. The course will provide participants with necessary theoretical background, practical experiences, concrete exercises and hands-on practice so that they develop an in-depth understanding of the key strategic issues involved in this area. The provisional agenda is available below (Annex 1 (a)). This training will be conducted in English. Interested participants are kindly requested to complete the attached registration and send it to the e-mail addresses indicated in the form no later than 23^rd April 2012.

Hotel reservations should be made directly with your chosen hotel using the hotel reservation form. For practical reasons, the number of participants for the training workshop will need to be limited to 50.

INVITATION 

Brief Description:

International roaming is high on the agenda of policy makers in many parts of the world. A lot of negative publicity has arisen from roaming charges that are deemed to be excessive, and certainly far exceed the cost of supply. However, many stakeholders have an interest in maintaining high roaming charges, which serve as a significant source of inbound revenues and can cross-subsidize tariffs in competitive national markets. Efforts to benefit consumers while boosting national economies and government revenues have focused on regional solutions, negotiated between countries within natural trading bocks. Commercial solutions are also emerging offering low-cost services between consumers on the same network but in different countries.

This training workshop on “International Roaming” aims to impart knowledge and skills in designing effective solutions that seek to facilitate the creation of a regulatory framework that encourages economic development and builds national economic welfare.

7 MAY 2012

DAY 1

0900-0930 Session 1: Opening Session

- Sudaporn Vimolseth, TOT Academy

- Ashish Narayan, ITU

- Wasim Tauqir, PTA

 OPENING ADDRESS

- Ajin Jirachiefpattana, Executive Director, Ministry of ICT, Thailand

0930-1000: Tea / Coffee Break

Session 2 (a): International Roaming – Introduction and International Experience

-       Antony Srzich, GSMA

Session 2 (b) International Mobile Roaming– Challenges and Opportunities –

- David Rogerson, ITU Expert

Objective: To understand the particular dynamics of the international roaming market, identifying the main stakeholders and their concerns and strategies.

1230-1400: Lunch Break

Session 3: Developing a Policy and Regulatory Framework             

- Ashish Narayan, ITU

- David Rogerson, ITU Expert

Objectives:

• To identify the stakeholders and their diverging perspectives on international roaming arrangements and prices.
• To develop a model for considering financial and economic impacts of different roaming arrangements.

1515-1545: Tea / Coffee Break

1545-1700: Session 4: Working Group, Part I

Objective: Establishing a notional but representative situation and using role-play to increase understanding of the dynamics involved. In Part 1 we set thescene, establish the roles of the working groups, and prepare the argumentsfrom each side.

8 MAY 2012

DAY 2

0900-1030: Session 5: Working Group, Part II

Objective: To establish a notional but representative situation and using role-play to increase understanding of the dynamics involved. In Part 2 the parties will present their arguments in a structured debate.

1030-1100: Tea / Coffee Break

1100-1200: Session 6: International Roaming Quality of Service

- Wasim Tauqir

Objective: To discuss the efforts adopted by a regulator in monitoring international roaming quality of service.

1200-1300: Session 7: Case Study

- Robert Clarke, MEDT, New Zealand

Objective: To discuss selected case studies and national or regional initiatives taken to regulate international roaming services, identifying and understanding successes and failures.

1300-1400: Lunch Break

1400-1530: Session 8: Case Study from the European Union

- David Rogerson

Objective: To discuss European Union experiences and initiatives taken to regulate international roaming services while identifying and understanding successes and failures.

1530-1545: Tea / Coffee Break

1545-1700: Session 9: Working Group, Part III

Objective: Establishing a notional but representative situation and using role-play to increase understanding of the dynamics involved. In Part 3, the parties will re-evaluate their strategies in light of the information obtained andprepare for a final regulatory hearing.