Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) and Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (SATA) in cooperation with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) welcomes you to the roundtable discussion on Roaming Services or "Home and Away" in SADC region.

BACKGROUND

SADC ICT Ministers noted that despite the existence of competition in the regional mobile market, the use of international roaming services was minimal due to the high prices for the services. This has led to many SADC consumers of mobile services buying numerous prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card packs each time they travel across the SADC borders. In addition, it has been noted that due to lack of transparency in pricing of international roaming services, the consumers have been confined in making wider choices.

OBJECTIVES

The roundtable discussion aims at:

CONCLUSION

It is being acknowledged that if SADC citizens are to enjoy the international roaming services, there is need to seriously consider the affordability of the service. In order to make this Vision a reality, there is need of the following:

08.00 Registration and Coffee

08.30 Welcome Address by Host (ICASA Chairperson)

08.50 Opening Remarks

• CRASA Chairperson
• SATA Chairperson
• SADC Representative

08.50 Key Address by Guest of Honor (South Africa Department of Communication Representative)

09.00 Catalysing Regional Development through ICTs(SADC Secretariat Representative)

09.40 Regional Regulatory Perspectives on the Mobile Market (CRASA Representative)

10.20: Borderless Mobile Phone Network - Best Practices in Africa -Vision and Strategies (Mobile Operator Representative)

11.00 Morning Networking Break

11.30 Developing a SADC Borderless Network (SATA Representative)

12.10 Panel Discussions

Prospering in a Liberalised Marketplace - Evaluating the Challenges and Opportunities

Panelists:

• SADC Member of Parliamentary Representative
• SADC Representative
• ICASA - CRASA Vice Chairperson
• TCRA Representative
• NetTel@Africa

12.40 Networking Lunch

14.00 Panel II Discussions (Operators Perspectives and Consumers Issues)

Panelists:

• SATA Representative
• Fixed Operator Representative
• Mobile Operator Representatives
• Consumer Group Representative

16.00 Afternoon Networking Break

16.20 Reaping the Benefits of Introducing SADC Home and Away Services (Consumer Group Representative)

16.50 Drafting of the Communiqué on Roundtable Discussion on SADC Home and Away - Way forward.

Drafting Committee Members:

SADC Representative, CRASA Representative, SATA Representative, Mobile Operators Representative and Consumer Group Representative

17.30 Closing Session on the Round table Discussion on SADC Home and Away Roaming Services

18.10 Cocktail Reception

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