The fourth price benchmark study for telecom services in the Arab region was presented by Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) at a key meeting.

The TRA was represented by communications and consumer affairs director Basil Al Arrayed, at the eighth annual meeting of the Arab Regulators' Network for Telecommunications, held under the presidency of the Lebanese regulator. Mr Al Arrayed presented the study.

The benchmarking study is done by comparing the Arab region with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

The study concluded that although prices dropped in the Arab countries last year, there is still room for more improvements to close the price gap in comparison with those of the OECD countries.

"We are pleased to be part of the Arab regulators meeting. Our aims are mutual in ensuring that each country benefits from the experience of the other," Al Arrayed said.

"This meeting provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the creation of further innovative options and solutions in the telecom sector for the benefit of consumers, operators and the socio-economic development of Arab countries," he added.

Other subjects discussed include the impact of converging technology and broadband services on universal access services and the management of the Universal Service Fund to ensure that all consumers in the region have access to telecommunications services.

The regulatory obligations on area coverage, quality of broadband services and the role of the regulators in the development, utilisation and promotion of national information and communications technology services were also reviewed. – TradeArabia News Service